Boiler Summer Mode – Should I Turn my Boiler Off In Summer?

Video: Should I turn my boiler off this summer?

The most frequently asked question is should i turn my boiler off during the summer, watch this video to find out more.

Should I turn my boiler off during the summer?

As soon as the weather starts to warm up, it’s a good idea to turn your boiler off to save energy and money, however, make sure you don’t leave it off for long periods.

For best results, turn it on once every few weeks for short bursts. Although this requires a little effort, it will prevent you from having to get a repairman out when autumn arrives, due to parts seizing up, radiators no longer working, and thus being left with no hot water in the winter.

Why should I leave my boiler on in summer?

Beyond ensuring parts don’t seize up, this choice is entirely dependent on the household and what the boiler is being used for. Although switching the heating off throughout the warmer months is a great way to save energy, you may rely on your boiler for water usage and to ensure everyone is privy to a hot shower.

With this in mind, there are a few things to consider before switching modern boilers off for the warmer months, especially if this device provides hot water to your household. All the best combi boilers can be left on during the summer, and will not use any gas unless you need some hot water.

What is summer mode on a boiler?

Some of today’s top contemporary combi boilers now feature a summer and winter mode. The warmer temperature function lowers fuel wastage by heating water only a handful of times throughout the day, as opposed to having to turn the boiler completely off.

Different boiler brands’ and their summer modes

There are numerous boiler brands to choose from, many of which boast nifty temperature-control modes that kick into action when the temperature warms up. We’ve listed a handful of the most prevalent below.

If you’re considering getting your boiler replaced, opting for one of those outlined is a great idea! If you are just browsing about trying to save money, then why not read our boiler flow temperature guide on how you can turn down the temperature of your boiler to save money?

Worcester Bosch summer mode

This device operates by detecting the outside temperature using an exterior sensor set-up. The control then pinpoints the necessary temperature required to heat the radiator set-up and provide hot water.

If the outside temperature lowers, this will cause the radiators to rise in heat. However, if the temperature rises outside, this nifty software will tell the equipment to lower the heat. This is a great alternative to switching your boiler completely off.

Asides from ensuring your home are heated to the optimal temperature when it is cold outside, this device ensures you don’t use more fuel than necessary to provide hot water or heating for radiators and washing facilities. After all, no one wants a cold shower!

In turn, this heightens your energy efficiency and lowers your monthly energy and heating repayments, saving you a great deal of money in the winter months. The bet example of this at the moment is the Worcester Bosch 4000 combi boiler

Viessmann summer mode

The Viessmann is another option that proves a great investment for the summer months. If you’re due to get your boiler replaced, this is a great option!

The equipment features a tech-savvy control unit that can be used to achieve a constant temperature or provides heating more suited to the summer months with a weather-compensated operation mode.

This means radiators will only be heated when necessary as opposed to being left on when there isn’t much use in heating your home. The best Viessmann boiler at the moment is the Viessmann Vitodens 050-w combi boiler, check it out now for energy-saving all year round.

Vaillant summer mode

The Vaillant Boiler boasts a mode that turns off the heating system without turning off the hot water generation. This means electric showers, baths and other washing appliances that require hot water can still be used even if the central heating is off.

Ideal summer mode

When following the instructions, this contemporary boiler system will fire up occasionally, even if just for a few seconds. This ensures the DHW calorifier boasts a preheated condition at all times and thus, remains in good working order even throughout the warmer months.

It also considers gas safety, meaning you don’t have to worry about this or regular servicing.

The average gap between each firing up is around 90 minutes, however, this is dependent on the ambient temperature surrounding the boiler, as the system will only fire up whenever there is a need for DHW.

On top of this, this the best-selling Ideal Logic range also has a preheat mode that can be disabled entirely by switching off the preheat switch. The pump will still perform a self-check every 24 hours, irrespective of the system’s demand.

