Energy advice update: Getting the most out of your condensing boiler

As the cold weather continues, many people are getting in touch with our energy advice service team with queries, requests for help and advice. 

Whether that’s support with reducing energy bills, how to make homes more energy efficient, or for advice around energy debt, the team is always happy to help.

Here, they tell us more about how to get the most out of your condensing boiler and how to keep it efficient and – most importantly – safe…

At the heart of your heating system is your boiler.  

For most people it takes the gas that we get from our supplier, burns it, and turns it into heated water that is then circulated around our homes to keep us warm.   

Most of the time, our boiler is something that we forget about and let quietly get on with its job.  

But when it doesn’t work, we soon notice…   

To help us understand our boilers and get the most from them, it can be helpful to draw comparisons with something else we use regularly – our cars.

Safety first 

Like our cars, our boilers need looking after and maintaining.  

It’s not often that they go dangerously wrong, but they do burn gas, which has the potential to create carbon monoxide.  An odourless colourless gas that in high enough quantities can kill.  However, this is now rare, because the boilers in our homes are full of safety systems that prevent this and if your boiler is refusing to work, it could be one of these safety systems that is doing its job and protecting you. 

To look after your boiler and keep it running well, an annual inspection and service is highly recommended.  

Any old or tired parts can be spotted and replaced, and your heating engineer can ensure that your boiler is doing what it is meant to.  Make sure that anyone working on your boiler is a Gas Safe engineer and qualified to do the job. 

If you’re renting your property, then an annual check becomes a legal requirement.  Like a car needs an MOT to prove it is safe to be on the road, a boiler needs a gas safety certificate.  All landlords have a legal duty to ensure this happens and that it is completed by a qualified and registered Gas Safe engineer.  

It is also a requirement in England that a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted in the property to keep a tenant safe.  If you’re unsure about this, first ask your landlord, or check for paperwork.  Otherwise, it is the housing team of your local council or the Health and Safety Executive who are the enforcement agencies for gas safety.  

Boiler efficiency 

Like driving a car, how you use your boiler can affect the fuel efficiency that you get.  

For cars we think about the miles per gallon (MPG) that we get.  If you race around at full throttle then your engine won’t thank you for it and your fuel economy will be poor.  Your car will be trying to get to maximum power any way it can, regardless of how much fuel it’s using to do so.  The same is true for your boiler – if you have it set to maximum, it will get there, any way it can, regardless of the amount of fuel used. 

But, you can control how hard your boiler works…

On the front of your boiler, there are two settings that you can change.  

• The first is the temperature of the hot water coming out of your taps (domestic hot water or DHW).  
• The second is the temperature of the water circulating around in your radiators (also known as flow temperature). 

You may have two dials or you may have a screen with numbers to change. 

If you have dials, then the best position for them is normally around two thirds rather than maximum.  There may be a mark or indicator around the dial to indicate that this is the most efficient setting, such as a small ‘e’ or a gap in the label or arrow.  This is the happy place for your boiler, getting the most from your fuel to heat your water and home while not working too hard.  

If you have numbers to change, then you are aiming for a water temperature of 50-60 degrees Celsius for both, DHW and flow temperature. 

Why is this the case? 

Above 60 degrees, a condensing boiler stops condensing due to the higher temperatures needed.  This is much more inefficient but allows the boiler to reach the higher temperatures that are being asked of it.  The exhaust gasses of the boiler are condensed to recover the heat energy in them making the combustion process much more efficient and cheaper to run. According to the Energy Savings Trust, this can save you up to 8 per cent on your gas bill, or £50 a year for an average customer. 

Making the change 

If you are confident and happy, then you can change these settings yourself.  

Do look up your boiler instructions online and there should be an easy guide telling you exactly what to do and the most efficient settings for your specific boiler.  

If you would prefer, you can speak to your Gas Safe engineer when they are next servicing your boiler.  They too could show you what is best for you.  

Or even better, why not book a visit from one of our specialist energy advisors who can come to your home and advise you on all the ways that you can save money and keep warm, not just by reviewing your boiler?

We’re always happy to help and you can find us at one of our regular free drop-in sessions, or can get in touch by emailing energyadvice@caritassalford.org.uk. 

We also do home visits and can do a quick review of your whole heating system in person, check for damp and its causes and check your energy tariff.  All designed to help you keep warm, healthy and save money.

Get in touch!