BOXT ENGINEER URGES HOUSEHOLDS TO CHECK BOILER SETTINGS

Adam Knight, lead engineer at BOXT, has urged households to check their boiler settings as colder weather approaches. He said the heating flow temperature on a condensing combi boiler determines how hot water gets before reaching radiators. Knight said many people leave the setting untouched after installation. He said gradually lowering an unnecessarily high setting, potentially to around 60C, can improve efficiency. He advised checking that rooms still warm comfortably in colder weather.

Knight recommended an annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer to identify faults affecting performance and help keep boilers running safely. He said no service guarantees a fixed saving on energy costs. A programmer sets heating times, while radiator valves regulate individual rooms, he said. The flow-temperature control differs from the temperature set on a wall thermostat. “Most of us learn how to turn the heating on and leave the rest of the buttons well alone,” Knight said.

Knight said the eco button on many combi boilers controls hot-water preheat, which keeps part of the boiler warm so taps run hot sooner. He said preheat uses energy and can cause a boiler to fire when the heating is off and nobody uses a tap. On models where eco mode turns preheat off, hot water may take longer to arrive, but less energy goes towards keeping it ready, he said. Knight advised checking each boiler’s instructions because eco mode varies by model. He said households with a separate hot-water cylinder should speak to an engineer before changing flow temperature to ensure stored water heats safely.