MILLIONS of households could slash their energy bills by changing the temperature on their central heating thermostat.
An energy expert has revealed the exact temperature to set it at so that you can save cash and stay warm and it doesn’t mean sitting in the cold.
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Myles Robinson is an energy expert from Boiler Central and he’s reminding households to turn down their thermostats this winter to cut bills.
The advice comes a week after the new Liz Truss announced a price freeze on the cost of gas and electricity for the next two years.
The new Energy Price Guarantee means a typical family will not pay more than £2,500 a year on bills.
However the cap only limits the amount firms can charge customers, households could still pay more than this amount depending on their energy usage.
The price freeze includes the £400 energy rebate that all households will receive between October and March 2023.
However, Myles said: “We understand saving energy is on everybody’s minds right now but it is so important to keep your house at the right temperature for your health.”
Myles explains how you can cut your energy costs with a flick of a switch.
And according to Energy Saving Trust, households can save hundreds every year with this trick.
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What temperature is best?
Almost half of our energy bills are made up from central heating costs.
It is important to note that for UK homes, 12°c is too cold and 30°c is considered too hot.
Myles said: “Poor temperature conditions will prevent good sleep, general well-being and concentration levels.”
But with 70% of households heating their homes twice a day in the winter, it’s worth making some small changes to cut costs.
It is still quite warm in the UK right now but winter is just around the corner and as it gets cold outside, the average central heating temperature is 20°c.
Myles recommends that people set their thermostats between 18 and 21°c over the winter months.
He said: “To save money, we recommend putting on more layers of clothing. Also, investing in a higher quilt tog is a good way to keep your energy bills low in the long run and to maintain good sleep and health.”
It is proven by the Energy Saving Trust that reducing the thermostat temperature by 1 degree can reduce your fuel bill by 10%.
Uswitch has previously explained that households could make potential savings of up to £127.70, by turning down the temperature of the thermostat just one degree.
If you were to turn your thermostat down by three degrees from 23°c to 20°c this winter you could save over £380 on your energy bills.
Keep your bedroom cooler
Myles said: “For health reasons and sleep benefits, you should have a temperature drop in your bedroom compared to the heating in your living room.”
An individual boiler thermostat setting in each room is great for this, and you can set the exact temperature as you wish in each room. Try reducing your bedroom temperature slightly and see how much your sleep improves.
The recommended sleeping temperature for a comfortable night’s sleep is between 16 and 18 degrees.
Position your thermostat wisely to cut bills
The position of your thermostat in the home could be having a major impact on your energy bills.
If the thermostat is placed in a colder area, it’ll mean your home is being heated unnecessarily.
You should aim for the thermostat reading to be as accurate as possible, so it can work efficiently and you’re not wasting energy.
You should have it in your most used room, according to the CIBSE domestic heating design guide.
This should also be somewhere you’ll want to feel the heat most, like the living room.
Many people like to keep the bit of kit in their hallway too which could be a central location in the house, but remember to keep doors closed to prevent drafts if that’s the case.
Ignore these two temperature Myths
Myles said: “We often hear that the higher the thermostat temperature, the quicker your home will heat up.”
However, this is far from true. This myth is a waste of energy and you will see a dramatic rise in your energy bills.
If you’re struggling with getting your radiators hot it may be because you need to flush your central heating system or bleed your radiators to get maximum efficiency.
Myles the said: “We also hear leaving your heating on at a lower temperature all day is the best way to heat your home.”
However the energy expert dismissed this trick as a total myth and said: “Again, this is a waste of heat, and your fuel bills will quickly increase.”
How else can I cut costs?
Cut costs further with smart boiler controls
Upgrading the kit you’ve got to a smart thermostat could save you as much as £164 a year – it’ll connect your heating system to the internet so you can turn down temperatures on your smartphone while you’re out and about.
Myles said: “Smart thermostats can recognise the best temperature setting for your home to prevent you from wasting heat and money. They do this by only altering the temperature by 4 or 5 degrees.
“This ensures less gas is in usage. So for sure, smart thermostats are the way forward.”
But this comes with an upfront cost that you’ll have to factor in, ranging between £150-£250.
We’ve previously listed the five best smart thermostats you can buy right now.
Making sure your home is insulated too is important.
