Central Heating Confusion

RedSky1974

Hi

This may be a silly question, but this is our first house and we are a bit clueless about how to operate the boiler effectively and efficiently.

We have a Glowworm Betacom 28a, it looks like the image below.

I've worked out the timer.

However, I don't know what settings to have the boiler running at.

You can choose between:

• Central Heating
• Domestic Water
• Central Heating and Domestic Water
• Off

The central heating temperature goes up to 75 degrees.

The domestic water goes up to 60 degrees (IIRC).


I've got the timer currently set to a little in the morning before we get up for work, then in the late afternoon and evening for when we get home. I've chosen the central heating and domestic water option.

Any advice about what temps I should choose?

Thanks

snowscreamer

Sounds like it's a combination boiler ie. the hot water is heated up on demand when a hot tap is opened, rather than having hot water heated separately in a hot water cylinder.

This guide is useful from Which on an efficient temperature for the central heating: http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/heating-water-and-electricity/guides/boiler-and-heating-controls/types-of-boiler-and-heating-controls/
It suggests setting the temperature to 82 degrees in the winter. They suggest 65 in the summer but this is irrelevant for a combination boiler as the hot water temperature is set separately and you won't have the central heating on in the summer.

With regards to the hot water, I think 60 deg will probably be the most efficient, showers etc will adjust so that they use more cold water, however if you have any non-mixer taps you may want to change this so that you don't scald yourself!