A small adjustment that takes just five seconds could slash your heating bill by as much as £270 annually. Experts at home heating supplier Electric Radiators Direct recommend a simple change that can save households substantial money this winter.
Stephen Hankinson, a heating and energy expert at the company, explains that turning down your thermostat is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce energy costs. “It sounds simple—and it is,” he says. “This is the easiest way to cut your bill and offers tremendous savings in monetary terms.”
Mr Hankinson highlights that reducing your thermostat setting by just a degree or two usually goes unnoticed in terms of comfort but makes a big difference to your wallet. “If your thermostat is set to around 22 degrees Celsius, dropping it down to 18 degrees could save you approximately £270 per year based on current average usage figures,” he notes. He suggests trying to lower your thermostat by one degree for a week and gauging the impact.
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Another helpful tip is to turn the heating off completely during certain parts of the day. “At night, it’s more cost-effective to turn off your heating,” Hankinson advises. “A warm duvet or an extra blanket is generally all you need to stay cozy.”
He also observes that the coldest time of day is just after sunrise when the sun’s rays are still weak. “I recommend switching on your heating for a short period in the morning to take the chill off as you get out of bed and prepare your home for the day. This method avoids wasting energy by running the heating unnecessarily long.”
Scheduling heating to be off when you’re not at home is another big money saver. “If you’re going out for a few hours or days, adjust your heating schedule to prevent wasting energy heating an empty space,” Hankinson says.
However, if you plan to be away during winter, he advises keeping the heating on a low setting or having it come on intermittently to prevent frozen pipes while still minimising energy use.
Modern electric heaters often include WiFi controls, which makes managing your heating even easier. “With WiFi-enabled heaters, you can adjust your heating remotely from your phone, so if you forget to turn off your home office heater, you can do it instantly, no matter where you are.”