MoneySavingExpert Advises Heating Only When Needed, With Exceptions for Modern Systems

Overview

• MoneySavingExpert’s synthesis of expert guidance concludes that leaving heating on all day typically increases heat loss and costs.
• The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating only when required, highlighting programmable thermostats as the most effective control.
• Heat Geek says a steady low temperature can suit homes with modern condensing boilers or heat pumps, especially where people are home most of the day.
• For suitable properties, maintaining roughly 18–19°C may be more efficient, while frequent absences or fast-warming plasterboard walls can weaken the case.
• Experts note that insulation quality and systems like underfloor heating influence results, so households are urged to compare meter readings across similar-weather periods.