The temperature across the UK has dropped, meaning many people will be thinking of putting their heating on.
Ofgem’s latest energy price cap increase means the average annual energy bill will cost households around £1,723, which is an increase of £60.
Alongside rising gas prices, many households will be looking for ways to bring down the cost of their heating.
Heating experts are now urging households to check one commonly overlooked setting on their thermostat that could be saving them over £100 a year.
Overlooked thermostat setting that could save you money
Heating experts from Stelrad have urged people to check exactly what temperature their thermostat has been set to.
They said that most room thermostats work by detecting the temperature and will switch the heating system on or off to maintain that selected setting.
If you set your thermostat to 22 degrees rather than 21 degrees, it means your heating system will be running for longer to maintain that higher temperature and consume more energy.
While one degree on your thermostat might seem insignificant, the extra energy consumption can start to add up throughout the colder months.
The Energy Saving Trust says that reducing a room thermostat from 22 degrees to 21 degrees could save you around £120 annually.
Stelrad has said households should check if their thermostat is set higher than necessary and find a lower temperature that still feels comfortable.
Stelrad added that another misconception around heating is that turning up your thermostat to its maximum setting will heat a room more quickly.
However, this will cause your heating to run for longer until the higher temperature is reached.
Chris Harvey, Marketing Director at Stelrad, concludes: “Rather than making drastic changes overnight, we’d recommend gradually adjusting your thermostat and paying attention to how comfortable your home feels.
“Giving your heating system time to respond before making further adjustments can also help you avoid unnecessarily turning the temperature back up.
“Another thing households often overlook is where their thermostat is positioned.
“If it’s near a draughty doorway, in direct sunlight or close to a heat source, it may not accurately reflect the temperature of the main living space, potentially causing the heating to switch on or off at the wrong time.
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“Finally, while reducing energy consumption is important, households should be mindful of keeping their homes at a safe temperature, particularly where older people, young children or those with health conditions are concerned.
“The aim should always be to make smarter use of heating, rather than sacrificing warmth.”
Will you be turning down your thermostat by just one degree to save some money this winter? Let us know in the comments.
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