The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has announced that the energy price cap will increase by 6.4% on April 1, 2025, raising the average bill from £1,738 to £1,849 for typical usage. This looming price hike is even more reason to think carefully about household heating habits, but a property expert has warned against dialling down the thermostat too soon.
Clive Holland, broadcaster at Fix Radio, told Express.co.uk that switching off your central heating affects more than just staying warm; it is also about boiler health. “If you feel like you are warm enough, I would certainly say you can turn the heating off, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this for a long period,” said Clive. Instead, he suggests taking a gradual approach over the next four weeks.
The Fix Radio presenter said: “I would only go down in one-degree increments – you have to almost plan this to see how many times your boiler is triggering on and off.”
Turning off your heating suddenly can be bad because it can lead to potential issues like frozen pipes, increased energy consumption when you turn it back on, and damage to your heating system components due to inactivity.
Additionally, there is an increased risk of dampness and mould growth in your home, especially if you leave it off for extended periods, particularly in colder climates.
“Certain studies show that reducing it just by one degree a day can save hundreds of pounds over the course of a year. You have to make sure you’re not compromising the boiler, which is why I would suggest testing it out before you do it. It’s tough because you can only really compare bill-to-bill”, said Clive.
Despite sunnier weather giving a glimmer of hope for extra warmth, it’s important to note that the nights are still very cold, with minus temperatures forecasted in the evenings.
However, Clive says looking at your local long-range forecast is still worthwhile.
“I would say once the temperature regularly gets to 12C outside, that would give you a good indication to turn off your boiler. Of course, you may need to re-introduce your boiler on and off for those cold days and nights.”
For most of the UK, this will be around the end of the month, specifically when the clocks go forward on Sunday, March 30.
The property expert noted: “This seems to change people’s thoughts and think that it changes their mentality to switch off their heating as they believe that summer is approaching – I think they’ll follow that rule more than ever because they need to save.”
Clive offered some household heating advice for anyone who wants to turn their heating off as soon as possible.
He urged Britons to put draught strips on doors and windows to reduce heat loss and suggested covering the letterbox. Additional draught excluders at the base of external doors are also worthwhile.
If you have modern UPVC French doors, utilise winter settings on the edge of the 5-lever latch system until the weather really warms up in summer.
The property expert also claimed that “good quality thermal-lined curtains can help too”. He added: “If you still have an open fireplace and you’re not using it, remember 40% of your heat in the room will disappear up the chimney.”