Overview

• Cranking the thermostat does not warm homes faster; it only raises the final temperature and can waste money.
• Energy Saving Trust estimates around £90 a year saved in Great Britain — about £100 in Northern Ireland — by lowering the setpoint by one degree.
• Set timers so heating starts roughly 30 minutes before waking, begins about an hour before returning home, and switches off around 30 minutes before bed.
• Keep rooms between 18°C and 21°C for most households, with higher minimums suggested for people whose health could be affected by cold.
• Avoid leaving heating on low all day and run short pre‑winter cycles to check for faults, as modern boilers already fire at full capacity when called.