Home expert shares the sign that you are wasting hundreds of euros on your heating bill
A HOME expert has shared an eye-catching sign that shows you straight away if you’re wasting money on your heating bill.
In the current climate, everyone is looking for different ways to save money on energy bills.
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So which one? decided to respond to requests for money-saving tips because it showed that all you have to do is look out the window to see the mistake.
It showed steam coming thick and fast through the boiler’s flue, the professional 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 correct the error, demonstrating on a combination condensing boiler.
Showing off the front panel, which will have a “dial or buttons to control the supply temperature”, he said: “Most people have set the temperature too high, at 70 or 80 degrees Celsius.
“That’s the temperature of the water when it leaves the boiler and goes to your radiators.”
However, if you turn the dial to 60 degrees Celsius, you can save an average of €59 per year.
“If there are no numbers on it, pointing the button straight up usually does the trick!” they added.
And you don’t have to worry about your house not getting as warm, because he explained that this isn’t the same as replacing the thermostat.
“If you set it to 21, it will still reach 21,” he said.
“It just might take a little longer to get there.”
But having a lower supply temperature to the boiler makes it more efficient and spews “less wasted heat out the flue”.
“Of course, the right supply temperature for you depends on your building,” he adds.
“It’s best to refine throughout the year.”
He advised people with hot water tanks to avoid the hack altogether “unless you get expert advice”.
“And if you’re concerned about that old flue, you can rest assured that this setup has been fully checked by a gas-safe engineer,” he concluded.
People were quick to praise him in the comments, with one writing: “I saved a ton of money doing this!”
4 ways to keep your energy bill low
Laura Court-Jones, small business editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down one degree
You probably won’t even notice this small temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bill. By turning the thermostat down a step, you can quickly start saving. This one small action only takes a few seconds and could potentially reduce your heating costs by €171.70.
2. Turn off appliances and lights
It sounds simple, but completely turning off appliances and lights that aren’t in use can lower your energy bills, especially in winter. By switching off lights and appliances when they are not in use, you can save up to €20 per year on your energy bill
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control of your energy consumption, especially as they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity are being used.
4. Consider changing energy supplier
No matter how satisfied you are with your current energy supplier, they may not give you the best deals, especially if you have let a fixed rate contract expire without taking out a new contract. If you haven’t looked at alternative rates lately, you might not know that there are better options out there.
“Thanks for the advice – I will 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 that this was such a good idea.
“£59 a year? That’s about £5 a month. No thanks! I’d rather use that extra £5 to heat my house faster!” wrote one.
“Gas safety engineer here. DON’T DO THIS. It’s a waste of time,” another insisted.
“You will still have to use the same amount of energy to heat the same space, but it will take longer.”
“No, lowering the supply temperature will result in a heat loss of 30% to 50% to the radiators, depending on the size of the room, the size of the radiator, the age of the house, the windows and the insulation,” says a third.
While someone else warned: “Don’t do this if you have an old house. Then the pipes break.”
