UK households having energy bills reduced by £343 after using button on boiler

UK households can be handed £343 each thanks to a series of hot water tips from an expert. As the winter rolls on towards Christmas, Adam Chapman, founder of Heat Geek, explained households must optimise their hot water, and time it.

"First look to see if you have a combination boiler or a standard boiler. You simply have to check to see if you've got a hot water cylinder typically you might have one up in an airing cupboard," he said. The warning comes as the price cap continues to be sky-high.

He continued: "Most combination boilers come pre-set with the hot water set to 50 degrees celsius, [ this ] may be helpful if you're doing the washing up but if you've got a dishwasher you really don't need water this hot. In fact, the average shower temperature is only 38 degrees. There is literally no point in heating hot water up to 60 degrees. By reducing your combination boilers' hot water flow temperature down to 40 degrees, you'll help move that boiler into condensing mode."

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He said: "You should time your hot water up for up to a couple of one-hour periods a day, leaving it permanently heated." He added: "If you have a combination boiler, make sure you turn off the hot water preheat function sometimes called eco mode which intermittently heats the boiler just in case you use hot water even when you're out of the house."

"As well as saving water, it will vastly conserve hot water heat and in turn gas," he said. "You could literally save up to 35 per cent on your hot water bill." He said: "Simply turn your boiler flow temperature down until it reads 55 degrees.

"This should save around 9 per cent on heating. To save a further 9 per cent, keep on adjusting this boiler flow temperature throughout the year to the minimum you can get away with." He said: "If you don't have a condensing boiler, turn down unused rooms at the radiator valve and this could save up to 20 per cent on heating."

A 20 per cent discount on the current price cap of £1717 would be £343. He warned: "Don't throw your heat out the window. Seal up your draughts and insulate if you have an open chimney. If you have a non-condensing boiler, that's one without the white pipe, you'll only want to heat your home when you're in and turn it off before you leave the home."