How long should you leave the heating on for in your home?
With many of us having to tighten our budgets at the moment, substantial but apparently necessary costs like heating are a common topic of concern. Figuring out how much you can cut back can be surprisingly difficult, and it requires taking a step back to think about why we use heating in the first place.
Today, we explore exactly why heating is important, looking at how it protects both your property and your health. Then, we look at how you can cut costs most effectively, without having to compromise in terms of either personal or property health.
Why heating is important
There are two main functions that heating serves.
Protecting your home
One of the main reasons why we need heating is to take care of our homes. Especially in this country, if homes get too cold for too long, they can start to develop all sorts of moisture-related damage like mould. If you spot any of these kinds of issues, it’s important to consult a plumbing service like Able Plumbers as soon as possible.
Taking care of your health
Living in cold environments is also dangerous for your health, especially for the elderly and those who suffer from preexisting health conditions. In most cases, you want to keep living spaces at around 18 degrees Celsius, potentially a little less at night.
Especially in winter, this can mean that it’s necessary to leave the heating on for the majority of the day – particularly if your home has inefficient insulation.
Efficiency considerations
If you want to spend less on your heating without compromising on either your own or your home’s health, you should work on improving energy efficiency.
Keeping the heating on low
In some cases, it can be more efficient to keep the heating on low all the time, instead of letting it get too cold and then having to heat the space up all over again. This might seem a little counter-intuitive, and it will depend on your insulation, but it often turns out to be the case.
Improve your insulation
Simply put, the less heat escapes from your home, the less you’ll have to keep your heating on. If you’re unsure how much heat you’re losing, then it’s worth having an energy efficiency survey carried out.
They’ll be able to identify areas where lots of heat is escaping, such as from the loft or through big, single-glazed windows, and then suggest ways to improve the situation, such as by getting better insulation or installing double-glazed windows.
Smart thermostats
If you haven’t invested in one already, it’s definitely worth looking into smart thermostats. You can set temperature goals for different zones throughout your home, ensuring that the heating is never on for too long. These can sometimes even be controlled from a smartphone, allowing you to turn the heating on or off while you’re out and about.
Clearly, there’s no single answer as to how long the heating should be left on in your home. By following the above tips, however, you can make sure that it’s not kept on for any longer than necessary.
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