While the frost in the air is increasing day by day, we are on a constant lookout for warmth in our home. Unluckily, this heat comes at a price which is also increasing with the regular use of heating source. Well, this is where thermostats came into play and became a popular choice amongst people to control temperature at their home. However, it is noticed that many people make mistakes and don’t use it in the right manner. Of course, there’s no doubt that you’re enjoying the benefits of maintained temperature with the help of thermostats, but what is it that you can do to avoid those hefty bills while not feeling cold at the same time? Before you do the same mistake like everyone else has, we are here to save you from the consequences.
So read along the pointers given below and ensure that your pockets are never out of funds.
Setting incorrect temperature
To feel comfortable at home, it is necessary that you set the correct temperature. However, people disregard this and continue to set temperatures more than required, which ultimately leads to wastage of energy and restless nights causing headaches. According to the official cold weather plan for England, the living room temperature should be not more than 21˚C whereas for bedroom it must be 18˚C. The bottom line is come what may the temperature should not exceed 24˚C.
Due to some circumstances, a basic central system does not allow you to control the temperatures of each room individually, which makes it difficult to control the overall room temperatures. So, if you have unoccupied rooms at home, it’s better to keep their doors always closed and set the radiators at their lowest level.
Turning heat to maximum
If you have just entered the house from a cold evening, you might find it reasonable to turn up that thermostat to maximum. But turning up heat so quickly will not help you feel comfy and at ease faster. Though a thermostat will do its job to warm up rooms, it has no control over how fast it’s supposed to work. A thermostat will allow heating up the rooms to get to a desired temperature after which it will turn off the heat until the temperature drops again. Turning it up to maximum level will overheat the rooms making them extremely warm and humid, resulting in waste of energy.
Keeping it low rather than turning it ON and OFF
It is generally accepted that to maintain temperatures at your home you should keep it low. The magic trick behind this is that there is a difference between the temperature inside and outside your home which is related to the amount of heat your home loses. So, if your surroundings are colder, it will be warmer inside your home leading to more energy use. On the other hand, if you use less heat, you will consume less power which will ultimately help you maintain the temperature. This is why it is more reasonable for you turn the heat down and maintain comfortable temperature while you are away from home.
Now that you know this, you must be wondering as to why don’t people use this trick and save themselves some money?
The answer is pretty simple. People think that they’re saving money by not using their designer radiator or hydronic underfloor heating in the first place. But guess what… this is where a smart thermostat can stand out amongst others. As every home is unique in its own way, a smart thermostat will set appropriate temperature according to your needs. It also learns how much time is needed to warm up your house and uses it in conjunction with your home arrival timings. This way you get more bangs for the buck without sacrificing your comforts.
Turning heat off
Earlier, homes were constantly at the risk of pipe bursts, mould growth and dampness, since majority of people had the habit of turning off their heater. However, now that most of the homes are properly insulated the odds of them facing such risks have reduced. But that doesn’t necessarily mean now you can turn off your heater. It is always better to have an understanding of the proper setback temperature so that you do not have to worry about the warmth after your arrival.
To determine the correct setback temperature for your house, you might have carry out a little experimentation. But a temperature that we would suggest you to try would be 16˚C. This is mainly because for an average home it takes approximately 1 hour to go from 16˚C to 21˚C. But, if you have installed smart thermostats at home, it might save you from the trouble of trial and error to calculate the best temperature for your home.
We hope that the tips provided above help you maintain that ‘home warmth’ while ensuring that you are not burning a hole in your pocket!