Is It Cheaper to Keep Heating on All Day?

The colder months are upon us and our heating costs are starting to soar. Are you in search of ways to save money on heating? The answer isn’t to freeze, and we urge you to think about what other things can be cut before heating costs.

Afterall, you shouldn’t have to spend your weekends frostbitten, risking your health for a few extra pennies you may not need. Before we get to the heat-saving tips, we need to ask one fundamental question first…

Is It Cheaper to Keep Heating on All Day?

There is an ongoing debate about whether you should leave your heating on or off during the day. Well, is it cheaper to keep heating on all day? The answer is inconclusive. You will still save money using only the energy you need, but this depends on where you are during the day and how much heat escapes your home.

For example, if you are working remotely at home, it will be less beneficial as you may have your heating on 24/7, so only turning it on when cold would save you more. However, the same could be true for working in the office.

Say you’re out of the house for 10 hours – that’s almost half your day. The heating is on during that time, but you can turn it off using your phone if needed. You come home to a warm home that may not need heating in the evening. This could be cost-effective because there are 14 hours left of your day where you’re at home with the heating off.

We’ll leave it to you to test out this theory. Every environment and home is different, so there is no definitive answer just yet. However, you don’t just save money on heating by keeping it turned off. You should factor in duration, when it’s on, where, and the energy price cap too.

What Is the Energy Price Cap?

Before the cost-of-living crisis, Ofgem established the energy price cap in 2019 which affects those on a default tariff. This year, it sees a reduction of £151 in heating costs compared to previous years. You can read more about heating costs at Checkatrade’s official guide.

The current rates from October 1st, 2023, are:

Electricity:

Unit rate: 27.35p per kilowatt hour (kWh)
Standing charge: 53.37p per day

Gas:

Unit rate: 7p per kWh
Standing charge: 30p per day

Your cap includes:

A review every three months
The standing charge by the supplier (this is the fixed amount you pay regardless of the energy you use)
Price per unit (electricity and gas)

How to Save Money on Heating

If you absolutely have to cut down your heating costs, here’s our effective heat-saving tips:

Turn off your heating during night and morning before work (only use it when you’re cold and at home)
Only heat the rooms you’re in
Turn down your thermostat – what’s the lowest, most comfortable temperature?
Unplug and switch off appliances you’re not using (your kitchen is likely guilty for most of this consumption)
Put on an extra layer of insulation and cosy up under a blanket (perfect time for a cup of tea if we do say so ourselves!)
Stop heat escaping by closing gaps in your windows and doors
Invest in an energy-efficient boiler

Conclusion

Now you know how to save money on heating, have you seen reduced heating costs from any of these heat-saving tips? We’ll leave the ‘heating on vs off all day’ theory to you, but before you try out anything, we recommend checking if your boiler is still up to the job or if it needs an upgrade. Alternatively, find out what boiler is perfect for your home in our previous blog.

Contact us today with any questions about our services. Our qualified and experienced engineers can help customers across the UK with a multitude of services, such as boiler repairs and emergency plumbing.