1. Electric heaters are more efficient than central heating
Many people are reaching for electric heaters in a bid to keep warm as a cheaper alternative to turning on the heating, but according to Dom Lees Bell, a heating expert at Only Radiators, they can be more expensive.
The expert said: “Gas central heating costs around £2.22 per hour to run based on an average boiler using 30 kilowatts per hour and the average gas costing 7.42 pence per kWh.
“This will heat your whole home to the temperature your thermostat is set at. An electric heater, which can heat a small room or provide heat directly to you, uses around three kilowatts per hour.
“With electricity currently costing around 28.62* pence per kWh under the new energy price cap, that’s around 85p per hour per heater or use.
“If you were to use a plug-in electric heater for an hour a day in two separate rooms then it’s likely costing you an extra £11.90 a week.
“So, if you’re a larger or family household with many rooms to heat at one time, it’s not going to save you money to use one and you may as well just pop the heating on instead.”
2. Cheaper to keep the heating on low all day
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not going to save households any money on bills if their heating is kept on low all day.
The expert said it is much more energy efficient to set a timer for the heating to come on when it is needed most. This is usually first thing in the morning and in the evening for a short burst.
3. Turning the thermostat up to heat the home quicker
The expert continued: “During cold weather, there is a temptation to crank up the heat. While that is a perfectly reasonable course of action, it’s not what your thermostat does.
“Your thermostat is a limiter, not an accelerator – a minimum and a maximum temperature limiter rolled into one.
“So, If you’re cold and you turn your thermostat up to 30 degrees in an attempt to make your home hotter, you’re essentially saying to your boiler ‘you couldn’t reach 20 degrees, so give 30 degrees a try’ with the rate of heating staying the same.
“It’s like someone telling you to run 20 miles. Yet when you flop at 10 miles they instead move the finish line to 30 miles away.”
The ideal home temperature is between 18 degrees and 21 degrees, but this does depend on who is residing in the home.
4. Fireplaces are a great way to heat a home
Fireplaces work great to heat the area directly in front of them, but when it comes to heating the entire home, the experts said they won’t cut it.
Central heating is designed to heat throughout the home, so if that’s what you’re after, then the heating is the most effective option.
The expert noted: “But if you want to limit the heat to one room like your living room then use an electric fire. Log burners have more ability to heat a home but that is dependent on the size of the house.”
5. Moving furniture closer to the radiator to keep warm
The heating expert continued: “You may think that the closer you are to the radiator, the warmer you’ll feel and that could be the cause for putting your sofa or chairs up against them.
“But, that’s actually going to be counterproductive. The furniture will prevent heat from being distributed evenly in the room. It’s best to keep furniture between six to 12 inches away from the radiators to allow the heat to circulate.
“Plus, keeping furniture right up against the radiator could cause damage over time. If you want to add more warmth to the room then try adding throws and pillows.”
