The Sun, on Climate, 6 November 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

Secret boiler button , says Octopus Energy

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.1 finding

Comment now Next OCTOPUS Energy has revealed a one boiler hack which could save Brits dozens of pounds off their winter bills. The energy supplier also gave an additional tip to help households save money on costly bills ahead of the festive season. The change is completely reversible and takes just minutes – but could save you up to £65 Source: Rex As the days grow shorter, colder and darker, Brits across the country may start to see their energy bills creep up.

Advertisement But, Octopus Energy has revealed one simple setting – which takes just minutes to change – that could save you up to £65 on your bills this winter. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. The British energy supplier said that combi boilers (also known as combination boilers) “work best” when they heat radiators to 60C or below.

But, the firm notes, usually these boilers “flow temperatures” are set too high by default – typically between 70C to 80C – costing households precious pounds in wasted energy. Read more Money News UPROOTED Beloved UK garden centre selling £20 Xmas trees confirms closure after 30 years SAVE THE DATE Exact date Asda will give away £15 to shoppers in pre-Christmas boost As explained by innovation agency Nesta, the “flow temperature is the temperature to which your boiler heats the water that supplies your radiators”.

Instead, Octopus Energy recommends setting your flow temperature to between 55C and 60C on your combi boiler . Although your home may feel colder at first, this is simply because your radiators will not be as hot and may take longer to heat up your house. This can be easily fixed by starting your heating up 15 to 20 minutes earlier, giving your home more time to become warm. Most read in Money HOME MOAN Biggest ‘deal killer’ features knocking over £30,000 off YOUR home value JOBS ARMY Major UK employer offering 40 apprenticeships starting next year - how to apply NORT JUST FOOD Shirtless James Norton stars as hunky Santa in feelgood M&S Christmas ad AXE FALLS British telecoms giant slashes 11,700 jobs in brutal year-long cull Households are able to control the flow temperature directly from their boiler, and can use an interactive online tool by Nesta to help change their setting depending on their combi boiler display type.

Advertisement This may appear in the form of a “secret” button or a setting through your boiler display. Combi boilers also keep an amount of water heated up when it is not in use, the firm notes. By turning this off, households can save money in gas bills whilst still maintaining hot water temperatures. Comment now

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What we found (1)

The Sun reports Octopus Energy's advice to lower a combi boiler's flow temperature to 55C to 60C, and to switch off its hot water preheat, to cut gas use this winter. The body attributes the advice and gives the saving as up to £65, but the headline drops that ceiling and tells readers the setting can slash £65 off their bills. Nothing else in the piece misleads.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “can slash £65 off your energy bills this winter”

    Why this matters
    The words "can slash £65" give the saving as a flat figure that the change delivers.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes it that turning down the boiler setting will cut about £65 from their bill this winter.
    The context
    The body gives £65 only as a maximum. It says the setting "could save you up to £65", so many households would save less. The headline drops both the "up to" and the "could".

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“could save you up to £65 on your bills this winter”

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “The British energy supplier said that combi boilers (also known as combination boilers) “work best” when they heat radiators to 60C or below.”

    The article attributes the technical claim to Octopus Energy and quotes its wording. It does not present the claim in its own voice.

  • “Although your home may feel colder at first, this is simply because your radiators will not be as hot and may take longer to heat up your house.”

    It tells readers the trade-off of the change. It does not present the saving as cost-free.

  • “As explained by innovation agency Nesta, the “flow temperature is the temperature to which your boiler heats the water that supplies your radiators”.”

    It defines the setting and names the source of the definition, so readers know what they are changing.

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