Latest news with #NilsHoogervorst
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Boiler button you need to switch to activate ‘summer mode' and save £20 a month on energy bills
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOUSEHOLDS should be aware of a button they need to switch on to help save £20 on their energy bills now that the weather is warmer. Customers can save cash by turning pressing the "summer mode" button on their boiler. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Customers should switch their boiler to summer mode Credit: Alamy The button can be found on most modern boilers and works by turning off the central heating but not hot water. Typically the mode can be activated by clicking on the sun or tap icon on your boiler. If unsure, customers should look at their boiler manual for the "summer" or "hot water only" mode. You can even look up your manual online by searching for the exact model. If that fails you could consult a professional for help on the matter. This is a better method than turning off your central heating completely, as that can lead to valves and pumps seizing up due to lack of movement. Boiler expert Nils Hoogervorst, of solar energy supplier GreenMatch, said using summer mode can help customers save £20 a month. He told readers of The Daily Mail that it can help "decrease energy bills by more than 10 per cent." If you are keen to use summer mode it is best to wait until temperatures are consistently 14C outside. Energy bills tend to fall over the summer as households use their central heating less when it's hot outside. Simple energy saving tips Analysts at Cornwall Insights said the cost of energy bills will fall to £1,683 from July, representing a drop of almost 9% on April's £1,849 cap. But this is just a prediction and Ofgem is set to reveal the exact figure at the end of May. There are plenty of other hacks that customers can use to help conserve energy over the summer. For example, you can ditch using your tumble dryer and opt to dry your clothes outside. HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILLS If you are worried about rising costs you should be aware of help available. The government's Household Support Fund has reopened for applications, and it could see you get up to £500 to help with food and energy costs. To claim, you will need to live in the council handing out the support. You can find what council area you fall under by visiting You can also get temporary credit from your supplier, but you will have to pay this back. In many cases suppliers offer around £10 to £20 if you run out and can't top up straight away to ensure that you don't go without heat or lights. Beware that when you do top up, this amount will be deducted. You may also be able to get a fuel voucher through a little-known scheme. This is a code given to you in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. Exactly how much it is can vary, but in many cases it's £49, and you won't have to pay it back.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Boiler button you need to switch to activate ‘summer mode' and save £20 a month on energy bills
HOUSEHOLDS should be aware of a button they need to switch on to help save £20 on their energy bills now that the weather is warmer. Customers can save cash by turning pressing the "summer mode" button on their boiler. The button can be found on most modern boilers and works by turning off the central heating but not hot water. Typically the mode can be activated by clicking on the sun or tap icon on your boiler. If unsure, customers should look at their boiler manual for the " summer" or "hot water only" mode. You can even look up your manual online by searching for the exact model. If that fails you could consult a professional for help on the matter. This is a better method than turning off your central heating completely, as that can lead to valves and pumps seizing up due to lack of movement. Boiler expert Nils Hoogervorst, of solar energy supplier GreenMatch, said using summer mode can help customers save £20 a month. He told readers of The Daily Mail that it can help "decrease energy bills by more than 10 per cent." If you are keen to use summer mode it is best to wait until temperatures are consistently 14C outside. Energy bills tend to fall over the summer as households use their central heating less when it's hot outside. Simple energy saving tips Analysts at Cornwall Insights said the cost of energy bills will fall to £1,683 from July, representing a drop of almost 9% on April's £1,849 cap. But this is just a prediction and Ofgem is set to reveal the exact figure at the end of May. There are plenty of other hacks that customers can use to help conserve energy over the summer. For example, you can ditch using your tumble dryer and opt to dry your clothes outside. HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILLS If you are worried about rising costs you should be aware of help available. The government's Household Support Fund has reopened for applications, and it could see you get up to £500 to help with food and energy costs. To claim, you will need to live in the council district handing out the support. You can find what council area you fall under by visiting You can also get temporary credit from your supplier, but you will have to pay this back. In many cases suppliers offer around £10 to £20 if you run out and can't top up straight away to ensure that you don't go without heat or lights. Beware that when you do top up, this amount will be deducted. You may also be able to get a fuel voucher through a little-known scheme. This is a code given to you in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. Exactly how much it is can vary, but in many cases it's £49, and you won't have to pay it back. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Save £20 a month on your energy bills by flicking on your boiler's 'summer' mode switch
Households can knock off about £20 a month from their energy bills now the good weather has arrived – by pressing the 'summer mode' button on their boiler. This little-known setting is fitted as standard on modern boilers that provide the hot water and power the central heating to the home. By flicking on summer mode you instantly disable the central heating system but without affecting the hot water. The setting can be identified by a sun or tap icon on the boiler unit. If unsure, consult its instructions manual and look up 'summer mode' or 'hot water only' options. By choosing this option rather than turning off your boiler entirely, its pumps and valves remain operational. But if you turn off a boiler completely you risk seizing the system – which requires a visit from an engineer who may charge as much as £500 to fix the fault. For most homes, summer mode can be used when outside temperatures are consistently at least 14C (57F). Boiler expert Nils Hoogervorst, of solar energy supplier GreenMatch, says: 'Flicking your boiler to summer mode can decrease your energy bills by more than 10 per cent – providing savings of up to £20 a month.' If unable to find your boiler instructions you can get a copy of the manual online by searching for the model. Details can often be found on a name plate on the inside panel covering the boiler. An annual boiler service is also important to ensure it remains safe and efficient – and less likely to break down. Getting a service in the summer months, when central heating is not required, means it will be working when most needed during the winter. A boiler service costs £100 on average, according to trades website Checkatrade. When energy prices spiked most households slipped energy price cap tariffs, but it is now possible again to switch to fixed rate energy deals that can save you money. This is Money's recommended partner uSwitch lets you compare the best energy deals for you, based on your home and gas and electricity costs. > Compare the best energy deals with uSwitch* By entering your address and energy usage, you can search for energy deals that can cut your costs and suit how you live. Switching energy provider can also help the planet, if you move to one of the green deals offering electricity from renewable sources and more environmentally-friendly gas.
