HOUSEHOLDS might not realise that they can save £100 on energy bills just by checking the temperature of their boiler.
You can reduce your energy bill by simply turning down your boiler’s flow temperature – and you can do it with the flick of a button.
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The average household sets their combination boiler water flow temperature between 75°C and 80°C.
But if households were to drop this temperature to 60°C they could slash their gas consumption by 9% – saving households over £100 a year.
The trick works if you have a combi-boiler, which provides both hot water and heating – and it’s the most common type of model used by Brits.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The flow temperature on your boiler is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to your radiators.
“Reducing the flow rate on combination boilers can quickly knock money off heating bills, and you won’t even notice the difference.
“These types of boilers work best when the water going to radiators is heated at 60°C or below.
“However, most boilers are often set to a much higher flow rate, potentially costing the average household an extra £100 per year.”
Reducing the temperature means your boiler is using less gas to heat the hot water, saving money on your bills.
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Exactly how much you can save depends on the original temperature settings and what you change them to, as well as how much you use your hot water and heating.
But, it’s important to bear in mind that if you have a hot water cylinder, you should keep the dial on 60C to stop the spread of germs and bacteria.
Legionella bacteria flourishes between 20-45 degrees, so it’s important to store water at a higher temperature.
If you have a combi boiler, you don’t need to worry, legionella only breeds in standing water and combis keep it flowing.
But if you have a hot water cylinder, you should keep the dial at 60 degrees or more.
How to change your flow settings
For those with a combi-boiler, you’ll most likely have two dials on it – one for heating, and one for hot water.
The heating dial will most likely have a radiator icon on it, while the hot water dial will probably have a tap on it, according to The Heating Hub.
Boiler settings vary from model to model, so it’s a good idea to check the manual to find out exactly how to set yours.
How else is my boiler costing money?
It’s not just your boiler’s flow settings that could be making your energy bills go up.
Ensure that there’s no draught when your boiler’s running.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but it’s the first place where heat will escape.
If there’s a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.
You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.
It’s also worth closing your curtains before it gets dark as the heat will then stay inside your home.
Hot water is known to kill nasty germs but how hot do we need our water? Many of us waste heating our hot water to 60C before cooling it down again by mixing it with cold water.
At 60C, hot water can cause serious scalding in under five seconds.
However, in order for hot water to kill nasty bacteria, the water needs to be above 75C and submerged in the water for over 30 seconds.
If you’re washing your dishes by hand, then you only need to loosen the grease and oil.
Another great way to ensure you save money is to turn off your boiler when you’re not using the water.
Most boilers or thermostats have a setting to allow you to schedule when the heating turns on and off.
Consider what rooms in your home need heating.
You won’t be using each one 24/7 so make sure the heating is off in any rooms that aren’t occupied.
If you spot rust on your boiler then it could mean you’re paying more than you need to on using your appliance.
Although rust itself does not cause issues, it could be a sign that there is a leak – which indicates there is a problem with your boiler.
It can also upset the temperature balance in your boiler, making it run less efficiently and ramping up costs.
There is also a list of other common boiler problems we’ve rounded up that could be pumping up your bills.
A noisy boiler could indicate that your water pressure is low or there’s a pump failure.
And frozen pipes could see your boiler pack in – something families should be aware of as the cold weather bites.
Meanwhile, we reveal the exact temperature to set your thermostat to save on energy bills and stay warm.
Plus, here’s the exact temperature to run your washing machine to save money and clean your clothes.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
