With September firmly in swing, we’re welcoming autumn – and temperatures are starting to cool down somewhat (despite the occasional sunny afternoon).
As the mercury starts to dip, it might feel all too tempting to reacquaint yourself with the thermostat and turn on the heating. And, according to a plumbing expert, it’s almost time to reintroduce yourself – but not yet.
As part of new research from Yell, David Doran at Blackstone Plumbing & Heating Ltd advises that the slightest chill isn’t reason enough to turn it on. In fact, you need to wait until indoor temperatures ‘consistently drop below 18C.’
‘For elderly or vulnerable people, maintaining a temperature around 20C is recommended. In many places, early to mid-October is when temperatures typically start dropping, making it a common time to turn on heating,’ David shares.
But it’s not just in the timing: there’s another mistake people are frequently making.
Ever heard that it’s more energy-efficient to have your central heating on low at all times? In David’s view, this could be doing you more harm than good – and it’s actually advisable to just heat your home when you need to.
‘It’s generally more efficient to heat your home only when needed. Using a timer or smart thermostat can help maintain comfortable temperatures while reducing energy waste,’ David shares.
When you do turn it on, he adds that cranking up the heat won’t heat your home up faster – it merely increases your energy consumption as the boiler needs to work harder (and longer). Along these lines, he suggests setting the thermostat between 18 and 21C for ‘comfort and efficiency.’
Thinking of leaving the heating on overnight? David’s advice is plain and simple: don’t.
‘Lowering the thermostat or using programmable heating schedules during the night saves energy. Alternatively, using thicker duvets and warm clothing can keep you comfortable without relying on heating,’ David adds, noting that leaving it on while you sleep is both ‘unnecessary and costly.’
Instead, it’s worth turning your heating off 20 minutes before you get into bed so that any remaining heat will reside in the house as you’re drifting off (or counting sheep, whatever works).
And, if you’ve got thermostatic radiator valves in your house as a renter (or the ability to install them as a homeowner), David notes that it’s worth changing the temperature depending on the room.
These valves allow you to adapt the temperature in each individual room – so it’s worth turning it down in rooms that aren’t used as regularly to save those precious coins.
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So, for now, while temperatures cool off a little, it’s hands off buzzers when it comes to the thermostat.
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