UK households have been warned that an incorrectly placed thermostat could raise their energy bills by hundreds. Experts have advised against installing thermostats in certain areas, including the hallway.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, warned: “Deciding where to place your thermostat is important because it can affect how well your heating works. Placing it in a room that is colder than the rest of the house, such as a hallway, is a bad idea as it will turn on and off at the wrong times.”
He continued: “For example, if you open the front door and let in cold air, then the thermostat may tell your heating system to send out more heat because it thinks the whole house is below your desired temperature.”
Ben added: “Having a thermostat near to a radiator, window or in direct sunlight will also skew the readings. These spots are warmer, so the thermostat may switch off before the whole space has been heated to the target temperature.”
The expert revealed that the living room was the ideal location for most households.
He said: “This is where it’s easiest to control the temperature and in an area of good airflow. The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating your home to between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius during winter. Turning down your thermostat by just one degree can reduce your energy bill by up to 10%.”
Millions of households will see their energy bills increase by 6.4% from April 1, as Ofgem raises its price cap for the third consecutive quarter.
The regulator has stated that this increase, which will push the average bill for households in England, Scotland, and Wales on a standard variable tariff from the current £1,738 a year to £1,849, is due to a recent surge in wholesale prices.
This rise translates to an additional £111 per year for an average household, or approximately £9.25 a month, over the three-month duration of the price cap.
