A boiler specialist has disclosed how two hidden buttons on your boiler could potentially save you up to £325 annually on your energy bills. Uswitch reports that approximately 80% of new boilers purchased in the UK are combi boilers, which provide both central heating and hot water from a single unit, supposedly more efficient than having separate tanks.
However, a minor setting could be preventing yours from running at its full potential. Combi boilers typically have one or two “flow” temperature dials for adjusting the temperature of the water entering your radiators or taps.
Ian Palmer-Smith, supplier and heating service director at Domestic & General, suggests that many new combi boilers may have these temperatures set incorrectly upon purchase, resulting in less efficient operation. Fortunately, these settings can be adjusted using hidden buttons on your boiler, leading to less gas usage for heating your water and consequently saving you money.
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Mr Palmer-Smith elaborated: “If you don’t have your boiler set at the right temperature according to manufacturers instructions, that can negatively impact its efficiency. A boiler usually has two settings: the boiler heating side, which should be about 70 degrees, and your water side, which should be around 60. If these aren’t set correctly, the boiler doesn’t actually condense.”
He added that correctly setting your boiler flow temperatures could enhance its efficiency by roughly 15%.
Based on a 24-kilowatt boiler being used for four hours a day for 365 days and under the current Ofgem price cap, that equates to a roughly £325 saving a year on your gas bill.
“By far the biggest win is to make sure that your boiler is set to the right temperature levels for heating and water to condense as per the manufacturers instructions,” Ian said.
“If it’s not, it’s like you’ve got a Ferrari and you’re running it like a Ford.”
It’s worth noting that how much you could save on your energy bills by making this change depends on how old your boiler is, as well as the condition it’s in.
Both the heating and water temperature dials on your combi boiler should be easy to spot.
The Heating Hub says the hot water dial will likely have a tap on it, while the heating dial will have a radiator icon on it.
They might not look like this on yours, though, so make sure to check your manufacturer’s manual so you know what to look for.