Heating & controls

Boilers and controls

The recommended temperature for a living room is 21 degrees Celsius, and 18 degrees in bedrooms. By turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree you could save money on your heating bill without noticing any difference.

New boilers

Your boiler accounts for around 55% of what you spend on energy bills each year, so it’s important to ensure it’s as efficient as possible.
Investing in a new boiler could save you hundreds of pounds each year and help you to maintain a constant and comfortable temperature in your home.
Gas boilers are probably the cheapest option for those connected to the mains supply, but there are alternatives for people who aren’t.
Most old gas and oil boilers are known as back boilers, which means that they have a separate cylinder to store hot water. Newer ‘combi’ boilers provide water directly from the boiler and can be more efficient as they don’t lose as much heat as the water is used immediately.
If you prefer to keep your hot water tank then you can still benefit from installing a modern condensing boiler and making sure the hot water tank is well insulated.

See our FAQs below for more information or contact the team on 0800 107 4100 or 0117 379 0203.

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)

The right heating controls will let you keep your home at a comfortable temperature without wasting fuel or heat – so you’ll spend less on heating bills.
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) control the temperature of an individual radiator, allowing you to have different temperatures in different rooms. You can set them to the level you want for the room: a lower setting uses less energy and so will save you money.

Heating control options

Taking control over your heating can help save energy whilst also giving you a nice, warm house to come home to.
A room thermostat also prevents your home getting warmer than it needs to be. Room thermostats will turn the heating on until the room reaches the temperature you have set, and then off until the temperature drops. A programmable room thermostat combines time and temperature controls and allows you to set different temperatures for different times of the day.
A programmer (or time control) will automatically switch your heating off when you’re not at home, or when you can do without it being on, such as when you’re in bed. Programmers allow you to set ‘on’ and ‘off’ time periods. Most models will let you set the central heating and domestic hot water to go on and off at different times. There can also be manual overrides.
Room thermostats need a free flow of air to sense the temperature, so they must not be blocked by curtains or furniture, or put near heat sources.
You don’t need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside: the house will heat up to the set temperature whatever the weather. It may take a little longer on colder days, so you might want to set your heating to come on earlier in the winter.
It’s a good idea to set your programmers to include the time it takes to warm up and cool down your home. So you can make sure that the heating goes on with a warm-up time before you wake up and turns off before you leave the house. Do this by timing how long it takes for your house to warm up from cold to a comfortable temperature on a cold evening – this is the warm-up time. Then turn the heating off completely and time how long it takes for the house to start to get uncomfortably cold – this is the cool-down time. Check that the timer on the programmer is correct before you set your programmes. You may need to adjust it when the clocks change.

Heating and Heating Controls

How much would a new boiler cost?
The costs for replacing a boiler will vary, but a straightforward gas boiler replacement will typically cost around £2,300 excluding radiators.
Will a new gas boiler save me money?
Yes, you could save up to £490 but the amount that you could save will depend on how old and inefficient your existing boiler is, as well as the size and energy efficiency of your property. Upgrading an old boiler without controls with a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls could save you:

Property type	detached	semi-detached or end terrace	mid terrace	bungalow	mid floor flat
boiler rated g (<70%)	£490	£305	£275	£250	£130
F (70-74%)	£365	£230	£205	£185	£95
E (74-78%)	£310	£190	£170	£155	£75
D (78-82%)	£255	£160	£140	£130	£60

Source: Energy Saving Trust

Do I have to pay up front?
If you need help to meet the cost of the installation, Green Deal loans and other finance options are available, so you can spread the payments simply and easily. We’ll be happy to talk you through the options.
Which boiler should I choose?
If you have mains gas, then a gas boiler is usually the cheapest heating system for you. Most old gas and oil boilers are back boilers - they have a separate hot water cylinder to store hot water, as opposed to a newer combi boiler, which provides it directly from the boiler.
When you replace your boiler, you have a choice of buying a new condensing boiler, and keeping your hot water cylinder, or buying a new combi that doesn't need a cylinder. But, either way, they'll both be more efficient and reduce your energy bill.