Youre switching heating on too early as expert shares best date to heat up home

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Brits try to prevent turning the heating on for as long as possible during the autumn.

We don't want to get too hot or waste money which sees our bills rocket. The only thing is temperatures will soon start to dip as we move further into the autumn months.

To help people out, experts used weather data to reveal the exact date you should be looking to dial your thermostat up. Online heating specialists, BestHeating, analysed Met Office data from the past five years to reveal how much longer Brits should refrain from turning their heating on during winter months, as well as providing advice for people to keep their bills low.

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Once temperatures outside drop below 15° Celsius (C) the NHS advises to put the heating on for health reasons, which means that in line with Met Office data, the date we can expect to use our heating is October 20. From this date, temperatures aren’t expected to rise above 15°C for the rest of the year, although 2022 was a particularly warm year and saw temperatures of up to 23°C in October.

If we are to have similar weather this autumn, then it will be around November 2 until the boiler is required to work hard.

Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating, said: "While there isn’t an optimum time to switch heating on, our research shows that once temperatures are below 15°C, usually in the middle of October, it is best to turn the heating on as we feel the chill more. By the end of the month, even the hardiest among us will have our heating on to keep warm as temperatures are predicted to drop further. If it is below 13°C outside then serious health issues can arise, especially in vulnerable people."

She added: "With many worried about their finances, it can be tempting to hold off putting the heating on but be careful delaying this too long as this can hurt your body. For those struggling, we recommend contacting your local council or energy supplier as there are often grants and help available to keep you safe throughout winter."

To help Brits get their radiators in good working order and keep bills as low as possible throughout the cold months, Jess provided three essential pieces of advice.

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Only heat the room you are in

One of the simplest mistakes people make during winter is heating an unused space. Make sure to switch radiators off in rooms that are not in use such as bedrooms throughout the day.

The one caveat to this is not to turn the radiators off in the room where the thermostat is located, or it could cause issues with the temperature of the rest of the home. Doing this will improve the boiler's efficiency, allowing rooms you are in to warm quicker and saving over £100 for heating if used daily.

Turn the thermostat down by one degree Celsius

Research shows that by reducing a home's temperature by a little, good savings can be made on energy bills. Actually 20.8°C is the average thermostat setting in the UK, but 18°C should keep you comfortably warm throughout the colder months.

This can save up to 10% on a fuel bill or an estimated £80. A clever way to assess if the heating is too warm is to turn the thermostat down by one °C and see how you feel.

Choose the best times of day to blast the heating

To keep bills low, be clever with when your heating is switched on. If the temperature is going to be lower than 10°C, set it to come on an hour before your alarm to take away the chill. If you are out all day, then do the same in the evening.

Anyone with a Smart thermostat will be able to control their heating more easily, as they can make sure there is no wasted energy when out at work or shopping and can also set it so that they return to a warm house that is cost-effective.

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