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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

Should you leave the heating on low all day or put it on a timer to save money?

Struggling households will be looking to cut back on costs before energy bills rise again in just two weeks' time.

But should you leave your heating on low all day to save money, or only turn it on when you need it?

It's an age-old debate - and here, we explain both sides of the argument.

It comes as the new Prime Minister Liz Truss introduces the Energy Price Guarantee, which will freeze energy bills at £2,500 a year for two years from October.

This is higher than the current Ofgem price cap of £1,971 - but substantially lower than the £3,549 the price cap was due to rise to in October.

Are you worried about affording your energy bills this winter? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Keep in mind this £2,500 figure isn't actually a hard cap on your bills - this is used to represent someone with typical energy usage.

Like the Ofgem price cap, the Energy Price Guarantee will set a limit on how much suppliers can charge customers per unit of gas and electricity.

This means you could end up paying more or less than £2,500, depending on your energy usage.

Experts are still divided over whether you should leave your heating on (Hertfordshire Mercury)

Is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day?

Unfortunately, there isn't a clear-cut answer - and this is a question that continues to divide experts.

Some experts argue that it comes down to how well your home is insulated, as this will have an impact on how well it keeps the heat inside.

If you're leaking heat, then you're losing energy all day if you have the heating on constantly.

Therefore, if you go by this theory and you have a property that isn't very well insulated, then it is best to only turn the heating on when you need it.

Instead, you might want to consider putting your heating on a timer for when you're actually at home.

Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, previously told The Mirror: “For those living in properties that aren't as well insulated, the cost of leaving your heating on all the time will be especially expensive.

“Typically the most energy-efficient approach to heating your home is to programme your heating system so that it comes on at times when you need it most.

“And with many of the more modern room thermostats you also have the ability to set different temperatures at different times - and even set up a separate timer for weekends.“

The Energy Saving Trust has also previously said it's better to heat your home only when you need it, if you're losing energy all day.

On its website, Energy Saving Trust says: "Heating controls help you keep your home comfortably warm, without over-heating and wasting energy.

"By installing and using your heating controls effectively, you could save money on your heating bills and lower your carbon emissions."

However, some specialists who've previously spoken to MoneySavingExpert have argued the exact opposite - and say you should keep the heating on all the time.

They told the consumer rights website that condensation collects within the walls whenever you switch the heating off.

This can then conduct heat outside the home, which could mean you lose heat more quickly in the long-run.

Ultimately, it depends on the type of building you live in and how good it is at keeping heat inside.

Therefore, the best way to keep your home warm is to make sure it is well insulated in the first place - that way, you'll need to turn your heating on less.

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