Where your thermostat sits in the house and how you use it could leave money wasted in energy bills
Energy bills are poised to climb in the new year, prompting households to hunt for money-saving tricks. However, certain common mistakes and misconceptions about your thermostat might actually be causing your bills to skyrocket with wasted heating.
Energy expert Gordon Wallis explained why the placement of your thermostat is crucial, and revealed the optimal temperature for keeping your home warm without draining your finances. The Your NRG specialist stated: “Small adjustments can have a big impact.
“Many households are heating rooms they are not using, setting flow temperatures too high, or placing thermostats where they cannot get an accurate reading. These are simple mistakes that can lead to wasted energy and higher bills.”
Where you position your thermostat in your home can massively influence its accuracy, which could unintentionally drive up your energy expenditure. Particular locations might be colder or warmer than elsewhere in your property, preventing the thermostat from regulating your heating efficiently.
Wallis stated: “If the thermostat is next to a radiator, exposed to direct sunlight, or behind furniture, it will get a false reading. That means your heating will switch off too soon or run longer than necessary. The best place is a hallway or main living area with good airflow.”
Another common mistake householders make is whacking up their thermostats at the first sign of a chill, believing it’ll chase away the cold or heat things up more quickly. Wallis set the record straight, explaining: “The thermostat maintains the temperature you set.
“If you want your home to be 20°C, you do not need to adjust it because the weather has dropped. Turning it higher only increases running time and energy use.”
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For the majority of folk, the ideal indoor temperature lies at 18°C – sufficient to ward off the cold without causing your energy bills to skyrocket. Having said that, most homes still typically settle around the 20°C threshold.
If you are looking to make your property more energy efficient, Wallis recommends paying proper attention to your radiators too.
He added: “Bleeding radiators to remove trapped air, moving furniture away from radiators, and fitting reflective panels behind them are low-cost steps that help heat circulate properly.
“They are small things that can make the home feel warmer without turning the thermostat up.”
Households would also be wise to pull back curtains throughout the day to allow natural sunlight to pour in, and ensure doors remain closed between heated rooms and those that aren’t being warmed.