The winter of 2011 was one of the coldest on records and heating bills reached an all time high.
Customers and Consumers often ask our Installers and engineers “what is the best way to keep my house warm without rocketing heating bills?”
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
When it is very cold, should I leave my heating on all day on a low temperature or should I set it to come on at a specific time of the day?
For a radiator system you should set the heating to come on at a specific time(s) at a minimum temperature in other words with the heating ticking over that way you’re not wasting energy heating up an empty house.
Recommending times and heating temperatures is determined by the size of the house, the number of rooms, windows and doors and the size of the boiler and radiators. Time and temperature control requires a programmer for time control and a thermostat to regulate the temperature.
How long should I set my heating to come on before I come home from work?
There is no tried and tested formula and it does depend on the size of the house. I would recommend you put the heating on set it at the optimum temperature you want and time it to see how long it takes to give you the warmth you want as you come through your front door. An average family home will probably take an hour to reach the required temperature.
But experiment with the settings that you and your family feel comfortable with. There are some products on the market that provide intelligent delayed start which requires no programming and could save a house hold 10% on a heating fuel bill.
What temperature would you recommend I set my thermostat to?
We recommend 21 degrees centigrade; this is also the industry recommendation. The temperature will often be determined if there are any health considerations or if occupants are elderly.
If the house isn’t well insulated for example or is an older building susceptible to drafts this will also affect your chosen temperature setting.
Our engineers would recommend a thermostat setting of 21 degrees centigrade; however, we would also recommend the use of TRV’s to control the temperature in certain rooms of a home or building.
I am going away for two weeks and I’m worried if we might have a cold spell, what should I do with my heating?
We would usually recommend a thermostat setting of 7 degrees centigrade and setting the time control to be constantly on so the heating ticks over. If the temperature then falls below that the thermostat will start the boiler and ensure the house is protected from getting too cold and pipes don’t freeze. However, this temperature is a guideline only and if you want your house to be warmer than a thermostat setting of 11 degrees centigrade might be more desirable.
Most programmable thermostats afford frost protection at around 7 degrees ensuring that as long as the heating is left on constant; will kick start the boiler into action.
Don’t forget that the above can also be applied to business premises too!
What do you do to ensure your home and office premises is kept warm? Leave a comment in the box below we are always interested to read your comments!
Why don’t you call for a free plumbing and heating audit of your premises!
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