What Is Eco Mode on My Boiler? | The Heat Network
Boiler Efficiency Guide

What Is Eco Mode on My Boiler?

Stop burning money. Here is your complete guide to saving energy with one simple button.

Boiler Eco Mode Diagram
Quick Answer
"Eco Mode" turns off your boiler's internal water pre-heat function. It means the boiler only fires up when you actually turn on a tap, rather than burning gas every hour to keep internal water hot "just in case."

What Does It Actually Do?

Think of your boiler like a kettle. In standard mode (Comfort Mode), it keeps the kettle warm all day long, simmering in the background so you have instant hot water the second you need it.

In Eco Mode, it acts like a normal kettle. It sits cold and silent until you flick the switch (turn on the tap). It takes a few seconds longer to heat up, but it uses zero gas while it waits.

What manufacturers call it:

Worcester Bosch "Eco Mode"
Ideal Boilers "Preheat Off"
Vaillant "Comfort Mode Off"
Baxi / Potterton "Eco Function"
Pushing Eco button on boiler

Pushing the 'Eco' button on an Worcester Bosch boiler.

£60+ Yearly Savings
10% Gas Reduction
30s Max Wait Time
100% Safe to Use

Should You Switch It On?

For 90% of households in Fife, the answer is YES. But let's look at the trade-off so you can decide.

Feature Eco Mode (On) Comfort Mode (Off)
Gas Usage Lowest High (Burns constantly)
Wait for Hot Water 10-30 Seconds Instant
Boiler Noise Silent when not in use Fires up randomly
Best For Couples, Small Families, Working 9-5 Large families with multiple showers
💡 Pro Tip: Summer Mode
Even if you prefer Comfort Mode in winter, switch to Eco Mode from May to September. The water coming into your house is warmer in summer, so the wait time is barely noticeable!

Want to lower your bills further?

Eco Mode is a great start, but a dirty boiler burns more gas than necessary. Our Annual Service restores your boiler to 98% efficiency.

Book Annual Service (£96)
Or call 01383 660098 for advice
Heat Network Engineer