Baxi summer mode

To prevent the blocking or corrosion of pipes and pumps, the Baxi appliance boasts both a warm weather and Antifreeze mode. This means it doesn’t ever get fully switched off, which ensures it stays in tip-top condition and is ready for the colder months.

Looking for a boiler with summer mode? Check out the latest costs and prices of new boilers fitted here.

Should I get my boiler serviced during the summer months?

Just as cars require regular maintenance or an annual service, boilers do too. This is especially true if you have an older boiler and one you rely on for hot water.

If you leave your boiler on the sidelines for an extended period throughout the hotter months, when it’s a little too toasty for central heating, you could risk ruining the pipes through corrosion and lack of use.

Getting a boiler service in the warmer months, therefore, makes perfect sense. For best results, book servicing in-between July and early September. We also reckon that summer is the best time to install a new boiler too.

If you are starting your boiler back up, it may be a good idea to bleed the radiators too to ensure maximum efficiency and no cold spots.

Benefits of getting your central heating system ready in summer

Allowing a specialist such as us here at Boiler Central to pinpoint any problems in the warmer seasons will ensure your boiler is ready to tackle the winter, and that your central heating systems and other appliances (such as showers and baths) are in full working order for those cold, chilly winter evenings.

No hot water is less of a problem in summer

The main benefit of servicing choosing to replace a boiler during summer is that if anything should go wrong the lack of hot water in summer is far less of an issue when the weather warms up.

You can probably definitely do without your central heating system and if you are without hot water for a day, it isn’t as much a problem as it would be in winter, especially if you have young children.

FAQs

Is it bad to switch a boiler off?

This is heavily dependent on the boiler, but in most cases, switching your boiler off for lengthy periods isn’t a good idea that can cause it to seize up. Boilers are designed to be left on.

For example, if you turn your boiler off at the beginning of May and don’t turn the central heating on again until the months of autumn, you may have trouble bringing your boiler completely back to life.

This will affect appliances such as your central heating, hot water for your mains shower, and some washing machines that can take hot water from the boiler.

In the worst-case scenario, parts may need to be replaced, which will cost both time and money – especially if you need to hire a central heating specialist for the job. If you think you have an old boiler that needs turning off, why not get a new boiler replacement and potentially save yourself the hassle of a boiler breakdown in the future?

Should you leave your combi boiler on all the time?

No, you shouldn’t leave your heating system on full power all the time, and turning it off now and again during the months of summer is advised, however, turning your boiler completely off is not.

For best results, program your central heating to come on when and as you need it. Even if away, you should still set your boiler to come on once in a while to run your central heating and to avoid parts losing their rhythm, or in the worst case, to prevent boiler failure.

You may also want to consider if your boiler provides hot water to showers and taps. In this case, you will need to set it to provide hot water at a time when your household is likely to require it or you can turn it on an hour just before intended use.

This is particularly the case for those who have washing machines or a power shower that relies on a boiler to provide hot water.

Does a boiler use less fuel when it is on standby mode?

In a nutshell, yes. The hot standby mode, which many boilers boast today, comes in the shape of a function a little like a lead/lag programme. The idea behind this is that the boiler remains hot, whilst using less energy. In a sense, it is in standby to the apparatus.

This means the production of steam is sped up when the boiler is turned on or brought online. It also keeps parts in working order, whereas shutting your boiler off completely for long periods can have the opposite effect.

How often should I switch on my boiler during summer?

Although it is unlikely you’ll want to turn your heating on throughout the summer months, it is still recommended you turn it on now and again to avoid any issues, such as internal workings staining up, further down the line. This can happen if you turn your boiler off for a lengthy period.

Switching off a boiler when it’s warm outside – Final thoughts

To ensure you save money and do your bit for the planet, investing in a contemporary combi boiler, complete with a summer setting, is a great way to both reduce your carbon footprint and fuel expenditure.

These settings will only heat your water a handful of times throughout the day as opposed to for lengthy, wasteful periods. This prevents hefty bills whilst also preventing parts from seizing up.