Households across the country are engaged in the eternal debate whether or not to put the heating on, faced with the challenges of cold temperatures and high energy bills.
So many families are waiting eagerly until the day they can finally be free of worrying about using too much heating in the spring and summer months. And experts agree that the best day to do this is when the clocks go forward – which is Sunday, March 31 this year.
Ricky Sharma, director of leading trades training experts Engineering Real Results, said: “Many families have faced daily dilemmas over when to switch the heating on and how long to keep it on throughout the colder months.”
“Soaring energy costs mean households have had to contend with hefty bills and will be eagerly awaiting the warmer months when the central heating gets a rest. However, doing it too soon can leave your home vulnerable to damage such as mould and damp, so it’s important not to jump the gun.”
“While the exact date is a decision for each family, it’s usually safe to do so on the day the clocks go forward to mark the arrival of British Summer Time,” reports The Daily Record.
Britons could switch off their boilers from March 31 as temperatures rise, an energy expert has said.
The UK will move to British Summer Time on March 31, and the clocks will go forward again on October 27.
Households looking to cut their energy bills can try a few methods, according to the engineer.
Making sure your home is well-insulated is key, while only heating rooms that are being used can also help.
Gradually reducing the temperature of your thermostat can also make a difference.
Failing to keep a home properly heated can cause damp and mould, as well as frozen pipes.
Mr Sharma said: “Homes can face a range of problems if they’re not kept warm enough, from damp and mould to frozen pipes.
“It means being miserly with the heating can prove a false economy if it leads to damage that can be costly to fix.
“The good news is that at this time of year the temperatures are creeping up slowly, and it will soon be safe to switch off the boiler for a few months.
“It might be a good compromise to reduce the temperature of your thermostat by 1C each week until it’s time to switch it off completely.
“Research has shown reducing the thermostat by even 1C can reduce your heating bill by 10 percent or more, which can make a huge difference to household finances.”
