A HEATING technician has explained how making a few minor adjustments to your boiler can help cut energy bills by hundreds of pounds.
It comes as millions of households brace themselves for a walk to bills this winter.
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Boiler expert Harland of Guscott Heating Services, told the Email online that the first thing to look at is the flow rate.
The flow settings on your boiler regulate the temperature to which hot water is heated.
Typically, boilers are pre-set to a temperature much higher than necessary, this will not make your home warmer, but it can greatly contribute to your health. energy bills.
The ideal temperature is around 55c, but some boilers can be set as high as 80c.
He said, “You need to find the radiator symbol on your boiler and turn it down.
“The best way to find that is through your owner’s manual, as it will tell you there.
“Or if you’re really struggling, you can call the manufacturer or a heating professional and they’ll talk you through it.”
According to the expert, for every 10 degrees you lower the flow rate, you can save between 8% and 10% on your bill.
A saver who did this said they saved £95 in just one month.
You also set this temperature for the hot water that comes out of your tap.
“Look for the hot water symbol (usually a faucet) on the boiler and check the temperature,” Harland said.
“Most people add cold water when using the hot tap, which is a big waste.”
You can lower the temperature until you no longer need to add the cold water tap, and this can save 3% to 5% on your bills for every 10c you reduce, he said.
One thing worth mentioning is that you shouldn’t turn the temperatures down or you could cause other problems.
This is because hot water must be kept at a temperature high enough to prevent bacteria such as legionella from multiplying.
If you have a combi boiler you don’t have 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 knob at 60c or more.
Legionella bacteria thrive between 20-45 degrees, so it is important to store water at a higher temperature.
Households are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption in the run-up to winter, when bills are expected to rise by hundreds of pounds.
The latest predictions are that bills will rise, from £1,971 today to £3,628 in October.
And then in January they could skyrocket again to £4,538 and £5,277 in April.