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UK Advice Urges Thermostat and Boiler Flow Tweaks to Cut Heating Bills

New guidance says small setting changes can improve efficiency to reduce annual heating costs.

Overview

  • MoneySavingExpert highlights that lowering a room thermostat by 1°C could save around £90 a year for an average household, citing Energy Saving Trust figures.
  • For combi boilers, guidance recommends reducing radiator flow temperature to about 60°C since many are set higher by default, while systems with hot-water cylinders must keep stored water near 60°C under HSE rules.
  • Owners of combi boilers are told they could trim gas use by roughly 3%—about £65 a year—by lowering flow temperature from typical settings of 70–80°C.
  • The Energy Saving Trust, citing Nesta research, reports that reducing boiler flow temperature can improve efficiency by around 4%.
  • A BirminghamLive report quotes an industry expert who estimates setting flow to 55–60°C could save 9–12%—up to about £210 at the current price cap—and warns that missing or faulty chimney dampers can increase heating costs by up to 30%.