Millions of households missing out on £112 a year – but you can fix it with simple energy bill trick
MILLIONS of households could save £112 a year with a simple boiler trick.
Over £1billion in total could be wiped from millions of energy bills if people turned down their boiler's flow temperature.
Over 10.7million households can save an average of £112 a year by changing the temperatures on their combination boilers.
That's according to charity, Nesta which has launched a money saving boiler campaign, in partnership with Which?, Energy UK, EDF, E.ON and Octopus Energy.
Households are being urged to check just how much they can save on their energy bills with a simple flick of a button.
The average household sets their combination boiler water flow temperature between 75°C and 80°C.
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But if households were to drop this temperature to 60°C they could slash their gas consumption by 9% - saving households over £100 a year.
Households willing to turn their temperatures down to 55°C could even slash their consumption by 12%.
Madeleine Gabriel, director of sustainable future at Nesta, said: "While the Energy Price Guarantee is helping millions but the actual amount people pay still depends on their energy use."
"Many people are already doing as much as they can to save money on energy bills but there are hidden tricks that people can take themselves that don’t affect their comfort.
"We have found people can save £112 a year just by making one change to their combination boiler to make it more efficient.
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy said: "Reducing the flow temperature on combi boilers can help consumers shave money off their heating bills, without compromising on the temperature they heat their home to."
And to help people's savings go even further the charity has designed a new tool to guide households on the simple steps they can take to slash their bills even further.
How do I change my boiler's flow setting?
For those with a combi-boiler, you'll most likely have two dials on it - one for heating, and one for hot water.
Boiler settings vary from model to model - so it's a good idea to check the manual to find out exactly how to set yours.
If you have a hot water cylinder, you should keep the dial on 60c or more.
This is because hot water should be stored at a high enough temperature to stop bacteria like legionella from multiplying.
If you have a combi boiler, you don't need to worry, legionella only breeds in standing water and combis keep it flowing.
Legionella bacteria flourishes between 20-45 degrees, so it’s important to store water at a higher temperature.
How else can I cut my energy bills?
If you turn your boiler's flow temperature down as well as any thermostatic radiator valves in some rooms - you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.
Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can bring a household a further £230 worth of annual savings, according to Nesta.
It is also important to ensure that when your boiler's running that there's no draught.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but it's the first place where heat will escape.
If there's a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap. You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.
It's also worth closing your curtains before it gets dark as the heat will then stay inside your home.
Another great way to ensure you save money is to turn off your boiler when you're not using the water.
Most boilers or thermostats have a setting to allow you to schedule when the heating turns on and off.
Consider what rooms in your home need heating. You won't be using each one 24/7 so make sure the heating is off in any rooms that aren't occupied.
If you spot rust on your boiler then it could mean you're paying more than you need to on using your appliance.
Although rust itself does not cause issues, it could be a sign that there is a leak - which indicates there is a problem with your boiler.
It can also upset the temperature balance in your boiler, making it run less efficiently and ramping up costs.
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There is also a list of other common boiler problems we've rounded up that could be pumping up your bills.
A noisy boiler could also indicate that your water pressure is low or there's a pump failure.