Money Saving Boiler Challenge

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You could save up to £65 a year on your gas bill by changing a single setting on your boiler. This guide will show you how.

Combi boilers work best when they heat radiators to 60°C or below. But this ‘flow temperature’ is often set much too high, between 70°C-80°C.

It only takes a few minutes to lower your flow temperature, and it can be changed back instantly. There’s nothing to lose by trying it.

Read through our Terms and Conditions before you start the tool.

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First up, a few checks. Do you have a boiler?(Required)

Yes

No

Unfortunately, we’re unable to suggest that you reduce your boiler flow temperature at the moment. Our guidance only covers systems that have a gas boiler.

Why not share this tool to help others save money and energy.

A hot water tank is separate from your boiler. It will be a large unit that's usually found in a cupboard or attic. It stores your hot water.

This is what a hot water tank looks like

A hot water tank will look something like the image shown here.

It is usually located in an airing cupboard but could also be in an attic. They are usually cylindrical and have insulation on the outside.

Do you have a hot water tank?(Required)

Yes

No

I'm still not sure

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Step 2

Unfortunately, we’re unable to suggest that you reduce your boiler flow temperature at the moment. Our guidance doesn’t currently cover central heating systems that have a hot water tank. You can read more about this at Which.co.uk.

Why not share this tool with someone you know who has a combi boiler?

The following guidance will focus on your boiler controls, not your thermostat. These controls will be on the front of your boiler and may be behind a flap. It’s fine to pull open this flap.

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Step 3

Our instructions will show you how to reduce your boiler flow temperature. The flow temperature is the temperature to which your boiler heats the water that supplies your radiators. Changing your flow temperature will not affect the temperature of the hot water from your taps and showers.

We recommend that you take a picture of your boiler controls and settings before proceeding so that you have a record of your initial settings.

This will help us offer you the most appropriate advice. If your device has buttons and a dial, please select the option that reflects the number of dials on the boiler. Some boiler control panels may also have a timer or clock, you can ignore these.

Please select the statement that most closely describes your boiler(Required)

My boiler has multiple dials

My boiler has a single dial

My boiler only has buttons

None of the above

Unfortunately, we’re unable to suggest any changes to your boiler at the moment.

Our guidance doesn’t currently cover your boiler.

Why not share this tool to help others save money and energy.

Different manufacturers have slightly different symbols for central heating. They should look something like the examples below. Your boiler will have one of these symbols next to one of the dials.

All of the instructions that follow are related to the dial nearest to the radiator symbol.

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Step 6.1

Different manufacturers have slightly different symbols for central heating. They should look something like the examples below. Your boiler will most likely have this symbol next to a dial or button. If the symbol is next to a dial click ‘Next’.

If the symbol is next to a button, press this button before clicking ‘Next’ below. Pressing this button should select the boiler's flow temperature.

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Step 6.2

Different manufacturers have slightly different symbols for central heating. They should look something like the examples below.

This symbol could be in several places. Two common control setups are below, with the radiator button highlighted in green. This button may need to be pressed to select the flow temperature.

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Step 6.3

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Step

Does your boiler have a digital display?(Required)

Yes

No

I'm not sure

1. Select the radiator flow temperature. Press the button that has the radiator symbol on or near it. The display should then change to show the current flow temperature.

2. Use the ‘down’ or ‘minus’ buttons to reduce the flow temperature to 60°C. These can take several forms but will likely look like the buttons highlighted in green below.

Once the display reads 60°C you may have to press the 'OK' or the radiator button again to confirm. If your flow temperature is already below 60°C we recommend that you keep it at the current temperature.

Why 60°C?

A flow temperature of 60°C means your boiler will be in condensing mode. When your boiler is in condensing mode it will recover heat that would otherwise be lost and run more efficiently.

I can’t change my settings?

Check the manual

If you are struggling to alter the settings, freeboilermanuals.com has a catalogue of manuals. You can search by the manufacturer and model of your boiler or your boiler's GC number. Every boiler has a GC number, and it's usually on the front of the boiler. It starts with 'GC' followed by a 7-digit number. Within the manual, there will be guidance on how to alter your flow temperature.

Is there a vulnerable person in the household?

Health and wellbeing considerations

Are there any members of the household that may require a higher than average room temperature, or that are particularly vulnerable to cool temperatures? If so, you may wish to set the flow temperature a little higher than 60°C. This is because a lower flow temperature may cause rooms to heat up a little more slowly than before. Conditions that may be impacted could include, but aren’t limited to, asthma, heart conditions, arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia. You may also want to ensure that someone in the household is able to raise the flow temperature if necessary.

You'll want to adjust the flow temperature to about 60°C. The diagram below gives the approximate position you should aim to adjust the dial to. If your flow temperature is already below 60°C degrees we recommend that you keep it at the current temperature.

Most boilers don't have the temperature displayed around the flow temperature dial.

Adjust the flow temperature to about 60°C. The diagram below gives the approximate position you should aim to adjust the dial to roughly 12 o'clock.

Your digital display may update instantly to display the new flow temperature, which should be set to 60°C. If your display does not update immediately it will update next time your heating is on. This is normal, 60°C is your boiler's new target temperature and it may take some time to reach this.

Why 60°C?

A flow temperature of 60°C means your boiler will be in condensing mode. When your boiler is in condensing mode it will recover heat that would otherwise be lost and will run more efficiently.

I can't change my settings?

