With energy bills on the rise, it might be tempting to throw your hands up and just keep your heating off entirely. Here’s why that’s a really bad idea.

What Are The Risks?

There are two big risks associated with keeping the heating off. The first is related to your health, and the second is related to the condition of your property.

If you’re younger and don’t have any underlying health conditions, then being cold is typically uncomfortable at worst.  But for older folks, as well as those with assorted underlying health conditions (particularly asthma or other breathing difficulties) then being cold can be a matter of life and death. Sitting in the cold just isn’t a realistic option.

What About My Home?

Frozen pipes are a huge threat in cold months, with neglected heating systems especially prone to it. On its own, a frozen pipe isn’t a huge issue (you can carefully thaw them out) but it can lead to a massive problem: burst pipes.

This is basically as bad as your home flooding outright, and can lead to loads of water damage that can cost upwards of £1505 per square foot to repair.

Even if this worst-case scenario doesn’t occur, you’re still inviting in mould and damp by keeping the heating off, which can also cause some serious long-term damage to your home, which can cost up to £300 per wall treated.

How To Prevent This…

To prevent your pipes from freezing (and potentially bursting), then running your heating even on a very low setting throughout the day can help. As a rule, you should ensure your home is no colder than 12°C. If you expect temperatures to hit below freezing, then you should absolutely make sure your heating is on, even if you’re not going to be around to feel the warmth.

This is part of the reason it’s recommended you turn off and drain your water if you’re going to be away for several days during the cold months.

Smart heating is a great way to take a bit more control over this, as you can more easily set timers or adjust things even when you’re not at home. Our range of thermostats are a good place to start, as they can be used with your existing heating setup.

Keeping your heating on low is a good way to compromise between saving money and keeping your pipes safe…but it won’t help you to feel comfortable and can still be dangerous if you catch a chill.

That’s where our panel heaters come in.

See, like electric blankets, these are amazing at warming you up directly. Infrared heat is a lot more penetrative than traditional heating (although it’s totally safe), so it gets right to your core and helps warm you up from the inside.

You know that feeling you get when you drink a hot drink on a cold day, or step out into bright sunshine? That’s what infrared feels like, and it’s great for feeling really cosy even if your home is cold.

As an added bonus, infrared heating boosts your circulation and helps spread less mould throughout your home, so using it can lead to several health benefits.

Combining IR heating with a low temperature on your central heating is the best way to stay healthy and keep your home safe without burning through your heating budget.

If you’d like to talk through your options, just give us a ring today on 0116 321 4124, or send us an email at sales@suryaheating.co.uk.

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