It’s important to have an energy efficient boiler or alternative means of heating your home, but many don’t realise that it’s equally important to have a high quality heating controls in place too.
The greater control you have over your heating system the better you can stay in control of what you pay.
In the middle of winter it may seem like the right thing to do is to whack the thermostat up to 25°C and bask in the warmth. That’s all well and good but at the end of the month you’re going to pay for this extravagance.
It’s much better to be in control of your heating, set it to a comfortable level and have full say as to what temperature each room is set at.
If you had two identical homes with identical boilers and radiator systems, but one had a programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and one had no heating controls, the house with the controls would save around £75 a year.
Heating Control Types
Room Thermostat
Obviously allows you to set the temperature of a room, but its resulting function is actually to stop you burning more fuel than you actually require. As soon as a room reaches its desired temperature the room thermostat, in effect, turns off your heating.
It will then remain off until the temperature drops below your set level.
Always ensure that your thermostat is set to the lowest temperature you are comfortable with. In most cases and with most people this should be between 18°C and 21°C.
The key thing to remember is that you don’t have to turn your thermostat up and down depending on what the weather is like outside. Your house will heat up to your desired temperature regardless. The only difference is that in cold weather it may take a little longer as it is starting at a lower temperature.
Another key point is that your home will not heat up any faster if you turn the temperature on the thermostat up!
Ensure your thermostat is not behind a cupboard or curtain, it needs access to free flowing air. Also make sure it’s not situated next to a radiator or any other secondary heating sources.
TRVs
These have a very simple function, allowing you to adjust the heat of individual radiators in your home. They can save you money by allowing you to turn down the temperature in rooms that you aren’t using.
Never turn off TRVs completely. A cold room will effectively suck the warm air out of the rest of the house, like a heat sink, making it harder to heat the parts of the house you want heating. Ultimately it costs you more money.
Programmer
The time control for your heating system. This allows you to programme in your daily routine. Ensuring your heating isn’t on when no-one’s at home.
In order to ensure that the house is warm when you get out of bed, or when you come in from work, set the heating to come on half an hour early in each case.
In case of a change to your timetable, like being home from work unexpectedly, programmers will always have an override.
Don’t forget to check that the clock on your programmer is accurate, especially when the clocks go back and forward.
Smart Energy Controls
These are all the rage at the moment and seem to be well worth the investment. The most famous brands include Nest and Hive.
These controls are connected to the internet and can be accessed from your mobile phone wherever you happen to be. This allows you to adjust the temperature of your home remotely.
These controls also learn from your daily habits and programme in your daily routines automatically.
See other articles for ways to save money in your home, such as Hot Water Cylinder Insulation.