UK households are being advised to make a simple adjustment to their boiler settings to reduce energy bills this winter. According to Patrick Garner, a Gas Safe Engineer at Heatable, many homes have their boilers set too high, leading to wasted energy and higher costs.
Garner explains that the flow temperature on most combi boilers is factory-set between 75°C and 80°C, but lowering it to around 60°C can improve efficiency. At this temperature, the boiler operates in condensing mode, using more heat from the gas it burns. This can reduce gas usage by up to 9%, saving the average household approximately £100 per year.
Contrary to concerns, the home will feel just as warm. Garner notes that radiators will heat up more slowly but stay warm longer, providing a steadier temperature without the intense blast of heat that wastes gas. For system or conventional boilers, he recommends setting the heating flow temperature at 65°C and hot water at least 60°C to guard against Legionella.
Garner also offers three quick checks for December: ensure radiators are balanced, bleed them to remove trapped air, and check boiler pressure. However, his primary advice is to adjust the boiler flow temperature. 'A tiny twist of the dial is all it takes to stay warm for less this December,' he said.
