A HOME expert has shared a glaring sign which can tell you instantly if you’re wasting money on your heating bill.
In the current climate, everyone’s looking for different ways to save cash on energy bills.
So Which? decided to respond to requests for money-saving tips as they revealed you just need to look out your window to see the mistake.
Showing steam coming thick and fast through the boiler flue, the pro said in a video on TikTok: “If this is what your boiler flue looks like, you could be wasting hundreds of pounds every year!”
He then explained how to fix the error, demonstrating on a combi condensing boiler.
Showing the front panel, which will have a “dial or buttons to control the flow temperature”, he said: “Most people have it set too high, at 70 or 80 Celsius.
“That’s the temperature of the water as it leaves the boiler, heading out to your radiators.”
However, if you turn the dial down to 60 degrees Celsius, you could end up saving an average of £59 a year.
“If it doesn’t have numbers, then pointing the knob straight up usually does the trick!” they added.
And you don’t need to worry that your house won’t get as toasty, as he explained that it’s not the same as changing the thermostat.
“If you set it to 21, it will still reach 21,” he said.
“It might just take a bit longer to get there.”
But having a lower flow temperature on the boiler makes it more efficient, and spews “less wasted heat out of the flue”.
“Of course, the right flow temperature for you will depend on your building,” he added.
“It’s best to fine tune throughout the year.”
He did advise those with hot water tanks to avoid the hack altogether “unless you get expert advice”.
“And if you’re worried about that old flue, rest assured this setup was fully checked by a gas safe engineer,” he concluded.
People were quick to praise him in the comments, with one writing: “I saved loads of money doing this!”
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
“Thank you for the advice – I’ll pass it on to all my friends and family,” another added.
“I’m going to do it right now,” a third commented.
But not everyone agreed it was such a good idea.
“£59 a year? That’s like £5 a month. No thanks! I rather use that extra £5 to heat up my house quicker!” one wrote.
“Gas safe engineer here. DON’T DO THIS. it’s a waste of time,” another insisted.
“You will still need to use the same amount of energy to heat the same space but it will take longer.”
“Nope, turning the flow temperature down will result in a 30%to 50% loss of heat to the radiators depending upon the room size, radiator size, age of the house, windows, insulation,” a third said.
While someone else warned: “Don’t do this if you have an old house. It will break the pipes.”
