When should you put your heating on as temperatures fall?
IT’S tempting to stick the heating on as soon as temperatures start to plummet and you begin to feel the cold.
But as energy costs continue to climb, people may want to delay cranking up the thermostat in order to save some money.
When should I put the heating on?
On October 1, the energy price cap shot up by 12%, adding an average of £139 a year to the average household energy bill.
While there is no set time for people to switch on their heating, experts say waiting until the clocks go back will save you money.
The clocks go back on the last Sunday of October each year, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. This year that falls on October 31.
So as well as turning your watch back an hour on that date, experts say to wait until then to turn the heating on to shrink your bills.
Heating expert Jordan Chance told : “Turning on your central heating is notably one of the sure signs that winter has arrived.
"Although there is no single temperature at which you should turn your heating on, many aim for the time when clocks go back, falling this year on October 31."
It might sound obvious but you should only turn the heating on when you actually need it.
Even if you have the heating on low all day, it will still add to your energy bills.
Should I use a thermostat?
In short, the answer is yes.
People can make big savings just by turning down their thermostat by one degree.
A boiler roughly accounts for 60% of a home’s fuel costs.
It’s estimated that turning down the thermostat by one degree can save a household 10% of their fuel bill.
What is the ideal temperature my home should be?
This really depends on personal preference, but many households will want to keep an eye on their bills.
The Energy Saving Trust advises that you should always set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature, and suggests aiming for around 18-21°C.
However, having the temperature set too low or even too high could put people’s health at risk.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the basic level of warmth required for a healthy and well-dressed person is 18°C.
On average, UK homes are heated for about eight hours a day in winter, according to the website .