How to Use Your Boiler and Heating Controls Properly

Introduction

Most homes already have everything they need to heat efficiently. The problem is not the system itself—it is how it is used.

Many boilers, thermostats, and timers are set once and then forgotten. As a result, heating often runs when it is not needed, or works harder than necessary. This wastes gas without improving comfort.

Learning how to use your boiler and heating controls properly can reduce bills without changing how warm your home feels. In fact, it often makes your home more comfortable at the same time.

This guide explains how to get the best from your existing system in a simple, practical way.

Understand What Each Control Does

Most heating systems include three main controls:

A boiler temperature setting
A thermostat
A timer or programmer

Each one has a different job.

The boiler setting controls how hot the water is
The thermostat controls room temperature
The timer controls when heating runs

When these work together, heating becomes smooth and efficient.

When they fight each other, waste appears.

Set the Boiler Temperature Sensibly

Many boilers are set higher than needed.

If the boiler temperature is too high:

Heat cycles on and off
Energy is lost
Rooms warm unevenly

For modern condensing boilers:

Heating flow temperature often works best around 55–65°C
Hot water can remain higher if needed

Lowering this slightly still keeps your home warm. However, it allows the boiler to run more efficiently.

Use the Thermostat as the “Boss”

The thermostat should control comfort.

Set it to a level that feels right, then leave it alone.

Constantly turning it up and down:

Confuses the system
Causes bursts of high output
Wastes energy

Instead:

Choose a steady temperature
Let the system maintain it
Use clothing before raising the setting

Small changes here have a big impact over time.

Match Timers to Real Life

Timers often reflect old routines.

Check whether your heating runs:

Before anyone wakes
While everyone is out
Long after bedtime

If so, gas is being burned for empty rooms.

Update your schedule so heating:

Starts shortly before you need it
Turns off when rooms are unused
Matches real habits

Even small timing changes save energy every day.

Use Radiator Valves Properly

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) control individual rooms.

Use them to:

Lower heat in spare rooms
Reduce warmth in hallways
Focus comfort where you live

Keep doors closed so heat stays where it belongs.

This does not make the home colder. Instead, it stops warmth being spread unnecessarily.

Check Boiler Pressure

Boiler pressure affects how well heat moves around your home.

When pressure drops too low:

Radiators heat unevenly
Hot water takes longer
The boiler runs more often

Most modern boilers show pressure on a gauge.

In many UK systems, ideal cold pressure is around 1.0–1.5 bar.

Checking it a few times a year takes seconds. Topping it up takes minutes. Yet it keeps the system working as it should.

Avoid “On-Off” Heating

Some people turn heating fully off and then blast it back on.

This often:

Makes rooms swing between cold and hot
Forces the boiler to work harder
Increases gas use

Instead, aim for:

Steady warmth
Smooth cycles
Gentle recovery

A stable system is usually cheaper than repeated full reheating.

Let the System Work for You

Once controls are set well:

You stop thinking about heating
The home stays comfortable
Waste disappears quietly

You are not managing warmth every hour.
The system does the work.

Conclusion

You do not need a new boiler to heat efficiently. You need to use the one you have properly.

By setting sensible temperatures, matching timers to real life, using radiator valves well, and checking boiler pressure, you remove waste from the system.

Comfort stays the same.
Warmth stays the same.
Only waste disappears.

When heating works with you instead of against you, your gas bill falls naturally.