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This is when you should put your central heating on

Photo credit: Unsplash
Photo credit: Unsplash

From Red Online

As the seasons change from warm to cold, the question is: When should you put the central heating on?

Especially after such a hot summer, when we have regularly been treated to temperatures above and beyond 30 degrees, these dark autumn nights can seem particularly chilly.

When we decide to turn on the central heating, we are also accepting a number of other household responsibilities. Firstly, our energy bills will rise and secondly, we will be less environmentally efficient. As Mike Childs, chief sustainability advisor at Friends of the Earth, reminds us, "the majority of UK central heating is currently reliant on fossil fuels; burning natural gas to heat our homes."

But that doesn't mean we should feel cold in our own homes. We asked the experts to shed some light on central heating etiquette...

How cold should it be outside to warrant putting the heating on?

"There’s no single temperature at which you should turn on your heating, it depends on how well insulated your home is and your own comfort thresholds," explains Caitlin Bent, an expert from the Energy Saving Trust.

"Better insulated homes will remain at a comfortable temperature inside with lower outdoor temperatures, so every home will be different. The best thing to do is to use a room thermostat to control your heating. Your room thermostat should be set between 18 and 21°C."

It is also important to note that age and medical needs can dictate the temperature needs of a property.

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How can we delay putting the heating on?

Friends of the Earth's Mike says that “a draught excluder is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to keep your home warm, and you can also think about insulating your home with thermal wallpaper along with loft or basement insulation. If you’re a renter, you can request this from your landlord, as they have a legal obligation to make the property heat efficient."

How can we be energy efficient when the heating is on?

1. Smart controls

'When it is finally time to switch the heating on,' says Mike, 'then think about getting smart controls fitted, such as NEST or HIVE, so you can control your heating remotely and even adjust your heating according to the weather outside.'

2. Use a Government grant

'If you own your property, and are up for a long term change, you might even want to think about what type of heating you use,' says Mike. 'The government offer grants through their "renewable heat incentive" if you want to switch to some types of electric heating, and move away from fossil fuels when keeping your home warm.'

3. Make sure your thermostat is in the right place

'Make sure your thermostat isn’t blocked by furniture or curtains – this can block the airflow around the thermostat so it’s not measuring the temperature of the home properly,' says Caitlin. 'Also make sure it’s not near a heat source, such as a radiator, oven, or heatsink, such as a window or door, as this could also mean it’s not measuring your home’s temperature accurately.'

4. Adjust your valves

'Thermostatic radiator valves control the water flowing through each radiator,' says Caitlin. 'If you have any rooms which you don’t use, or which you’re happy to be a bit cooler, turn the valve down in these rooms. The rest of the home will be heated to the temperature set by your room thermostat.'

5. Experiment with the dials

'A healthy temperature to set your thermostat is between 18-21°C, if your thermostat is set at the upper end or above this range, try turning it down 1°C to see if you still feel comfortable. Turning down by 1°C could save you around £75 a year,' Caitlin reminds us.

6. Upgrade your boiler

'If your boiler was installed before 2004, it’s likely to be an inefficient "non-condensing" boiler. More modern boilers should be condensing boilers, which are much more energy efficient. If you currently have a G-rated boiler with some heating controls, by upgrading to an A-rated boiler with a full set of heating controls you could save around £200 a year,' says Caitlin.

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