The Energy Saving Trust has shared the best way to heat your home ‘comfortably’ – and save £120 while you do it
Some people have been turning up the thermostat to try to heat their home more quickly(Image: Getty)
Autumn is well and truly here, with falling temperatures along with the leaves. It can also spark what can be a battle in many households over exactly when to switch on the heating and at what temperature to set it.
Over recent years, one viral social media trend has seen influencers advising people to “crank up the heating” and turn up the thermostat in a bid to heat the house more quickly. But energy experts are warning that this not only doesn’t work but it also will actually leave you out of pocket.
The Energy Saving Trust advises: “A room thermostat stops your central heating system using more energy than it needs to. It turns the heating on until the room reaches the temperature you’ve set. Once it reaches the set temperature, it turns the heating off until the temperature drops again.”
And it dismisses the trend as a myth explaining: “You don’t need to turn your room thermostat up when it is colder outside. Your home will heat up to your chosen temperature whatever the weather, but it may take a little longer on colder days.
“Remember: turning up your room thermostat won’t make your home heat any faster! Also, bear in mind that room thermostats need a free flow of air to get a better sense of the temperature. Therefore, it’s important to make sure they’re not blocked by curtains or furniture and to keep them away from heat sources like radiators.”
What temperature is best?
The organisation also has advice on setting the correct temperature – and it could save you a decent amount of cash. It says: “You should set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your needs.
“For most people, this is between 18°C and 21°C. If you can, turning down your thermostat from 22°C to 21°C can save £120 a year in GB and £80 in NI on energy bills.”
Timing can save
The Energy Saving Trust says a timer or programmer can help as it lets you control when your heating and hot water comes on and when it goes off. It says: “This is useful because it means you can programme your central heating based on when you need it. For example, you can programme the heating system for when you want warmth and switch off when you’re not at home or at night.
“While these controls are found in many heating systems, the advice for using them varies if you have heat pump or electric heating. Using a programmer, you can set ‘on’ and ‘off’ time periods for your central heating.” It explains that typically, with a boiler you should set the central heating programme to:
- Turn on around half an hour before you get up.
- Turn off around half an hour before you go to bed.
Check that the clock on the programmer is correct before you set your programmes. Many programmers will change automatically when the clocks change in spring and autumn. But if it doesn’t, you will need to remember to adjust it.
When you should turn your heating on will depend on your circumstances, but generally you should put it on when you start to feel cold, it recommends.
Check your settings
The Energy Saving Trust says a boiler should have a dial or a digital temperature setting, sometimes marked in numbers or from minimum (min) to maximum (max). It advises: “This sets the temperature of the water that’s pumped from the boiler through the radiators to heat your home. This is known as the boiler flow temperature.
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“If your boiler thermostat is set higher than needed, lowering it could save you money. This is because a lower flow temperature helps your boiler work more efficiently.
“But if it’s not set high enough when it’s very cold outside, your home may not reach the temperature you need to be comfortable. Don’t lower it below 65C if you have separate hot water cylinder, as lower temperatures can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria.”
Service your boiler or heat pump
The organisation adds: “We recommend getting your boiler or heat pump serviced every year to make sure it’s running properly. The cost of a service will vary depending on where you live and how much work is needed. This will help make sure your system is running at its most economical.
“Renting your home? Your landlord should arrange and pay for the service. They also have to provide gas safety checks for your boiler and all other gas appliances.”
