Clocks Have Gone Back: You May Have Missed This – Why Updating Your Boiler Programmer Actually Matters

Every year when the clocks go back, people remember to change their car clocks, oven displays, smart watches…but one thing many homeowners forget is the boiler timer.

And if your heating suddenly seems “off” — coming on later than usual, firing up at night, or leaving the house cold in the morning — it’s probably not a fault. It’s just the boiler still running on the old time.

Updating the timer only takes a minute, but ignoring it can lead to wasted energy, chilly mornings, and confusion with hot water schedules.

Why it’s important to update your boiler timer after the clock change

1. Comfort and consistency

If the timer is still set to British Summer Time:

• Heating might come on an hour too late, leaving the house cold

• Your system may fire up when nobody is home

• Hot water may not be heated before showers or school/work routines

Small timing errors can make a big difference to comfort.

2. Energy and cost savings

If your programmer is an hour out, your heating could run at completely unnecessary times.Over the winter, that can mean:

• Higher gas usage

• Bigger bills

• More wear on the boiler and pump

Correct timing = less waste and lower running costs.

3. Avoiding unnecessary breakdown callouts

It’s more common than you’d think:People call engineers because the heating seems “broken,” and the problem is simply the timer hasn’t updated.A quick time adjustment can save stress, money, and during busy winter months — long waits for appointments.

The different types of boiler timers (and how to update them)

Heating systems across the UK use several kinds of timers and programmers. Here’s what to look for:

1. Manual Dial Timers

• Found on many older boilers and wall-mounted programmers

• Look like a round clock with small tappets or segments

• Never update automatically

How to adjust:Turn the dial until the current time lines up with the arrow or marker.Then make sure the segments for ON/OFF times are still correct — sometimes these also turn slightly as the dial moves.

Most common problem:Those little segments get knocked accidentally, leaving the heating permanently on or off.

2. Digital Programmers / LCD Timers

• Found on many modern combi and system boilers

• Small digital display showing the time and schedule

These don’t always update automatically.Some do if they’re newer, but many need a manual time change twice a year.

How to adjust:Usually via a “Clock,” “Time/Date,” “Set,” or “Menu” button.After updating, double-check your weekday and weekend schedules.

3. Smart Thermostats (Nest, Hive, Tado, Drayton Wiser, etc.)

• Most update automatically

• But the schedule can still go wrong if the device lost Wi-Fi, power, or has low batteries

Worth checking:

• Are the heating and hot water still coming on at the correct time?

• Are there any “holiday” or “eco” modes activated?

• Has the thermostat been moved into a cold room, affecting when it fires the boiler?

4. Integral Boiler Timers

Many combi boilers have timers built directly into the front panel:

• Some are dials

• Some are digital screens

• Nearly all require a manual update

Common symptoms of a timer issue

If the clocks changed and now you notice:

✔ House is cold in the morning

✔ Boiler fires earlier or later than expected

✔ Hot water not ready at normal times

✔ Heating comes on when the house is empty

✔ Programmer light comes on at the wrong hours

…it’s almost always the timer being out by 60 minutes.

Quick guide: how to update your boiler timer

1. Find the programmer (on the boiler, wall, or thermostat)

2. Check whether it’s a dial, digital panel, or smart control

3. Update the time and date

4. Confirm heating and hot water schedules

5. Press SAVE, SET, or OK if digital

6. Check that the boiler fires at the correct time

Total time: 30 seconds – 2 minutes.

When to get help

You should contact an engineer if:

• The display won’t update

• The timer keeps resetting itself

• Your hot water/heating still doesn’t come on

• The boiler shuts down or shows a fault code

Timers and programmers are small components, but they control every part of your heating schedule — so it’s important they work properly.

Final reminder

Phones and laptops update automatically.Most boilers don’t.

A simple time adjustment can:

✅ Save money

✅ Stop wasted energy

✅ Keep the house warm when it matters

✅ Prevent unnecessary breakdown callouts

If your heating has been out of sync since the clocks changed, it’s a quick fix — and if it isn’t, we’re happy to help diagnose the issue.