Wet and wintry weather is set to continue across Britain this week as temperatures begin to plummet.
Money Saving Expert shares money-saving boiler tips
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has revealed how "hidden" boiler switches can slash thousands from your energy bills. Families are trying to find ways to stave off energy costs down while keeping warm during the winter months. Now Money Saving Expert (MSE) has explained how homeowners with a combi boiler can save £65 annually by slightly tweaking their flow temperature. The flow temperature on your boiler is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to your radiators.
How to reduce your gas bills
Reducing the temperature means your boiler is using less gas to heat the hot water, saving money on your bills. For homeowners with a non-combi boiler, MSE says settings can also be altered to save money. It says: "You can get your boiler reconfigured so you can set the temperatures separately, but make sure you use a Gas Safe engineer to help you. This means you can lower the flow temperature for heating and reduce your gas bills without potentially making your hot water unsafe to use. If you’re able to set two different temperatures, to maximise efficiency, Octopus Energy recommends setting your radiator flow temperature to 60°C – you should be able to change this on the boiler control panel, indicated by a radiator icon. Check your boiler manual if you’re not sure what to do, and if you’re in any doubt, always consult a professional."
Other tips to save money on energy bills
MSE also recommends diluting hot water with cold to avoid a shower or bath becoming too hot. Homeowners are asked to check the hot water temperature on their combi boiler as, by default, it is often too high. Octopus Energy suggests a temperature of 55C should be enough. This can be tweaked via a little icon on the front of the combi boiler.
Conclusion
These money-saving tips can help homeowners reduce their gas bills and keep their homes warm during the winter months. By making a few adjustments to the boiler settings, families can potentially save thousands on their energy bills.
