Summer heating

Summer heating - everything you need to know.

With summer slowly approaching, many of us will forget about our home’s heating due to warmer temperatures and more time outside, however knowing what to do with your central heating when it’s not needed, can help to avoid problems further down the line and help reduce your bills.

In the UK, keeping your home at an appropriate temperature year-round can be a challenge. Houses are typically built to retain heat and keep the cold out. This is great for the colder half of the year but can be a problem when the temperatures start rising.

It’s widely recommended to set your thermostat to between 18-21°C – this will mean your heating system will turn on and off automatically to maintain this temperature range.

Many combination boilers have a built-in summer setting that turns off the central heating while still providing hot water on demand. This helps save energy while ensuring hot water availability. 

Should I turn off my boiler completely?

This very much depends on the type of boiler you have, as well as what you use the boiler for.

Most combination boilers will have a built-in summer setting, which turns off the central heating system and provides hot water on demand. This allows for the best of both worlds by saving energy and maximizing comfort without compromising on your hot water supply. However, it’s recommended to switch the combination on for 15-20 minutes every couple of weeks to prevent the system from sticking due to inactivity.

If you own a conventional boiler, you should not switch this off as the distribution of heat is determined by the demand from your units, such as radiators, underfloor heating or hot water taps. Instead of switching a conventional boiler off, you should instead switch all unneeded heating elements off, which will give priority to the production of hot water.

Should I just turn off my central heating/radiators?

If you have a combi boiler and still want hot water at your kitchen sink or bathroom basin, you could consider changing your boiler settings to only provide hot water and not heating. This way, you will still get hot water throughout the house, but your radiators won’t come on, keeping your house cool but ensuring hot water where you need it, such as for washing up.

You could also leave your central heating on, but turn off each of your radiators individually, except for those in particular rooms which may require a little extra heat, such as to dry wet towels in the bathroom. Using a timer thermostat is a great way to automatically turn on your heating for short periods.

Should I drain my boiler for the summer?

Draining a boiler for the summer is not recommended because it would need to be refilled with large quantities of fresh water. Fresh water contains dissolved salts such as magnesium and calcium, which can contribute to a buildup of limescale and damage the boiler.

Boiler Servicing:

The summer months are also a good time to have your boiler serviced, as this can help identify potential problems before they become major issues.

Do a radiator bleed & pressure check

Although you’re highly unlikely to be using them in the summer, it is best to bleed radiators during this time and check boiler pressure too. 

If you do have pockets of air in your radiators, these could easily be drawn up into your boiler or heat pump and cause air locks or overheating. 

Oxygen left in your radiators can also create a build-up of hydrogen in the system, and this can contribute to the internal corrosion of your radiators and potentially damage the important components that make your boiler work effectively.

Top up on corrosion inhibitor

Water and metal do not mix very well. 

So much so, that for your heating system to work correctly and be protected against rust and corrosion, you should add a chemical inhibitor to the system.

If you don’t, small shards of metal will flake off from pipework and inside the radiators and eventually cause a blockage that leaves your radiators cold. 

With your heating switched off in the summer, water just sits in the system, so it’s the ideal time to top up your corrosion inhibitor and be ready for winter. 

Should I get my boiler replaced in the summer?

If you’re looking to get your boiler replaced, summer is a great time to do this. Not only are you less likely to need the boiler while it is being replaced – particularly if you have an electric shower and cold fill appliances as detailed above – but there will be less demand for plumbers and boiler technicians during this period, allowing you to get the replacement done quickly.

Modern boilers are more reliable and cheaper to run than older models, which could save you money and hassle once it comes to the winter months. It is better to replace your boiler before you need it, rather than risking a breakdown in the middle of winter and suffering in a cold house while you wait for it to be repaired.

Can I turn off the underfloor heating?

To preserve energy and maximize comfort, underfloor heating can be turned off when it’s warmer outside. However, if your underfloor heating solution is water based, be sure to turn it on for 15-20 minutes every few weeks to ensure there are no faults and prevent the system from sticking.

After extended periods of inactivity, you should turn switch on your underfloor heating in the same way you did when it was initially installed.

Can heat pumps be switched off in the summer?

Thanks to advancements in heat pump technology, many heat pumps have a summer mode which adjusts to the warmer weather without any need for intervention. Although the summer mode can be handy, you can simply reduce the room’s thermostat so that your hot water flow will continue while your heating stays switched off.

Re-activating your heat pump after the summer is straightforward – just move your thermostat to the desired temperature to see it actively begin heating your home again with no interruption.

Making sure your heating system is appropriately configured for summer can ensure that your home stays cool, and your heating isn’t working when it doesn’t need to. Not only will this make your home more comfortable, it will also reduce energy consumption and heating bills.