The Money Saving Expert (MSE) website has settled the debate on whether it is cheaper to leave the heating on all day, concluding that doing so leads to greater heat loss and higher costs.
Temperatures have dropped across the UK, prompting households to consider turning on their heating. However, high energy bills mean the decision is not straightforward. Some argue that leaving heating on a constant low setting, known as the "low and slow" method, is cheaper than turning it on and off throughout the day.
MSE's official answer on the 'low and slow' method
Responding to the question of whether it is "cheaper to leave the heating on low all day or only turn it on when I need it?", the MSE website states: "We wish we could give you a definitive answer, but this question is far more complex than it first seems and we're not heating engineers or physicists."
The website adds: "Ultimately, there are arguments for and against it, and it'll likely depend on the type of heating system, your usage pattern, and what type of home and insulation you have."
It concludes: "The 'Official Answer' – leaving the heating on all day leads to greater heat loss and means higher cost."
Energy Saving Trust backs higher cost conclusion
The Energy Saving Trust, the main UK public body for reducing energy use and carbon emissions, gives a formal answer that leaving the heating on all day consumes more fuel, leads to greater heat loss, and means higher costs.
The Trust states: "The concept is simple: pump heat into your home when you need it; don't pay to keep pumping it when you don't. It says this is the best way to save energy and money (using a timer's best, so your thermostat turns your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you want)."
Rising energy bills and advice to experiment
The Ofgem energy price cap recently increased by 4%, raising the annual cost for a typical direct debit household from £1,663 to £1,723. This marks a three-year high for energy prices, with bills now 58% higher than in winter 2021/22. Further increases are projected for the start of 2027, as the ongoing war between the US and Iran continues to disrupt gas supplies. The current cap runs until December 31, with forecasts predicting further rises ranging from 16% to 25% from January 1.
MSE also recommends experimenting to see what is cheapest for you, advising trying a few days or a week with your heating on a constant low setting before then trying only having the heating on as and when you need it over the same period. The website explains: "Take meter readings at the start and end of each period and compare. Though of course if you're comparing a particularly cold week with a fairly mild one, it'll skew the results."
