So which is the best option: having the heating on low all the time, or just turning it on when you need it?

We all know that heating our homes is the single biggest source of energy consumption with costs seemingly going up all the time, but amazingly we don’t know how to make the most out of our heating. Simple questions like ‘should I turn my heating on and off’ receive a whole range of response depending on who you speak to.ew boiler today!

If you’re looking for ways to save on your energy bills you may be wondering if it is more energy-efficient to leave your heating on all the time or to turn it on and off as required. Read on to find out the answer.

When should your heating be on?

One key factor that gets people wondering whether or not to have their heating on all the time, is the idea that it will take additional energy to bring your home ‘up to temperature’ when the heating has been switched off.

It’s clear to see the logic behind this. After all, if you spend a lot of time heating up your home what’s the point of letting it cool down again, just to then heat it all up again.

However, if you leave your heating on 24/7, you will typically end up using more fuel in a like-for-like situation. This is because some heat loss will always occur due to the difference between the temperature outside your house and the temperature you are trying to maintain on the inside.

So, if you have your heating on all the time, your heating system will be using energy on an ongoing basis to maintain the inside temperature.

The greater the heat loss from your home, the more energy you will need to maintain the inside temperature, which means that the cost of leaving your heating on all the time will be especially expensive.

This all means that leaving your heating on all the time will drain a lot more energy from inefficient homes, as the heating works a lot harder to replace lost heat.

That’s why ensuring your home is well insulated and draught proofed is vital to minimise this heat loss. Taking steps to improve insulation is a good way to save on your energy bills – this can include insulated cavity walls, a well-insulated loft, double-glazing and draught proofed doors.

Typically the most energy-efficient approach to heating your home is to programme your heating system so that it comes on when you need it most.

With many of the more modern room thermostats you also have the ability to set different temperatures at different times, and you may even be able to set up a separate programme for weekends.

When you use your boiler timer and room thermostat in combination with radiator temperature controls (TRVs), you really do have the most energy-efficient approach to heating your home.

How to test it

If you have a well-insulated home, you can test whether putting on the heating 24/7 is cheaper than programming your system to come on at certain times of the day.