If your heating bills seem much higher than expected, it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with your boiler.
The amount you pay depends on how much energy you use, what your supplier charges for each unit, how efficiently your home keeps heat in and how well your heating system is working.
Before replacing anything, it is worth working through the likely causes.
If your heating bills seem much higher than expected, it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with your boiler.
The amount you pay depends on how much energy you use, what your supplier charges for each unit, how efficiently your home keeps heat in and how well your heating system is working.
Before replacing anything, it is worth working through the likely causes.
Start with the bill itself.
A higher bill can simply mean that your unit rate has increased, you have used more energy than during the previous period, or both.
Rather than comparing the cost in pounds alone, look at the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) you have used and compare it with a similar period from the previous year if you can.
Also check whether the bill is based on an actual meter reading or an estimate.
Energy prices can change even when your household habits stay much the same. Ofgem regularly updates the energy price cap for customers on standard variable tariffs, while fixed tariffs work differently.
Heating controls make a significant difference to how much energy your home uses.
A programmer or timer should normally be set so that you are heating the property when you need it rather than leaving the heating running unnecessarily.
The room thermostat should be set to the lowest temperature that is comfortable for your household. Energy Saving Trust says that, for most people, this is somewhere between 18°C and 21°C.
Thermostatic radiator valves can also help control individual rooms, so bedrooms or unused spaces do not necessarily need to be heated to the same temperature as your main living areas.
The old advice that repeatedly changing the thermostat automatically makes the boiler use more energy simply because it has to “reach the temperature again” is too simplistic. What matters more is avoiding heating the home warmer or for longer than you need.
A boiler fault can sometimes lead to poor heating performance, but a high bill on its own does not prove that the boiler is faulty.
Things worth paying attention to include:
If something has noticeably changed, it may be worth arranging a boiler repair or inspection rather than assuming the boiler needs replaced.
Regular maintenance is also sensible. Energy Saving Trust recommends having boilers serviced annually to help make sure the heating system is running properly and economically.
Your boiler can be working normally while heat is not being distributed properly around the house.
Check whether your radiators warm up evenly.
A radiator that is cold at the top may contain trapped air, while cold areas elsewhere can have several possible causes. Problems with valves, balancing, circulation or contamination inside the system can all affect how radiators perform.
If a room never seems to get warm enough, the radiator itself may also be undersized for the amount of heat the room needs.
Our radiator installation page explains more about radiator sizing and replacement.
Sludge and debris can build up in wet central heating systems over time.
Signs can include dirty system water, radiators with persistent cold areas and poor circulation around several radiators.
That does not mean every heating system with a high bill needs a powerflush.
The system should be assessed first because similar symptoms can also be caused by valves, pumps, balancing problems or other faults.
If contamination is found, we can advise whether a powerflush or another form of system cleaning is appropriate.
Sometimes the heating system is doing exactly what it should — the property is simply losing heat quickly.
Poor insulation, draughts around windows and doors, uninsulated roofs or walls and other areas of heat loss can mean the heating has to run for longer to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Energy Saving Trust says that reducing heat loss through insulation and draught proofing can lower the amount of heating a home needs.
This is an important distinction: changing a boiler will not fix poor insulation.
No.
A modern boiler may be more efficient than a much older boiler, particularly where the existing appliance has poor efficiency or is becoming unreliable.
But the savings depend on what you are replacing, how the heating is controlled, the condition of the rest of the system and how much energy the household uses.
If you already have a relatively modern condensing boiler that is operating properly, replacing it purely because the energy bill has increased may not make financial sense.
If your boiler is getting older and repairs are becoming more frequent, our guide to the signs you may need a new boiler explains what else to consider.
That wording is much more credible than telling people that a new boiler will automatically save them money.
It is worth arranging an inspection if the increase in energy use is accompanied by a noticeable change in the heating system.
For example, if radiators are taking much longer to warm up, several rooms are struggling to reach temperature, the boiler is behaving differently or you are repeatedly having to reset it, there may be something worth investigating.
ReliaHeat can check the boiler and heating system and explain what we find before recommending repair, cleaning or replacement work.
ReliaHeat provides boiler and central heating services across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.
If your heating is using more energy than expected and you suspect there may be a problem with the boiler, radiators or circulation, we can assess the system and advise on the appropriate next step.
If something has changed with your heating, contact ReliaHeat to arrange an assessment.
We can check the system, explain what is causing the problem and provide a clear quotation if any work is required.
