As temperatures drop and home energy bills rise, an ITV consumer expert has advised households to use cheap room thermometers to decide when it is too cold to leave the heating off.
Grace Forell told This Morning viewers that decent room thermometers can be bought for around £10, with Lidl selling a three-pack for about £4.99, working out at roughly £1.66 per thermometer.
Room temperature guidance
She said: "You can pick up decent room thermometers for around £10. You can get them on the high street or online and they can help you track the temperature inside so you know when to switch it on."
Forell advised that rooms should not be colder than 18C during the day, adding: "If you're elderly or you have certain medical conditions, you want that to be a few degrees warmer as the minimum as well."
Boiler and radiator checks
She also urged people to have gas boilers serviced before winter, warning that waiting until one breaks down during cold weather could mean higher call-out costs. A service costs around £100 and should be carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register.
Forell set out three checks for households: test carbon monoxide detectors and look for an expiry date, as fuel-burning appliances are used more in winter, increasing the risk; bleed radiators and clean them inside, as air pockets and dust build-up can affect efficiency; and service the boiler, since a mid-winter breakdown may lead to a higher call-out fee due to demand.
Rented homes
Landlords are responsible for gas safety checks and maintaining boilers in rented homes.
