HEATING experts have revealed the best place to keep your thermostat in your room at home.
With energy bills skyrocketing, households should be aware that their thermostat could be adding hundreds to their bills.
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Under the energy price guarantee, the average household on the standard variable tariff pays no more than £2,500 a year on their energy bills.
Average bills will rise to £3,000 from April when the energy price guarantee is hiked by £500.
But this is only an estimate for a typical household – so if you use more energy you’ll pay more.
This tiny dial, which controls the temperature in your home, has a major influence over how big your bills are.
Position it in the wrong part of a room and you’ll add hundreds to your bills.
Dan Khanlarpour, Checkatrade gas engineer at Gas Guru, told The Sun: “The ideal place for a room thermostat is usually the hallway of a home, as you tend to get an average temperature.
“Many modern thermostats are wireless and can be mounted on stands and moved from room to room, but care should be taken to avoid certain areas such as near a draughty window or door.”
Draughts cause the temperature of the thermostat to fluctuate below the average room temperature which will cause your boiler to keep running for longer.
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“Anywhere with direct sunlight, or too close to a heat source such as a radiator or a fireplace should also be avoided,” Dan added.
A thermostat in these positions has the opposite effect and will cause it to read an “artificially” high temperature which will flick your boiler off before the rest of the house reaches a comfortable temperature.
Generally, you’re best off putting the thermostat around five feet above the floor due to hot air rising and to make it easy to adjust.
It’s also wise to make sure that you place your thermostat in the right room.
What room should I put my thermostat in?
Before deciding on which room to place your thermostat it’s important to be aware of the two major main rooms to avoid.
Rated People engineer, Nathan Martin-Nicholls from INHOUSE Plumbing and Heating Services, told The Sun: “Rooms to avoid include bathrooms and kitchens.
“Whilst you might spend a lot of time in the kitchen socialising and spending time with the family, the humidity in the air from cooking and washing can throw the thermostat off and also impact the temperature of the home.
“So it’s best to avoid rooms with higher levels of humidity and keep it in spaces with fewer elements that can throw it off.
“Similarly, you don’t want it in a bathroom as the inconsistent temperatures from hot showers could throw off the readings in the device.
“Bathrooms tend to feel colder, so you also don’t want the thermostat thinking your whole house is just as cold as this could cost you more money.”
Thermostats are ideally located in hallways as they’re usually the most central area of the home.
Hallways tend to have more stable average temperatures by the time the hallway has reached the desired temperature, meaning the whole property should be nice and warm.
But if yours is extra draughty it may be best to place it upstairs on a landing or in a living room away from any heat sources.
What should I do if I can’t move my thermostat?
Firstly double check if your thermostat is permanently wired into the wall.
A lot of non-smart thermostats are actually battery-operated and in this case, they are just screwed into place – so just unscrew it and move it to a better location.
If you’re looking for an upgrade, a wireless thermostat that you’ll be able to position as you please could be a worthwhile investment as it will give you more control over your heating.
The cost of a new smart thermostat can range from £120 to £220, according to Checkatrade.
But this doesn’t factor in the thermostat’s installation cost, which is usually around £30 to £80 depending on how long it takes.
How else can I cut my energy 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 that 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.
It’s also worth closing your curtains before it gets dark as the heat will then stay inside your home.
Another great way to ensure you save money is to turn off your boiler when you’re not using the water.
Most boilers or thermostats have a setting to allow you to schedule when the heating turns on and off.
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.
