During the freezing weather, households are blasting the heating. But while energy bills are rapidly rising, some households may still find their homes too cold. If your hot water supply seems too low or your radiators aren’t warming up as they should, Octopus Energy has shared a two-minute boiler check to help resolve the problem.
The energy giant suggested the issue could stem from your boiler pressure. Stable water pressure is vital for your heating to work efficiently, so if your boiler pressure is too low or too high, it could result in less hot water than usual. Thankfully, fixing the boiler pressure issue can be easy. Phil Steele, a future technologies evangelist at Octopus Energy, shared a two-minute check to help resolve your boiler pressure problem.
He said: “Checking your boiler pressure is easy. First, locate the pressure gauge – it’s usually a dial or digital display. Next, check that the pressure bar sits within 1.0 and 1.5 when cold, and 2.0 when heating.”
Mr Steele explained that if boiler pressure is too low, you should gently turn the valves beneath the boiler to top it up.
He added: “Be sure to close the valve as soon as the correct pressure is reached. If the pressure is too high, switch off the boiler and let it cool. Once cooled, you can reduce pressure by carefully bleeding a radiator.”
Octopus Energy shared other tips on how to be energy efficient during the chilly months. To prevent pesky draughts, the provider suggested that ventilation is important to stop damp and mould from building up, but a continuous draught is a different beast. Those holes and gaps can undo all the hard work of your heating, so they said it is best to fill them in.
Opting for more energy-efficient lightbulbs can also help cut costs. Octopus Energy said that LEDs use 70-80% less electricity and could save you between £4 to £10 per bulb per year. It advised using LED lights where you can or energy-efficient LED bulbs. Controlling your thermostat is important, too. Set limits on the boost function and schedule heating for when you actually need it.
The provider also stressed that reducing shower time could save households even more cash. It’s estimated that by cutting shower time to four minutes, a typical household could save up to £60 a year.
Getting personalised advice can also be wise. The provider said: “Gov.uk has a cool online tool with things you can do to improve your energy efficiency, from double glazing to better insulation.”
