Heating expert shares 'perfect' temperature to stay warm and save on bills

29 January 2024 , 12:37

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There is an optimal temperature to keep your thermostat at claims experts (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

We're all looking to stay cosy without hiking up our energy bills, but it's hard to get the balance right.

As the cold snap hit Britain, many homeowners may have been reluctant to whack the heating up, but there's an optimal temperature that can keep your home warm while not doing too much damage to your energy bills.

Not putting your heating on can cause a whole host of issues, as experts at Your NRG warn that keeping it off can create the perfect environment for damp and mould to grow in your home. But having it on all day isn't the answer either.

"Keep your home's thermostat over 14°C to prevent mould growth - a little higher in tiled rooms. Anything below this threshold will encourage damp to develop in your house, impacting your property and your well-being," the pros explained.

"Many homeowners think that leaving their heating on all day will create a warmer home, but this isn't always the case. For optimal efficiency and mould prevention, set your boiler to activate only when warm water or heating is needed, and adjust to maintain the temperature you want," they shared, as reported by the Daily Star.

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There are small changes you can make to help keep costs down too. Experts suggest lowering your thermostat by just one degree could save you up to £100 a year. This could rack up to a substantial £2billion in potential savings for 17 million households in the UK.

The experts further advise that you should keep your room temperature between 18C and 20C in winter as this will help your well-being as well as the most cost-effective.

Experts at My Plumbing also debunked the "myth" that it's cheaper to keep your heating on all the time. The best way to keep the costs down is by making sure you know how to correctly set your heating and control timers. "Timers and thermostats allow you to control your central heating system more efficiently. Try to never manually adjust your thermostat. A better technique is to set your timer for your heating to come on a little earlier to warm up your home," they advised.

Another way to make sure you aren't paying more than needed is to make sure your thermostat is working correctly, as a faulty boiler thermostat can be "frustrating and costs-accumulating". The plumbing experts added: "You can reduce this burden on your family budget. To avoid the nerves and hassle of unexpected malfunctions, your best bet is to carry out boiler servicing every year."

Niamh Kirk