Check the manual

If you are struggling to alter the settings, freeboilermanuals.com has a catalogue of manuals. You can search by the manufacturer and model of your boiler or your boiler's GC number. Every boiler has a GC number, and it's usually on the front of the boiler. It starts with 'GC' followed by a 7-digit number. Within the manual, there will be guidance on how to alter your flow temperature.

Is there a vulnerable person in the household?

Health and wellbeing considerations

Are there any members of the household that may require a higher than average room temperature, or that are particularly vulnerable to cool temperatures? If so, you may wish to set the flow temperature a little higher than 60°C. This is because a lower flow temperature may cause rooms to heat up a little more slowly than before. Conditions that may be impacted could include, but aren’t limited to, asthma, heart conditions, arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia. You may also want to ensure that someone in the household is able to raise the flow temperature if necessary.

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Step 7.2

As your boiler doesn't have a digital display there will be no way of telling the exact flow temperature.

Most boilers don't have the temperature displayed around the flow temperature dial. You'll want to adjust the flow temperature to about 60°C. The diagram below gives the approximate position you should aim to adjust the dial to roughly 12 o'clock. If you believe your flow temperature is already below 60°C we recommend that you keep it at the current temperature.

However, if the temperature has been successfully reduced you should notice some changes in your heating, such as your radiators being slightly cooler to the touch.

Why 60°C?

A flow temperature of 60°C means your boiler will be in condensing mode. When your boiler is in condensing mode it will recover heat that would otherwise be lost and will run more efficiently.

I can’t change my settings?

Check the manual

If you are struggling to alter the settings, freeboilermanuals.com has a catalogue of manuals. You can search by the manufacturer and model of your boiler or your boiler's GC number. Every boiler has a GC number, and it's usually on the front of the boiler. It starts with 'GC' followed by a 7-digit number. Within the manual, there will be guidance on how to alter your flow temperature.

Is there a vulnerable person in the household?

Health and wellbeing considerations

Are there any members of the household that may require a higher than average room temperature, or that are particularly vulnerable to cool temperatures? If so, you may wish to set the flow temperature a little higher than 60°C. This is because a lower flow temperature may cause rooms to heat up a little more slowly than before. Conditions that may be impacted could include, but aren’t limited to, asthma, heart conditions, arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia. You may also want to ensure that someone in the household is able to raise the flow temperature if necessary.

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Step 7.3

Radiators may be cooler to the touch

This is normal and most homes can be heated effectively with slightly cooler radiators.

You may notice a reduction in gas use

Your boiler should now be running more efficiently. This will reduce the amount of gas it needs to burn to heat up your house, saving energy and money.

Your home may take slightly longer to warm up

As your radiators are cooler, your home will take slightly longer to heat up. For many people, this difference isn’t noticeable.

If your home is taking longer to heat up

If you find your rooms are taking too long to heat up, you may want to increase the flow temperature by 5°C.

Heat up times

By turning your heating on earlier than usual you are allowing for the more gradual warm up time associated with lower boiler flow temperatures.This will reduce your gas savings a little, but it should still save money overall because your boiler will be running more efficiently.

If you have thermostatic radiator valves

It’s best to think of radiator valves as individual room thermostats, where each number signifies a certain temperature at which the radiator will “switch off”. Radiator valves don’t change the temperature of the radiator, or the speed that your rooms warm up. It’s best not to set these to their maximum setting, but towards the middle of the scale instead. This will be 3 on most radiator valves.

More about radiator valves

If you find certain rooms are too cold, you can turn your radiator valves up a little higher. If you want to make extra savings you can turn your radiator valves a little lower in unused rooms (e.g. setting 1). It’s a good idea not to turn them off completely as this will cause a large temperature difference between rooms. This can draw the heat out of your warmer rooms and increase your energy use. It can also cause problems with mould and damp.

If your home still feels cooler than before

If you’ve already tried setting your heating to start 15-30 minutes earlier than usual, you can try raising the flow temperature by 5°C. Leave it at this new setting for a few days and see whether your comfort improves. You can keep doing this until you find a temperature that works for you and your home.

If you want to save even more

Many homes can be heated at flow temperatures of 55°C or below. The lower you go, the more you’ll save. Try reducing the temperature further in 5°C increments.

Walkthrough

Money Saving Boiler Challenge Walkthrough

First up, a few checks. Do you have a gas boiler?

Sorry we can’t help you

Do you have a hot water tank?

A hot water tank will look something like the image shown here.

Sorry we can’t help you

You’ll need to be in front of your boiler

Changing the settings on your boiler could reduce the amount of energy used to heat your home

Please select the statement that most closely describes your boiler

Sorry we can’t help you

Find the radiator symbol

Find the radiator symbol

Find the radiator symbol

Does your boiler have a digital display?

Changing the temperature

Why 60°C?

Check the manual

Health and wellbeing considerations

Adjust the dial

Why 60°C?

Check the manual

Health and wellbeing considerations

Adjust the dial

Why 60°C?

Check the manual

Health and wellbeing considerations

You may notice some changes to your heating

Radiators may be cooler to the touch

Read more about radiators

You may notice a reduction in gas use

Read more about gas savings

Your home may take slightly longer to warm up

Read more about warm up times

EXTRA TIPS

If your home is taking longer to heat up

Heat up times

If you have thermostatic radiator valves

More about radiator valves

If your home still feels cooler than before

If you want to save even more