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Octopus, British Gas, EDF, OVO, and other energy customers could cut their bills by up to £100 this summer by changing a setting on their boilers. As warmer weather arrives in the UK, now could be the ideal time for households to switch their boilers to “summer mode” — a simple change that could help cut energy bill costs.
Nils Hoogervorst, boiler expert at Green Match, said: “Today’s best combi boilers in the UK feature a ‘summer mode’. This little-known setting change disables central heating, while keeping your hot water supply running. In contrast to shutting your boiler off entirely, summer mode helps to maintain the boiler’s internal components.”
According to Green Match, making the switch could save households up to £20 per month. Leaving the switch on until the end of September, when summer ends, could result in a saving of up to £100.
Mr Hoogervorst added: “We all want to save money, especially during these expensive times. By taking a few extra steps every year, you can see additional savings of up to £20 a month. That’s enough to buy yourself some well-deserved ice cream weekly when temperatures are at their highest.”
To activate “summer mode,” find the dial or button typically marked with a sun or tap icon. This setting disables the central heating while allowing the hot water function to remain active.
If you’re unsure where to find the setting, check your boiler’s manual for terms like “summer mode” or “hot water only,” which are often searchable online using the model name printed on the unit.
There are several other ways households can save money on their energy bills this summer, according to Helen Rolph, energy comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk
She said: “Along with maintaining energy-saving habits, savvy shoppers should be shopping around for better deals as comparing energy prices could help you save up to £300 annually.
“Check your tariff to make sure you aren’t overpaying, as the difference between fixed and variable tariffs can be confusing. If you’re ever in any doubt then your supplier is there to help, so make sure you discuss all of the options available to you, and don’t be afraid to haggle on the price with your existing supplier.”
She added that “simple” adjustments made around the home can also help produce “long-term savings”.
According to the energy expert, LED bulbs are an “excellent” first step to lowering energy consumption. She said: “Compared to traditional light bulbs, LED light bulbs use roughly 75% less energy and have a longer lifespan. In the UK, lighting accounts for 15% of a typical household’s electricity bill. If the average UK household replaced all of its bulbs with LEDs, it could save approximately £40 a year on bills.”
Secondly, Brits could avoid the tumble dryer to cut costs. Ms Rolph said: “At an average electricity cost of 29p per kWh, depending on the type of dryer you have, the average cost per cycle ranges from 63p to £1.54. This means, if you can cut your drying by one load each week, you could save up to £80 per year.”
Finally, leaving appliances on standby could also be quietly adding to your bills.
Ms Rolph said: “Over the course of a year, households in the UK could save £45 by switching appliances off standby, while turning off lights in rooms that aren’t being used could save households £7 per year.”
By adopting and maintaining energy-saving habits like these, households could save a further £172 a year on bills.
