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For advice on how to reduce the flow temperature of your boiler, please watch our video.
Central heating systems are pretty complex. They keep your water hot and your home comfortable all day, every day. Plus, they need to last a long time. So, when you’re trying to work out what is the best temperature setting for central heating, you need to understand your boiler and its controls and settings.
Boilers come in all shapes and sizes, with lots of features or just a few. If you want to know what temperature should a condensing boiler be set at, or any kind of boiler, this guide will give you a good idea. We’ll even tell you how to set the temperature on a Baxi boiler, if you have one. If not, we’re here to help you any way we can.
You’re also probably here because not only do you want a comfortably warm home, you want to make your boiler last as long as possible and be as efficient as possible. For that, we’ve got some tips about caring for your boiler, so it is at its best.
If you want to know ‘what temperature should my boiler be set at in winter (or summer)?’ Hopefully this guide will give you good tips and advice. Let’s crack on.
Most modern boilers have temperature controls, radiator controls, and thermostats for the boiler, cylinder tank, or room. Yours might have all, few, or none of these things. Whatever your boiler, consult its manual and get acquainted with it. You can find most manuals online. They might also tell you what temperature should my boiler be set at in summer and winter.
Once you’re acquainted with your boiler, its settings, and how it shows information, you should be able to alter the settings. Temperature settings are usually changed by a dial or a digital display – make sure you’re changing the correct settings!
An important thing to consider: Setting your boiler’s temperature higher will give you hot radiators, but it could decrease its efficiency. Ramping up the temp to max could decrease it by up to 20%, and send your heating bills skyrocketing.
If you want a lovely warm home and a long-lasting boiler, it’s about getting the right balance.
We all want to stay cosy in the winter. Some cosier than others. There’s no magic number for the ideal temperature. If you’re looking for a good balance of warmth and efficiency, you want to set your boiler to at least 65°C. Setting it a few degrees higher won’t hurt. But it’s important not to set it any lower than that. This is so bacteria in the water doesn’t grow, and cause nasty things like Legionella.
For those who like things hot, it is tempting to set your boiler temp higher in the winter. However, there is a chance this will start to stress out your boiler. An overworked boiler will likely have a reduced lifespan, decreased efficiency, and be more prone to breakdowns and repairs.
In summer, you’re less likely to have the radiators on. If you are, you’ll probably not want them to be radiating at the heat of a blast furnace. Like in winter, if you want to know what temperature should a condensing boiler be set at, make sure it’s no lower than 65°C.
This inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria in your water supply, so keep it at 65°C and no lower.
When it comes to setting room temperature, the sweet spot is between 18°C and 21°C. This is within most people’s comfort zone. For bedroom temperatures, if possible, you want it around 16°C to 19°C. This is the best temperature for a good night’s sleep, according to the Sleep Foundation. Keeping the thermostat between those limits is the best temperature setting for central heating, and makes for a happy, comfortable home.
If you’re lucky enough to have one of our boilers, here’s where we let you know what temperature should a condensing boiler be set at, or any other of our boilers.
There are a lot of Baxi models – we’ve been around since 1866 – so how to set the temperature on a Baxi boiler differs from model to model.
However, we’ve made it easy to find your model with this extensive list of our boilers on our website. Most of our models have simple, intuitive controls, and our user guides are comprehensive and very helpful. If you don’t have a Baxi boiler, the manufacturer should hopefully have user guides for your particular model on their website.
Find a Baxi installer near you for a free quote to install your new boiler.