British Gas says households could save £65

Energy supplier British Gas has urged households to change one setting on their boiler, so it will use less gas and thereby save money.

The company says that the average household could save £65 a year by setting the flow temperature on the boiler to between 55C and 60C. The flow temperature is the temperature of the water as it leaves the boiler to be pumped around the various radiators, and unlike lowering the temperature on your thermostat, it does not mean your house will be colder, although it may take slightly longer to warm up.

All boilers installed since 2005 are condensing boilers, which capture heat that would otherwise escape through the flue to improve its efficiency, but this requires the water coming back to the boiler to be below a certain temperature. Innovation agency Nesta conducted research and found that many boilers in the country:

“…are set with flow temperatures of 70-80°C, which is too high for them to operate at their maximum efficiency. A boiler with a high flow temperature will also switch on and off more often when in use. This is called cycling, and increases wear and tear on the system.”

It added that such households could lower their gas consumption by 8% by optimising their boilers.

If you still don’t have a modern condensing boiler, Xgas can provide a boiler installation in Wrexham and nearby locations like Chester, so you can also reduce your gas bills. Get in touch to learn about our financing plans.

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