Boiler expert shares major reason why you shouldn’t keep heating on all day this winter

The , currently £1,738, applies to . The figure is for a typical household that buys  and  and pays by direct debit.

While price rises are nothing new for Britons, the has prompted many households to consider how best to use their central .

The question on everyone’s lips is whether it’s more pocket-friendly to keep the heating on a constant low or only switch it on when required.

Boiler installation gurus at have offered professional insights to help Britons use their central heating effectively.

BOXT founder Andy Kerr shared: “The idea that leaving your heating on low all day will save you money is a myth. The best way to save money on your heating bills is to only use your boiler when you need it so that it does not continually use .”

Andy continued: “By only using your boiler when you want warm water or heating, you minimise the energy your boiler uses in the long term.”

The justification is simple – burning fuel at a constant rate will result in the continual use of energy and energy loss.

A damning study by intelligent home climate management company Tado found that UK homes lose heat significantly faster than European neighbours, even when factoring in outside temperature.

The study, conducted between December 2019 and January 2020 in 80,000 homes, found that a UK home with an indoor temperature of 20C and an outside temperature of 0C loses on average 3C after five hours.

Draughty nooks and uninsulated roofs and floors are often to blame, so those who leave their boilers running might just be burning cash and fuel.

Andy provided some crucial advice for homeowners. He explained: “It is more energy-efficient and cheaper to only use your boiler when you need it and to adjust your thermostat to ensure your home is heated to the desired temperature.”

He added: “Setting your thermostat higher will not make your boiler heat up faster. Instead, it will cause your boiler to use more energy to reach a higher temperature, which could cost you.”

But just as overusing your heating in winter can be costly, Andy also warned against leaving the boiler completely unused during summer.

He said: “You might be tempted to not use the boiler at all during summer, however, it’s always a good idea to run your heating from time to time to stop components seizing up.”

For those with modern combi boilers, he advised: “If you have a modern combi boiler, when you run hot water the majority of your boiler components are still being used during the summer, although it is still a good idea to turn your heating system on periodically to check your thermostat operation and prevent the wider system from seizing up.”

To avoid boiler seizure due to inactivity, Andy recommended setting thermostats to at least 10C or using the boiler’s heating controls and timings. He pointed out that most boilers allow you to set your timers and schedules, while smart thermostats help control your boiler’s temperature more accurately.

He said: “Those with a smart thermostat can often control the temperature inside their home without needing to be at the property, making these devices perfect for those travelling throughout the year.”

Lastly, Andy suggested that for those concerned about energy loss, “making home improvements to improve insulation can save you money in the long run”.

He commented: “Having wall, floor and roof insulation installed can reduce the amount of energy lost from your home, and reduce the time it takes for your boiler to heat and maintain the temperature in your house.”