Octopus urges energy customers to follow little-known shower rule for free £60

James Rodger
·2-min read
Octopus urges energy customers to follow little-known shower rule for free £60
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Octopus Energy says a little-known shower rule could give UK customers £60 off their energy bills. The firm explained how little and subtle changes to their daily habits could earn them over £600 as we head towards Christmas amid the Cost of Living crisis.

Octopus explained: "Reduce your shower time and you could save: £60. Keeping your shower time to just 4 minutes could save a typical household £60 a year!" It said: "Your boiler’s flow setting controls the water temperature when it leaves your boiler. Its default setting is usually too high.

"Turn it down a bit and your home will feel just as warm, but you could cut your energy bills by 12% and save up to £65 according to Nesta. If you have a combi boiler, we recommend setting your flow temperature to 50c for heating and 55c for hot water to save energy.

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"If you have a boiler and a hot water cylinder, we recommend setting the flow temperature on your boiler to a few degrees over 60c for heating and hot water, and setting your hot water cylinder to 60c (you’ll usually find the control for your cylinder ⅓ of the way up the tank).

"Hot water should be stored at a high enough temperature to stop bacteria like Legionella from multiplying. Ditching the tumble dryer and drying your clothes on a washing line or clotheshorse could save you £50 a year according to the Energy Savings Trust.

"Avoid drying clothes on radiators – this makes your boiler work harder. A continuous draught can quickly undo all the good work of your heating - essentially wasting energy. Identifying and plugging up draughts around doors, windows and other gaps can help trap warmth in and make your gas spend go further.

"Professional draught-proofing can cost a few hundred pounds. You can also find draughts yourself using the back of your hand, or with a thermal camera and make your own excluders for free using old fabric scraps."

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