Personal finance expert weighed in on the UK heating debate – is it cheaper to leave it on low all day, or turn it on and off as needed
Martin Lewis and two energy specialists have settled the age-old debate currently dividing households across the UK – is it more efficient to leave the heating on low all day or crank it up at specific times?
On his Money Show Live this week, he was joined by Prof Richard Fitton, Technical Director of Energy House Labs. Homeowners are questioning the best way to heat their properties as temperatures nosedive – with large swathes of the UK recording sub-zero conditions overnight. Mr Lewis informed viewers that guidance is available from the Energy Savings Trust.
He said: “The Energy Savings Trust default setting is that you have your heating on from 7am to 9am in the morning. This is for people who go out to work during the day, not people who are staying at home all day.
“You have your heating on from 7am to 9am in the morning and then you have it on from 4 to 11 at night. And that should keep the fabric of your house going. And generally the rule is you only pump heat into your house when you need it. And then you don’t put it on when you don’t need it and you pump it on again when you need it. Now we get to the baboons, the big butts. So Richard That’s sort of an easy default, but it’s a lot more complicated. The fabric of your house matters, doesn’t it?”
Prof Fitton said: “It depends on a number of things. The weather that the type of building, if you’ve got a big heavyweight house with lots of thermal mass, and that might be a solid brick Victorian terrace for instance, that kind of then that will store heat and that will act as a battery for heat. Whereas, if you have a very light lightweight or modern house made of timber frame for instance that will heat up really quickly but won’t necessarily store the heat.”
Martin sought clarification: “So the first one you have it on low all day?” Prof Fitton replied: “They can work in different ways but I think that’s probably an easier challenge for that house.”
Prof Fitton noted that households with smart meters — currently installed in roughly 60% of homes — can monitor the difference themselves. He said you can literally do your own experiment, put him out of a job, do your own scientific experiment and see which works out best for you.
The experts suggested running a two-week trial under each method to determine which proves most cost-effective, though stressed that comparable weather conditions were essential for an accurate result.
Martin concluded: “Heavy house, thermal mass probably better constant. Losing energy probably better just to have it on when you need it.”
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James Lacey, Director of JLN Plumbing and Heating Ltd, pointed out that the type of heating system installed in your home plays a crucial role: “So depending on the heating appliance that you’re using to create heat, it depends how you control it and how you use it.
“So if you’re on a say a gas boiler or a heat pump that you can modulate out its output and run it a little bit lower or slower, then that’s it’s steady state heating. Low and slow is going to be more economical, better for your bills. But if you’re on say an oil boiler or some electric heaters, they’re either on or they’re off.
“They haven’t got a low. So they’re going to be cycling on and off. And in them cases, you’re probably better off using at the time traditional sort of time of use rates.”