As the UK anticipates further icy spells from late January into February, households are seeking effective ways to stay warm without facing exorbitant energy costs. The Met Office has warned of potential colder periods, highlighting the need for practical and affordable heating solutions.
Mastering Your Heating Controls
Joanna O'Loan, knowledge manager at the Energy Saving Trust, emphasises that heating does not need to run constantly. "People rely on their heating more at this time of year, so we want to help households manage their heating effectively, keeping costs down while staying warm," she states.
Her key advice is to use a programmer and thermostat to schedule your boiler. Heating should come on roughly 30 minutes before you wake and switch off 30 minutes before bed. If the house is empty during the day, the heating should be turned off. There is no universal setting, as efficiency depends on your specific home and routine.
For most, a thermostat setting between 18°C and 21°C is comfortable. Crucially, you do not need to turn the thermostat up when it gets colder outside. "Your home will still reach the same temperature – it may just take a little longer, but turning it up won't make it heat any faster," O'Loan explains. Ensure the thermostat has a clear airflow and isn't blocked by furniture or curtains.
Sealing Heat Loss and Optimising Systems
Sam Jump, head of business development at the Wunda Group, points out that 10-20% of home heat is lost through windows and doors. While efficient glazing and doors are ideal long-term solutions, immediate steps include keeping curtains closed, especially at night. Heavy or thermal-lined curtains are most effective, and even a curtain over the front door can help.
Jump also highlights often-overlooked draught sources like keyholes and letterboxes. A simple fridge magnet can block a keyhole, while draught excluders and external letterboxes are worthwhile investments. "Audit and seal any gaps where even the slightest draught could be creeping through," he advises.
Inside the home, turn radiators down (but not fully off) in unused rooms to reduce damp and improve system efficiency. Homes with heat pumps may need radiators left open for optimal performance.
Protecting Your Home and Investing in Efficiency
If going away in very cold weather, avoid switching the heating off entirely to prevent frozen and burst pipes. O'Loan recommends using the frost protection setting or setting the thermostat to around 13°C. "It might cost a little in energy, but far less than repairing burst pipes," she notes.
The efficiency of your boiler is paramount. The most efficient models have an A rating, converting over 90% of fuel into heat. Older D or E-rated boilers waste more energy. The average cost for a new gas boiler installation is around £3,700. O'Loan stresses working with a good installer to correctly set flow temperatures for optimal performance.
For those considering greener options, heat pumps can significantly reduce emissions but have higher upfront costs of £7,000–£12,000, though grants are available to offset this.
Finally, Jump suggests checking your boiler's temperature setting. "Our boilers are often set to maximum, but you can still achieve a comfortable temperature from your radiators without spending as much on the boiler temperature," he says. A slight reduction can lead to considerable savings on bills.
