Should I have my heating on low all the time?

There’s no denying that as we head into Autumn and Winter, it is beginning to feel much colder, and so you’re probably wondering when the best time is to turn your heating on.

Many homeowners and experts believe that keeping your heating on low all the time is the most cost effective way to heat your home, however, this can vary from home to home, your personal circumstances and levels of comfort that you prefer. 

We’ve broken down the facts you need to know about keeping your heating on low all the time so you can make an informed decision that’s best for you this winter.

How much does it cost to have the heating on all day in the UK?

The costs of heating your home all day will depend on various factors, including: 

• The size of your home
• How well insulated your home is
• Average temperature
• How efficient your boiler is 
• The needs of people you live with

What is the best time to put the heating on?

Unless your house is very well insulated, keeping your heating on low all day is usually unnecessary and will cause your heating bills to soar. 

Instead, set your heating to come on in the morning before you get up and turn it off half an hour before you leave for work. You could also set a schedule for it to come on an hour before you arrive home. 

If you find yourself at home most of the day, ideally, you should only be putting the heating on as and when you need to. For example, you may get especially chilly as the sun dips around 6-7pm.

In terms of temperature, a general rule of thumb to go by is to turn your heating on when the average outside temperature during the day is below 15°C. This will generally start happening around September and October. 

Should I leave my heating on all night?

Leaving your heating on all night may keep you warm, but it will also cause an increase in your energy bills. 

The best way to save money and energy is by only using your heating when you need it. 

If you still want to have the heating on somewhat through the night, it is recommended to put a timer on to turn the heating off an hour or so after you go to bed, and a timer for the morning to turn the heating on half an hour before you wake up. 

If you feel like your home isn’t being heated efficiently enough and that you need your heating on 24/7, you may want to book in a boiler service or a survey of your heating system to check that your boiler and system is as efficient as possible and working correctly.

Keeping your heating on low vs turning it on and off

Many homeowners will be debating during winter whether it is better to keep their heating on low all the time or turn it on and off. 

Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer and it depends on the previously discussed factors including the size of your house, how efficient your boiler is and how well insulated your home is.

By leaving your heating on, your boiler will have to work to keep the temperature at a set level. Having it turned on and off at set times however, will only heat your home at given periods, but your boiler will need to work harder to heat your home from cold to the desired temperature.

Is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all the time?

The answer to this may depend on how well insulated your home is. 

If your home is very well insulated, you may be better off leaving the heating on at a set temperature, where the thermostat will work with the boiler to maintain a temperature relatively easily as there is little heat loss occurring. 

However, if your home is not energy efficient, such as an older property, then you could be better off only using the heating when you need it. The majority of people are out during the day, so most people will choose to schedule their boilers for the morning and evening when they are at home. 

It is more cost effective to heat your home as and when you need it, as heat generated could be lost quickly through the walls. So if you are trying to maintain that warm temperature all the time, your boiler would have to work incredibly hard. 

How to decide whether you should keep your heating on low all the time

The best way to determine whether you should keep your heating on all day is to test it yourself. 

You can test the different methods over a course of two weeks, ensuring you take the energy readings to compare the different prices and energy usage.

If you find that your house just isn’t getting warm enough over Winter, you may need to look at a boiler service or a potential boiler upgrade. Our team of friendly, gas safe engineers can help you to decide what is best for your home and heating, as well as keeping costs down.