Martin Lewis has given his take (Image: ITV)
The heating season is well and truly here, reigniting the age-old debate about whether to leave your heating on continuously or switch it on and off as needed.
Supporters of the “low and slow” approach contend that maintaining radiators at a steady low temperature warms your home more efficiently.
Nevertheless, this strategy has its detractors who strongly dismiss the concept.
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has now disclosed the optimal method.
Drawing on research from the Energy Saving Trust, British Gas, an independent plumber, and responses from MoneySavers on social media – this represents the most thorough guidance presently available, reports Wales Online.
It can be difficult to know when to switch on the heating and for how long (Image: Getty)
The verdict appears to be that “leaving the heating on all day leads to greater heat loss and means higher cost”, according to MSE.
That said, both viewpoints in the heating argument possess some merit – with scope for variation depending on individual circumstances.
The Energy Saving Trust maintains that operating heating continuously is less economical.
It recommends the superior approach is to supply warmth to your property only when required – meaning you’re solely paying when it’s genuinely necessary.
Utilising a programmable thermostat represents the most efficient method to achieve your desired home temperature at the times you require it.
However, Heat Geek recommends that if you possess a contemporary boiler or heat pump, remain at home throughout the day, or spend the majority of your evenings and weekends indoors, the ‘low and slow’ approach is most suitable.
Heat pumps, a low-carbon type of electric heating system, draw warmth from the external environment, whilst modern condensing boilers retrieve some waste heat before it dissipates – these boilers were fitted after 2005.
In these circumstances, maintaining your property at a steady 18 or 19°C could prove more energy-efficient.
Lower temperatures and gradual heating response – meaning you resist the temptation to turn up your heating when you feel cold – enables the boiler to recover more waste heat.
Nevertheless, this may not be the most practical approach if you’re frequently away from the property or if your walls are constructed from plasterboard (which warms up more quickly).
But if you have cavity wall and loft insulation or underfloor heating, the ‘low and slow’ method is perfect.
Some argue that the benefit of ‘low and slow’ is that it stops condensation from accumulating within the walls each time the heating is switched off, which can transfer warmth outside your property and potentially encourage damp and mould.
Since there’s no conclusive answer, MSE recommends a trial and error approach – comparing energy usage with each method.
Note down meter readings at the beginning and end of each trial and compare them – but attempt to ensure the temperatures of the weeks you are testing are comparable.