Martin Lewis has settled the debate over whether it's cheaper to keep your heating on all day or only switch it on when you need it. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, the Money Saving Expert shared his advice with Brits as many start reaching for their hot water bottles, pulling out their blankets and preparing for the colder months ahead.
What Martin Lewis advised
Talking on the show, the expert said: "They say it's better to only put the heating on when you need it. You pay to pump energy in as and when is needed, and to keep pumping it in constantly isn't efficient."
"Using a timer's best, because your thermostat is designed to turn your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it at. So in general I'd stick with that."
However, Martin warned that this is the "simple answer" and the reality can be a little more complicated.
He added: "There are some engineers who argue that keeping the heating on low with all the radiators on and the boiler down can work as it reduces condensation, which when the heating is turned off collects within the walls, and can help conduct heat outside the home."
"This means you lose heat more quickly and will use more energy as a result. So if your house is prone to that you may want to think about it."
How people manage their heating
The discussion continued on the MSE Forum, where users shared how they manage their heating at home.
One user said: "I normally just leave it on stat (set the thermostat and let it sort itself out) so between 15 and 20 while I'm in. I turn it down to 10 when I'm out."
Another user added: "I live in a well-insulated new build so heating is on a timer with thermostat on 20C from 6am to 7am and 5pm to 8pm. I generally keep it off completely over the summer."
A third user said: "My heating is set to 21C from 07.45 to 23.30 then 18C overnight but sometimes I manually increase the temp to 22.5C in the evening if my wife is feeling chilly."
"It resets to 21C at 7.45 the next day. It will occasionally produce heat during the night if it is below freezing outside."
Overall advice and other ways to stay warm
With so many factors to consider, including people's working hours and how well insulated their homes are, Martin urges people to carry out their own tests and monitor the impact on their energy bills.
This could be done over a weekend or two by keeping an eye on energy usage through your provider's app or calculating how much energy you have used and how much it has cost from a physical bill.
There are also plenty of other ways to try to keep your home warm without relying solely on your heating. These include placing tin foil behind radiators, closing your curtains to provide an extra layer of insulation, turning the thermostat down slightly and laying down rugs to help retain heat.
You can also draught-proof your home by sealing gaps in floors and walls with basic gaffer tape and placing old clothing or towels along the bottom of doors to stop cold air from getting in. If you live near woodland, foraging for firewood could be another option - although it's important to be mindful of protecting natural habitats.
A trusty hot water bottle is another wallet-friendly way to stay warm in bed. If you're lucky enough to have a south-facing room that gets plenty of sunlight, leaving the door open during the day can allow warm air to circulate before closing it at dusk to help keep the heat in.
