Experts have urged people across Scotland and the UK to turn their boilers on now in order to save thousands of pounds this winter.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to worsen, and household budgets having to stretch further, people across the country are looking for ways to save money wherever possible. While it may seem counterintuitive, experts have said that switching your boiler on in summer could actually save you money in the long term.
According to specialists at Boiler Central, leaving a boiler off for months at a time could leave you with hefty repair bills in months to come. Shutting off your boiler may result in it seize up and stopping hot water.
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A spokesperson from Boiler Central said: “Most homeowners believe turning their boiler off as soon as summertime hits should be a given, but this is far from the case. Turning your boiler off for long periods can cause more harm than good, which is why it is important to turn your heating on now and again.
"This will protect the internal workings of older and modern boiler and prevent them from seizing up. If you turn your boiler off at the beginning of May and don’t turn the central heating on again until the months of autumn, you may have trouble bringing your boiler completely back to life.
"This will affect appliances such as your central heating, hot water for your mains shower, and some washing machines that can take hot water from the boiler. In the worst-case scenario, parts may need to be replaced, which will cost both time and money – especially if you need to hire a central heating specialist for the job.”
Here are answer to some of the most common questions about how to take care of your boiler during the summer.
Should I turn my boiler off during summer?
Once the weather begins to heat up, there is not anything wrong with shutting off your boiler in order to save money. However, you should not keep it off for sustained periods of time.
To maximise savings, you should turn it on once every few weeks for around an hour. This will make it less likely to develop a fault that will require costly repairs by the time autumn comes around.
If you need your boiler for water, combi boilers can be left on over the summer and do not use any gas unless you need some hot water. In order to make sure you are saving money and energy, you should set it to provide hot water when your household is most likely to need it — or turn it on an hour before you expect to need it.
Does your boiler have a ‘summer mode’ to help save you money?
You should check if your boiler has a 'summer mode' and a 'winter mode'. These are usually found on combi boilers.
The summer mode limits fuel wastage by only heating water a few times throughout the day rather than shutting completely off. This can help to keep the cost of your energy bills down and help to reduce your carbon footprint.
Should I get my boiler serviced in summer?
Just like vehicles, boilers need regular maintenance. This is particularly true if your boiler is old and you rely on it for hot water.
If you leave your boiler on the side lines for over the summer, you risk ruining the pipes through corrosion and lack of use. Therefore, you should have it serviced during the summer months — ideally between July and September.
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