If you’re feeling hot in your home, there are some simple summer boiler setting changes you can make to help cool things down. Some of them could also help you save money too
It’s well documented that it’s been super hot lately, and people have been searching high and low for methods to cool down their homes. However, what you may not know, is that a straightforward boiler adjustment could make all the difference, and certain changes could even help you cut costs in the process.
If you’re someone who’s not a fan of the heatwave, there are a handful of minor tweaks you can make that could make you more comfortable, making it far easier to feel cooler in your own property without too much effort. This isn’t the first time such useful advice has come to light, either.
So many tips have been shared to help people cope with the heat. One of them involves using a so-called European method.
If you’ve switched your heating off for the summer, you’d naturally expect your gas bills to fall. Yet, for millions of households across the UK, that simply isn’t happening.
According to Patrick Garner, gas safe engineer at Heatable, the culprit is likely a specific setting on your boiler, and he’s shed light on some crucial details that homeowners need to be aware of.
Why your house may be hot
If your home has a gas combi boiler, you could still be pumping heat into your property even with the heating firmly switched off. The reason lies in your hot water settings.
Every shower, hot tap or washing-up session triggers the boiler to fire up. And, while each burst is relatively brief, the boiler releases a small amount of heat through its casing, pipework and flue each time it operates.
This not only contributes to the overall warmth inside your home, but also means gas is being used continuously. That’s why it’s essential to get clued up on the details.
“Once the heating is off, hot water becomes the main thing still using gas,” Patrick explained. “And in homes with several people showering every day, the cost soon adds up.”
What you need to check
First, ensure your boiler is set to hot-water-only mode. If you leave both heating and hot water enabled, an unexpected cold spell or a badly placed thermostat could trigger the heating without anyone realising.
Next, check the hot water temperature on the boiler itself. For combi boilers, around 45°C to 50°C is typically comfortable for taps and showers.
He said: “Importantly, this only applies to combi boilers. If your home has a hot water cylinder, do not reduce the stored water temperature below 60°C to avoid the risk of Legionella.”
Finally, check whether your boiler has pre-heat or comfort mode activated. This maintains a small quantity of water warm inside the boiler so hot water arrives at the tap faster, but it causes the boiler to fire repeatedly throughout the day, even when nobody is using hot water.
“Pre-heat mode constantly adds heat to your home and inflates your bills,” Patrick warned.
Extra tips to cut costs
Leaving the washing up for one big wash at the end of the day can eliminate those brief bursts of heating that contribute so significantly to your bills. Repair any dripping hot taps.
It won’t just help cut your gas bill, but could also make a difference to your water bill.
Steer clear of needless upgrades. Solar diverters, for instance, only make sense if you’ve already got solar panels, a hot water cylinder and an immersion heater. They’re of no use with a standard combi boiler.
Patrick continued: “You pay a standing charge of around 30p a day for being connected to the gas network, so you’ll never get your bill down to zero. But a few changes can make a big difference overall.”
