I’m a bills expert – the exact temperature to set your thermostat to stay warm and keep costs down
WINTER is coming and temperatures are dropping, but don’t spend more than you need to when heating your home.
Energy bills have fallen by £151 a year thanks to a drop in Ofgem‘s price cap, but households will still feel poorer heating their homes this winter.
This is because the support the government offered last winter is not returning this time round.
That’s why it’s important to prepare your home to help keep your energy costs as low as possible.
We spoke to Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com to find out exactly what temperature we should set our thermostats when we think about switching our heating back on.
He said: “Setting your thermostat at the right temperature over winter can help you save money on your energy bills.
“Every degree you increase the temperature of your thermostat is estimated to hike your heating bill by about 10%, so it can make a big difference.
“However, it is important to get the balance right.
“Set it too low and there is a risk of your home getting damp and it has a negative effect on your health.”
“The Energy Saving Trust recommends that your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C.
“The World Health Organisation suggests most healthy people should heat their homes to 18°C.”
The Energy Saving Trust also says that you don’t need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside, the house will still heat up to the set temperature.
It may take a little longer on colder days, so you might want to set your heating to come on earlier in the winter.
How else can I cut my heating bills?
If you turn your boiler’s flow temperature down as well as any thermostatic radiator valves in some rooms – you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.
A couple managed to cut £400 off their EDF Energy bill by turning off their immersion heater.
Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can bring a household a further £230 worth of annual savings, according to Nesta.
It is also important to ensure that when your boiler’s running there’s no draught.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but it’s the first place where heat will escape.
If there’s a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.
You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.
Consider what rooms in your home need heating.
You won’t be using each one 24/7 so make sure the heating is off in any rooms that aren’t occupied.
There is also a list of other common boiler problems we’ve rounded up that could be pumping up your bills.
A noisy boiler could also indicate that your water pressure is low or there’s a pump failure.
If you spot rust on your boiler then it could mean you’re paying more than you need to on using your appliance.
Although rust itself does not cause issues, it could be a sign that there is a leak – which indicates there is a problem with your boiler.
It can also upset the temperature balance in your boiler, making it run less efficiently and ramping up costs.