As winter ends and households turn off their central heating, many assume energy bills will drop accordingly. However, thermostats, timers, and system settings can still activate the boiler, silently increasing costs. Mark Gamble, Head of Supplier Relations at Utility Bidder, advises simple checks to reduce unnecessary energy use.
Gamble recommends checking if your boiler has a dedicated summer mode, which can save up to £20 per month by disabling central heating while allowing hot water on demand. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can save £80-£150 annually without noticeable temperature change.
Adjusting timers to match your routine—turning heating on just before waking or returning home, and off earlier in the evening—can cut waste. Reducing hot water heating by an hour or two daily also adds up to significant savings over time.
Decreasing the boiler's flow temperature to around 60°C enables 'condensing mode', improving efficiency by about 15%. With the current Ofgem price cap, this change alone could save approximately £325 on annual gas bills. Additionally, setting hot water temperature to 50-55°C for combi boilers reduces energy use while maintaining comfort.
Gamble notes that many boilers have built-in functions to prevent component jamming, which should remain active in summer as they consume negligible energy and avoid costly repairs.
