Summer is right around the corner, and if you’re energy bill conscious, you’re probably considering turning off your boiler.
During the hottest months of the year, you don’t really need to warm up your home or consistently use hot water in your kitchen sink. But is it worth it to turn off your boiler? Here’s the answer.
Most people turn of the heating in the summer, and also consider turning off the boiler altogether. Depending on your lifestyle and the size of your family, turning off your boiler can save you quite a lot. Think about what you use hot water on, and consider relying on other sources of hot water for your daily needs. Your boiler can very well be the number one energy- eating appliance in your home, and costs you thousands on your energy bill annually, and turning it off will save you a lot.
This is even more useful if you have an old boiler, one that uses a pilot light. While it may seem like the continuously burning pilot light burn little fuel, the energy used will accumulate over summer. In fact, even modern boilers require intermittent heating if the water tanks are not insulated properly.
If you have an electric shower installed and plan on using that instead of taking baths in the summer, then there is even less use for your boiler. For your dishwashers and washers/ dryers, most modern models can heat their own water as they enter the system and do to need to preheat the water.
Important tip:
While turning off your boiler will save you money, it it important to run your heating and hot water occasionally several times over the course of summer. This will help circulate the pumps and valves so that they don’t get stuck and your boiler will run okay when you need it in a few months. Also, remember that the summer months are the best time to get your annual boiler check done by your local engineer. Schedule one in advance so you can pick a time that is convenient for you and you can plan your activities or out of town trips accordingly.
