£100 message to British Gas, Octopus, Eon, EDF and OVO customers with a boiler

Warmer weather means now may be the time for households to change settings

Households could slash their energy bills by making a simple change to their boiler settings.

With the UK having experienced warmer temperatures over the last few weeks, now may be the time for households to switch their boilers to 'summer mode'.

Experts say this can cut energy bills by £20 a month. And from now till the end of summer in September, that could total £100 in savings.

READ MORE: Keir Starmer makes statement on state pension triple lock

Get our best money saving tips and hacks by signing up to our newsletter

Boiler expert Nils Hoogervorst, from GreenMatch, explained what people need to do if they want to switch to summer mode.

If unsure, it's always best to consult an expert.

He said: "Today’s best combi boilers in the UK feature a ‘summer mode’.

"This little-known setting change disables central heating, while keeping your hot water supply running.

"In contrast to shutting your boiler off entirely, summer mode helps to maintain the boiler’s internal components.

"This prevents your pumps and valves from seizing up and reduces the risk of a breakdown when temperatures eventually drop again.

"Turning on summer mode is as simple as flicking a dial or knob, usually indicated with a sun or tap icon.

"Smart devices often have the option to shut the central heating off available on the display."

He continued: "If you have trouble locating your boiler’s summer mode, consult your boiler’s operating instructions and look for wording like ‘summer mode’ or ‘hot water only’.

"You can find these manuals online if you search for your boiler model, which is visible on your boiler’s nameplate.

"Consider leaving your boiler in summer mode when you won’t need to turn the heating on to be comfortable in your home anymore.

"For most homeowners, that is when the outside temperature hits 14C and above consistently (which is between March and October).

Nils concluded: "We all want to save money, especially during these expensive times.

"By taking a few extra steps every year, you can see additional savings of up to £20 a month."