The chill remains in the air, as winter drags its heels, leading many to contemplate what the best ways are to keep heating their homes – but keep energy bills low
There seems to be no let up from this winter at the moment, with bitterly cold days, and temperatures still regularly dropping below zero at night.
Even with March just around the corner, Brits are still having to wrap up when they step outside, then crank up the thermostat when they get in. But with the rising costs of heating our homes, the drawn out cold spell is leaving a lot of people in the UK a little anxious about how much this is going to set them back.
Some have taken to social media to seek out the more cost-effective way to warm our homes, without costing the earth.
Should we blast the heat for short periods or keep it ticking over at a low level all day?
In search of advice, many are revisiting tips from Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, particularly insights from an old segment on This Morning. He once suggested: “They say it’s better to only put the heating on when you need it. You pay to pump energy in as and when is needed, and to keep pumping it in constantly isn’t efficient.
“Using a timer’s best, because your thermostat is designed to turn your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it at. So in general I’d stick with that..
“There are some engineers who argue that keeping the heating on low with all the radiators on and the boiler down can work as it reduces condensation, which when the heating is turned off collects within the walls, and can help conduct heat outside the home.
“This means you lose heat more quickly and will use more energy as a result. So if your house is prone to that you may want to think about it.”
In essence, it’s crucial to understand how your own home functions before making a decision. However, generally speaking, it’s less cost effective to leave your heating on all day so a timer will likely be the better option.