Before jumping to the best temperatures settings, it is good to look at the different types of boilers and understand their operation mechanisms.
How Does a Boiler Work?
There are three different types of boilers. They all work using different mechanisms to heat water. We have explained them separately below:
System Boilers:
System boilers only consist of a boiler and a hot water tank. They take cold water from the main water supply of the house. After heating up, they send it through the heating system and fill the hot water tank as well. They utilise less space than a conventional boiler because they don’t use a separate cold-water tank.
These boilers are also good for large properties. They take up less space and offer a much easier and more flexible installation as compared to regular boilers.
Regular Boilers:
Regular boilers, which are also known as conventional or heat-only boilers, use two separate water tanks to store cold and hot water. The cold water tank is usually installed on the roof and water fills the boiler by using gravity. The boiler heats the water and directs it to the heating system and fills the hot water for the water supply.
Regular boilers are good for a large property with multiple rooms and a low-pressure water supply. They use more space due to their separate tanks, however, they can supply heating and hot water simultaneously.
Combi Boilers:
Combi Boilers which are also known as combination boilers, have become rather popular for central heating because they have a single unit to provide both hot water and home heating. They don’t require much space to be installed because they don’t need separate water tanks for cold and hot water. Combi boiler takes water directly from the house’s water supply and heats it using a heat exchanger. Since they use gas or oil to heat the water, they are pretty fast.
However, because they use a single unit for both heating and hot water, they can’t serve both purposes simultaneously. For example, if someone opens a tap for hot water while central heating is on, the boiler will temporarily direct hot water to the tap. They are suitable for small houses.
Ideal Temperature Settings
Moreover, temperature settings can be different for different parts of the house. Always set your temperature settings according to need. If you set an unnecessarily high-temperature extent for your boiler, it will consume more fuel which will increase the cost.
Temperature Settings for Boiler:
It is best to set high and low-temperature extents for your boiler to heat water with the change in the weather. Low-temperature settings are comfortable for summer, and high-temperature settings are for winter. Generally, low-temperature settings range within 50-70 degrees Celsius, and high-temperature settings are within 80-90 degrees Celsius.
It is important that you keep the highest temperature settings around 90 degrees Celsius because water will start to boil at 100 degrees which can cause the boiler to overheat and it can leak or burst.
Temperature settings for Hot Water Cylinder:
These temperature settings are likely to remain the same throughout the year. Optimum temperature settings for hot water cylinders are usually between 60 degrees and 70 degrees Celsius. Try not to let it get too low due to health and safety reasons.
Ideal Home Temperature:
Ideally, 18-20 degrees Celsius is a good home temperature for a family. However, elderly and less mobile people may need 21-23 degrees Celsius.
Individual Radiators’ Temperature Settings:
Every radiator can be set to its different temperature setting, so you can set the temperature of living rooms and bedrooms separately using thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). A thermostatic radiator valve will control the amount of water flowing in your radiator and changes the magnitude of heat it gives off. You can set your TRV at number 3, which gives a nice 20 degrees Celsius temperature in the room.
How to Make Your Boiler Energy Efficient:
You can use programmable temperature controls and can set them up for different parts of your house accordingly. You can also use smart temperature control that can adjust your home temperature automatically according to the data you feed into it. Moreover, it allows you to control the temperature remotely as well. You can keep your temperature settings lower during your work hours when you are away. It can save fuel and lower the operational cost of your heating system.