Families could save £270 on their energy bills with a quick change to their heating settings. Experts at home heating supplier Electric Radiators Direct have encouraged people to make a change that takes just seconds to do but which could save you a lot of money.
Stephen Hankinson, heating and energy expert with the company, said you can rack up some big savings by turning down your thermostat. He said: “It sounds simple and it is. This is the easiest way to cut your bill and probably the best in monetary value too.
“If your thermostat is attempting to reach a temperature of 22 degrees each day, you’re unlikely to notice the effect of dropping it a degree or two. Going by the latest average usage figures, dropping from 21 to 18 degrees could save £270 a year. Set your thermostat a degree lower for a week and see how you go.”
He also said it can be a good idea to turn the heating off altogether at a certain point in the day. He said: “At night, it’s far more cost-effective to turn the heating off. A warm duvet or extra blanket is usually all you need to stay comfortable.”
Another cost-saving tip about when to use your heating is to turn it on for a short time in the morning. Mr Hankinson said: “The coldest time of the day is typically shortly after sunrise, when the rays are weak. In the mornings, I always recommend switching your heating on for a short burst when you wake up.
“This takes the edge off the chill as you get out of bed and sets your home up for the day without wasting energy by running it for too long.” He said one “big energy cost saver” is to schedule your heating so it’s off when you are not at home.
So if you get home from work at around 6pm on a weekday, you could prime your heating so it turns on just as you come in the door. The expert pointed to some other ways to be sparing with your heating use: “If you’re going away for an evening or a few days, make sure to change your heating schedule to reflect this and ensure you’re not wasting money heating a space that doesn’t need it.
“If you are going on holiday over the winter or away for a few days, I would recommend keeping the heating on a low setting (or to come on every now and then) to avoid pipes freezing, but still minimise usage to keep your energy bills down.”
Another factor to consider is how you can use the latest tech to use your heating economically. Mr Hankinson said: “Many electric heaters come with WiFi control to make scheduling even more convenient.
“These enable you to manage your heating no matter where you are in the world, so if you happen to pop out and leave the heating in your home office on, you can use your phone to switch it off.”
