Octopus Energy says 'save £65' by making one easy change to boiler

Octopus Energy says 'save £65' by making one easy change to boiler The tip is simple, but makes a difference to how much energy you pay for Octopus Energy claims that making one simple setting change to your boiler could slash "up to £65" off your bills - and it takes just seconds to do. The advice comes as people rely more on central heating in the cold winter months ahead, with many worried about higher bills. One of the energy firm's 'top tips' to save money on your bills is: "Set your flow temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees on your combi boiler". It adds: "Take a look at Nesta's Money-Saving Boiler walkthrough to see how, depending on your boiler, you could save £65." The Nesta guide states that reducing the flow temperature to 60°C puts the boiler into "condensing mode". When your boiler operates in condensing mode, Nesta explains that "it will recover heat that would otherwise be lost and will run more efficiently". Following the walkthrough steps, it said: "Your boiler should now be running more efficiently. This will reduce the amount of gas it needs to burn to heat up your house, saving energy and money." The guide further adds that, as the boiler heats the water in your radiators to around 60°C, they may feel cooler than before the adjustment - and this is entirely normal. It states: "As your radiators won't be as hot, rooms may take slightly longer to heat up. This is to be expected and can be fixed by setting your heating to start 15-30 minutes earlier than before." Boiler flow temperatures are typically set by default between 75 and 80°C. Installers frequently set them high to heat homes quickly, but this prevents condensing boilers from operating at peak efficiency. The Energy Saving Trust advises that homeowners "should adjust settings gradually and make sure your heating controls are set up correctly before making changes". It adds that the process may involve "some trial-and-error" to find what works for your home. In other news, Octopus has confirmed it is once again giving away electric blankets to customers in need. Octopus said that it was there to "support customers most in need, particularly people with really specific vulnerabilities and medical needs". It said it would be "prioritising those customers" and urged those who could afford to buy their own blanket to do so. It said its research found they cost about £50 and could save a typical home about £300 compared with having the heating on constantly. Explaining how the scheme came to be, Octopus said: "One of our boffins realised that some customers were paying to heat their entire homes, even if they lived alone. He did some calculations and found out that where heating a whole home cost about £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket could heat a person for just 2-4p an hour. To get one, Octopus said the first step was to apply to the Octo Assist fund. The applicant's account and information given will be assessed, and a decision will be made in around a week.