Experts have shared a routine mistake people make with their central heating when the weather turns cold. Temperatures have plummeted across the UK in recent weeks, with many areas seeing -5C conditions.
That means we all head to the central heating for warmth. It can, of course, be costly – and it turns out many people are making a mistake in how they use them.
In particular, people tend to crank up the temperature inside because it is colder outside – as if that provides some form of balance. Another routine mistake is turning the heating up higher to make the house warm faster.
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A spokesperson for the Energy Saving Trust has clarified both are myths. They said: “A room thermostat stops your central heating system using more energy than it needs to. It turns the heating on until the room reaches the temperature you’ve set. Once it reaches the set temperature, it turns the heating off until the temperature drops again.
“You don’t need to turn your room thermostat up when it is colder outside. Your home will heat up to your chosen temperature whatever the weather, but it may take a little longer on colder days.
“Remember, turning up your room thermostat won’t make your home heat any faster.”
The Energy Saving Trust also urges people to bear in mind that room thermostats need a free flow of air to get a better sense of the temperature. Therefore, it’s important to make sure they’re not blocked by curtains or furniture and to keep them away from heat sources like radiators.
They added: “You should set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your needs. For most people, this is between 18C and 21C.
“If you can, turning down your thermostat from 22°C to 21°C can save £90 a year in GB and £100 in NI on energy bills.”