As the cold weather sets in, many people will be turning their heating on for the first time this year – but should you leave it on all day or not? Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has the answer
The age-old debate about whether to keep your heating, running all day or switch it on and off has returned as temperatures drop. Some argue the “low and slow” approach of maintaining radiators on constant low heat provides more efficient home warming.
Others strongly disagree with this method. Martin Lewis ‘ Money Saving Expert has now settled the matter once and for all. Drawing on expertise from the Energy Saving Trust, British Gas, an independent plumber, and MoneySavers social media feedback – this represents the most thoroughly researched answer available, reports the Express.
The verdict appears to be that “leaving the heating on all day leads to greater heat loss and means higher cost”, according to MSE. Nevertheless, both sides of the heating debate have merit – though there’s flexibility depending on your specific circumstances.
The Energy Saving Trust confirms that keeping heating running continuously is less efficient. It recommends simply delivering warmth to your property precisely when required – ensuring you’re only paying during necessary periods.
A programmable thermostat works best for maintaining your desired home temperature exactly when needed. However, if you have a modern boiler or heat pump, are at home all day, or spend most of your evenings and weekends at home, the low and slow method wins, argues Heat Geek.
Heat pumps are a low-carbon form of electric heating which capture heat from outside the home. A modern condensing boiler recovers some waste heat before its lost – these boilers were installed after 2005. In these cases, it could be more efficient to keep your house at a constant 18 or 19°C.
Low temperatures and slow heating responsiveness, meaning you don’t shoot your heating up when you’re cold- means the boiler can recover more waste heat.
However, this will not be the best method for you if you are often out of the house or if you have plasterboard walls (which heat up faster).
But if you have cavity wall and loft insulation or underfloor heating – low and slow is best. Others think the argument for low and slow is that it will prevent condensation collecting within the walls each time the heating is turned off- which can conduct heat outside your home.
This can also encourage damp and mould. As there is no firm answer, MSE recommends trial and error – comparing the energy usage with each method.
Take your meter readings at the start and end of each experiment and compare them – but try and match the temperatures of the weeks you are testing in.