Energy prices are at an all-time high, so everyone’s looking for any ways they can save. We’re taking a look at one of the most common heating myths.

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One of the most hotly debated topics in energy saving circles right now is if it’s more efficient to turn your heating on as and when you need it, or to leave it on at a low level all day.

While there are some differing viewpoints, the general trend from experts says that it’s usually best to only turn your heating on when you need it

Why is this?

At any given moment, your home is leaking heat. The exact amount is dependent on how good your insulation is.

Look at it this way. If you have your heating on for an hour, you’ll stop feeling cold, you’ll generate some heat for your home (which will be retained thanks to your insulation), and that small amount of heat will be slowly lost over time.

If you have your heating on for 24 hours, you’ll lose a bit of that heat more or less constantly. Your boiler will constantly be trying to bring it up to the exact temperature you want, which is continuous work for your boiler. This can add extra strain to the whole system.

Modern efficient electric boilers are good enough at their jobs that it’s not a significant jump in energy use to turn on.

Are There Any Exceptions?

Some experts do suggest that if your home is very prone to condensation, it might be worth keeping your heating on low. This is because condensation can collect within the walls, which can help even more heat escape, leading to a vicious cycle of increasing energy usage.

If your home has very good insulation, it’s a little bit safer to leave your heating running for a while, since there’s simply fewer ways for heat to escape your property. This means your heating won’t have to do as much work to maintain a comfortable temperature. However, if you’re looking to save money above everything else, turning it on when you need it is the best option.  

If you’re going away on holiday, it may also be worth keeping your heating on low. This will absolutely work out as quite pricy, but it will protect your home against mould caused by damp as well as frozen pipes. The latter of these can cost you a fortune, so it’s a reasonable trade off.

With average energy bills hitting £2500, it might be tempting to leave your heating off entirely. However, this can cause long-term damage to your property, which could wind up with you shelling out more for repairs.

Ultimately, you know your budget best. But there a few tricks we can suggest to save you even more money.

Option 1…

Smart heating (or even more analogue heating controls) can be installed without needing to replace your entire heating system. These tend to feature automation options and timers that let you take a lot of stress out of your day; you won’t need to manage your heating manually. That reduces the risk that you leave things on unnecessarily, saving you money.

For example, you could set your heating to turn on just before you wake up so you have a warmer home first thing. You could also make sure things are set to turn off when you got to bed.

Smart heating specifically enabled long distance control, which means you can manage your heating from anywhere in the world.

Our thermostat collection has several options available for getting smarter heating you have more control over.

Option 2…

Swapping to IR panel heaters are a fantastic way to save money. While electric heating is pretty expensive at the moment, IR heaters are absolutely fantastic at providing direct radiant heat to you- they heat the person, not the home.

That means you only need to put them on for a limited time to get the most use out of.

Want to find out more? Give our team a call today on 0116 321 4124 or send us an email at sales@suryaheating.co.uk.

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