UK households told one button on boiler can hand them free £206 in November

UK households are being told one button on their boiler can hand them a free £206 cash boost before Christmas. According to Tower Hamlets Council, UK households need to turn down the hot water temperature. The council in the South England referred to Octopus Energy and said the recommendation is for a temperature of 55 degrees.

The energy provider said: "Set your boiler's 'flow temperature' between 55 and 60 degrees: your home will feel just as warm, but you could see real savings on your typical gas use. 115,000 customers tried this tip and 93% rated it useful."

They said: "Most modern combi boilers have a 'pre-heat' function, so the hot water in your pipes is set at a certain temperature to ensure you don't have to wait too long for your water to heat up. While pre-heating is more convenient and less water is wasted, it is hugely inefficient from an energy saving perspective, particularly in homes where the occupants are out at work all day."

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Tower Hamlets said: "You should bleed your radiators regularly to prevent air being trapped inside, which will leave cold spots in your radiators. This will make your heating system less efficient, as you'll be using more energy to get adequate heat out of them. You'll know you need to bleed your radiators if they are taking more time to heat up than usual, you can feel cold patches at the top, or you can hear gurgling noises."

They add: "This change can cut your gas use by 6-8 per cent without changing the temperature in your rooms. Combi boilers work best when they heat radiators at 55°C or below. The temperature that your boiler heats your radiators is called flow temperature and is often set much too high, between 60°C-80°C."

It added: "A flow temperature of 55°C means your boiler will be in condensing mode. When your boiler is in condensing mode it can recover heat that would otherwise be lost and run more efficiently." New research from the Salford Energy House found that lowering your heating flow temperature resulted in gas usage savings of: up to 9% by lowering the temperature from 80°C to 60°C. up to 12% by lowering the temperature from 80°C to 55°C.

On a £1717 energy bill, which is the current price cap, it could lead to a £206 saving. "It's also worth checking the pressure gauge on your boiler regularly. This tells you the pressure of the water circulating in the heating system," the council said. "If it's too slow, it'll make your system inefficient, using more energy to heat your home to the required temperature."