Your combi boilers ideal temperature for central heating
Posted: 06/08/2018
As we continue to bask in the hottest and driest summer for decades, the cold winter weather may feel like it’s a million miles away. Before we know it however, the autumn will be here and the nights will begin to draw in. As the temperatures start to fall it’s more important than ever to ensure that your boiler is in the best working order. Arranging a service now will ensure that you’re ready for when the winter arrives.
So, you’ve had your annual boiler service and your plumbing’s in tip top condition. You’re ready for winter but are you using your central heating in the most cost effective and efficient way? Have you ever asked yourself, ‘what temperature should my combi boiler be set at for central heating?’ If so, you wouldn’t be alone.
When it comes to heating controls, many people just turn it on and hope for the best. If you do this, however, you’ll be spending more money than you need and using your boiler in the most inefficient way. So, what is the ideal temperature for central heating? Let’s take a closer look.
The perfect room temperature
At ProTech Boilers, we recommend setting your room thermostat at between 18 and 21 degrees Centigrade to optimise your boiler’s performance. Studies have found that this is the most comfortable interior temperature range for the majority of people surveyed. For older or less mobile people, between 22 and 23 degrees is a better temperature.
Many people think that if they whack up the thermostat high, it will help the house to heat up more quickly. This method however, is inefficient and only uses more fuel with no benefit. Because your boiler works at one speed, turning the thermostat up too high will only waste energy, costing you money and making your home way too hot. Learn more about how to improve your boiler’s efficiency here.
Your boiler controls explained
Using your boiler controls correctly can help you to save a considerable amount of money and create a more comfortable living area. First and foremost, locate the two dials and the digital display on the front of your combi boiler. These control the output temperature for the radiators and the hot water temperature. To maximise efficiency, we recommend setting your radiator dial to 75 degrees and your hot water to 60 degrees.
Once you’ve got your boiler running at the optimal temperature, you’ll want to set the timer for when you need heating the most. With a combi boiler, hot water is on demand. When you open a hot water tap the boiler is triggered to supply hot water, so no need to set the timer for hot water.
For your central heating system, your timer settings will depend on when you spend most time at home. For most people, setting your central heating to come on half an hour before their alarm clock and half an hour before they come home from work is most convenient. An hour of heating in the morning and evening is a good starting point for your central heating system.
If you need a boost of heat during a particularly cold snap, you can easily override your timings by manually turning on your heating system.
Different room, different temperature
Most modern radiators are fitted with thermostatic radiator valves. They can be adjusted to regulate the flow of water into a room in order to control the temperature. Radiator valves usually have temperature settings from one to five. For maximum efficiency, set the radiators in your living room to three or four and in your bedrooms to two.
It is never a good idea to turn off radiators in individual rooms. If a room of your home is not in regular use, turn the thermostatic valve down as low as possible to prevent problems with mould and damp from occurring.
ProTech Boilers: Heating homes across the UK
For nearly five years, we have been helping homeowners across the UK with all their home heating requirements. We provide a new boiler replacements and boiler repairs and carry out annual servicing for all our regular customers. If you need a new boiler, we can offer you ‘A’ rated energy efficient boilers at highly competitive prices.
If you are looking for a new combi boiler We are currently offering a New Ideal Vogue Max fully installed with a 12-year warranty from as little as £1,995. The offer runs until the 31st August so act quickly to get your home winter ready. If you’d like to find out more about ProTech Boilers and our range of products and services get in touch today. Call us on 0800 138 2223 or contact us online.