Despite Octopus Energy’s estimates, the exact amount of money saved willlikely depend on the characteristics of your home
Making a simple switch to your boiler could save up to £65 per year on heating bills, according to Octopus Energy. The firm, which supplies both gas and electricity in the UK, unveiled its tip among several energy-saving tips online at a time when countless people are grappling with higher bills.
Octopus Energy’s advice suggests that lowering your boiler’s flow setting control may be a key way to reduce expenses. If you’re unfamiliar with this control, it simply determines the water temperature as it leaves your boiler, which is usually set quite high by default.
The energy firm explained: “Firstly, check what kind of boiler you have. If you have a conventional boiler with a hot water cylinder/tank, then this will be a system boiler, and not a combi boiler – so this advice will not apply.
“The flow temperature is the temperature at which your boiler heats the water before it circulates through your radiators. Its default setting is usually too high at around 70 or 80 degrees. Turn it down a bit and your home will feel just as warm, but you could save up to £65 a year.”
Although often overlooked, it is essential to understand that a boiler’s flow temperature differs significantly from the temperature displayed on your thermostat. If you set a thermostat to 15°C, the boiler will heat the water to a much higher temperature before circulating it throughout your home, allowing the room to reach 15°C.
According to research by Which?, a typical boiler has a flow temperature set between 75 and 80°C. Lowering this setting will still allow heat to circulate throughout your home, but it may help your boiler use less gas and operate more efficiently.
Nonetheless, the exact amount of money you save from this will depend on your home. The Which? Team explain: “Reducing flow temperature means your radiators won’t be as hot to the touch and it’ll take longer for your rooms to get up to temperature.
“As long as your home is reasonably well insulated, your boiler will run more efficiently and you’ll be using less energy to achieve the same room temperature, which will save you money.
“But for homes that are not well insulated or have small radiators (also known as ‘undersized’), the benefits might not be as good. In these situations, your central heating might struggle to work properly with lower flow temperatures.”
If you’re uncertain about your home’s insulation or radiator size, Which? suggests booking a boiler service. An engineer can then advise you on optimal flow temperature adjustments tailored to your home’s unique characteristics.
Nesta, home of the Money Saving Boiler Challenge, also offers a quick online test to assess your flow temperature options. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
For information, you can access its website here.
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