Much of the nation has been reliant on central heating this month after temperatures plunged to icy lows. And, as always, many are confused as to what works out cheapest.
Is it better, financially, to keep the boiler ticking over on low all day? Or should bill-payers whack the thermostat up the moment their home falls under the recommended 18C. The answer to the age-old question has now been settled once and for all – and people need to take action immediately.
With energy bills still outrageously high, many people are still reluctant to put the heating on – and when they do, they are unsure about what is the best practice to save their money.
The theory goes that by leaving it on all day at a low rate, energy users will lose less money than cranking it up really high at short periods. But nthis has been described as a “myth” by a boiler expert, who says people will end up wasting far more energy by doing so.
Andy Kerr, founder of boiler company BOXT, told The Mirror that “by only using your boiler when you want warm water or heating, you minimise the energy your boiler uses in the long term”.
Adding to his explanation, he said: Burning fuel at a constant rate will not only result in the continual use of energy but also energy loss”.
He described how roughly 70 percent of heat in a home will escape through gaps around doors, roofs and floors, meaning those whose boiler was on all the time will have higher energy loss – and therefore more expensive bills.
This advice was backed up by the Energy Saving Trust, who urge people to only heat their homes when they feel cold. It also encourages people to buy heating timers which programme when it turns on and off, saying those who install and use heating controls effectively could save money on heating bills and also lower carbon emissions.
One of the key bits of advice universally agreed upon however, is getting the house insulated as much as possible to reduce the amount of energy leaking through little nooks and crannies.
