For people to really feel the benefit at home, there is a simple method to follow
People should be taking advantage of a feature that could save them money when using their heating system smartly(Image: Nico De Pasquale Photography via Getty)
People wanting to make the most of their central heating should follow a 30-minute ‘rule’, an energy company has claimed. The rule could help people feel warmer without ending up with an expensive bill at the end of the month for the privilege.
With January temperatures often feeling a lot colder than thermometers suggest, homeowners are still cranking up the central heating to cope with the cold. But simply switching on the system as soon as you get home from work or when you first get up in the morning won’t be enough, specialists claim.
Timing is crucial when trying to make the cost of your heating worth it. Sometimes, it can be just as important to know when to switch things off and stay warm as it is to know when to let the device kick in.
Most modern systems need at least a few minutes to kick in before any real benefit is felt in the house. So, Octopus Energy advised people to take advantage of a 30-minute rule to start off in a comfortable environment – and it could also save them some money, too.
On its website, a spokesperson for the energy provider said: “There are many ways of doing this – whether you have smart home controls, or a simple heating timer system. The trick is to set your heat to come on 30 minutes before it’s needed, and shut off 30 minutes early as well – so the room can heat up and you make the most of residual heat.”
Octopus experts claimed that turning your heating off when it’s not needed “is a quick way to save”. The energy supplier also suggested that people who “time it perfectly” with their thermostat could stand to save close to £100.
Running the heating on a programmed schedule rather than constantly, or blasting it at high temperatures when you arrive, reduces wear and tear on the boiler, potentially extending its lifespan. By only heating the home at certain times, homeowners avoid wasting fuel, which ends up costing more in energy and heat they never get to experience the benefit of.
While 30 minutes works for a quick boost, some suggest that an hour may be required to properly heat a home, depending on insulation. Homes with good levels of insulation may be able to last a little longer than those without proper measures in place to trap any residual heat.
What else can I do to cut down on gas and electricity bills?
Octopus previously put out a list of ideas and habits that people wanting to make a difference to their monthly energy use could try to incorporate into their day-to-day lives. It’s often a combination of many small savings here and there that eventually add up to make a big difference when it’s time to pay the bills.
For example, experts claimed that reducing your dishwasher use by just one run per week for a year could save you £12. Try to run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water you use. They also say homeowners could save £10 a year on their energy bills by swapping one bath a week for a four-minute shower instead.
Something as simple as remembering to switch off the lights when you leave a room could save you around £8 a year, and taking electronic devices off standby mode could save £45. Overall, these few tips alone amount to about £75 off your usual bills.