Heating

Advice on boilers, radiators, central heating systems and keeping your home warm and energy efficient.

Central Heating Wars: Let The Battle Begin

5th November 2020

This week, we bust common heating myths, explaining why constant low heat, high thermostat settings and single sensors aren’t always efficient ways to warm your home.

It’s that time of year when household members argue about whether to put the heating on or “just put on another jumper”. With a relatively mild, albeit wet, October, the battles may still be ongoing but it is safe to assume that the impending cold-snap will cause even the most stoic members of the put-another-jumper-on brigade to crack. With that in mind, we will tackle a few of the most common myths about how to heat your home efficiently.

Myth 1: It’s more efficient to have your heating on low, constantly

In general, it doesn’t pay to have your heating on constantly; it’s a waste to heat your home when you are not there or at night, when you can keep warm under blankets and duvets. You are better off setting your timer for your heating to come on at set times of the day: first thing in the morning (getting out of bed is marginally easier when it’s not freezing in your room!) and when you come home from work.

The exceptions to this are if you live in a property that is prone to condensation and damp; if this is the case, heating constantly (at least during the daytime) on a lower temperature can help prevent the build-up of condensation in the home. If you are working from home and prone to switching the heating on every hour or so, it may be best to keep your thermostat lower, and keep it on for longer periods of time as your boiler will work less hard if it is ticking over constantly, rather than regularly yoyoing from hot to cold.

Myth 2: Turning the thermostat high will heat the room more quickly

The thermostat will determine when your heating stops, not how quickly it will heat. Basically, whacking it up to 25 degrees because you are cold now won’t make any difference in the immediate term, it will just mean that you will be uncomfortably hot, forcing you to turn the heating off, which will bring you back to the yoyo effect. What’s more, reducing your thermostat by just one degree can knock almost £80 off your gas bill.

Myth 3: Your thermostat ensures the maximum temperature anywhere in the house

It is easy to assume that, if you set the thermostat at 18 degrees, every room in the house will maintain that temperature steadily. However, unless you have a thermostat in every room, this is not the case. Your thermostat heats according to the temperature of the room it’s in. For example, if it is in a warm room, such as the kitchen, the heating will stop when the kitchen is 18 degrees, but the rest of the house may well still be well below that temperature. Likewise, if the thermostat is in a chilly hallway, the rest of the house may be sweltering, but the heating won’t stop until the hallway reaches the right temperature.

By keeping a close eye on your gas consumption, you can help to find the most economical heating method for your home. For more tips and advice, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Looking for more heating advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common heating questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What is the difference between a combi boiler and a system boiler?

A combi heats water straight from the mains on demand - no cylinder needed, which makes it compact and ideal for smaller homes or flats. A system boiler works with a hot water cylinder, storing a ready supply that can serve multiple taps or showers at once without the pressure dropping - better for larger homes with more bathrooms. There's also the conventional boiler, which needs both a cylinder and a cold water tank in the loft - common in older properties. A heating engineer can help you figure out which suits your home best.
Is an air source heat pump right for my home?

Heat pumps pull warmth from the outside air (even when it's cold) and use it to heat your home and hot water. They work best in well-insulated homes, ideally with underfloor heating or larger radiators that work well at lower temperatures. In draughty or poorly insulated properties, the benefits are more limited. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers a grant of up to £7,500 towards installation, so it's worth getting a professional assessment to see whether your home is a good fit before committing.
How often should a boiler be serviced?

Once a year, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. It keeps the boiler running safely, catches small issues before they become expensive, and is usually a condition of the manufacturer's warranty. Some home insurance policies require proof of regular servicing too. If you're not sure when yours was last done, book one before winter - better to find out before you're sitting in a cold house!
Why is my radiator cold at the top but warm at the bottom?

This issue is almost always trapped air. Bleeding the radiator - using a radiator key to release the air - usually sorts it, and it's one of the few heating jobs you can safely do yourself. If bleeding it doesn't work, or if several radiators are having the same problem, it might be a pressure or pump issue. Worth getting a heating engineer in to have a look.
What are the signs my boiler needs replacing?

Keep an eye out for: frequent breakdowns, energy bills going up without using more heat, unusual noises (banging, kettling, or whistling), a flame that's yellow or orange instead of blue, and any visible leaks or rust around the unit. If your boiler is over fifteen years old and ticking any of those boxes, replacing it is usually the more economical choice - modern boilers are significantly more efficient.
Is underfloor heating worth it and do I need a professional to install it?

For a new build or a big renovation, underfloor heating is often a great investment - it heats rooms more evenly than radiators and can be more efficient, especially alongside a heat pump. Retrofitting in an existing home is more of a job, and how worthwhile it is depends on your floor types and how much disruption you're happy to deal with. Either way - wet or electric - it has to be installed by a qualified professional.
Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?

Some pressure drop over time is normal, but if you're topping it up regularly there's usually a cause: a small leak in the system (which isn't always easy to spot), a pressure relief valve that's releasing water, or air in the system after bleeding radiators. Topping it up via the filling loop is fine as a short-term fix, but if you're doing it more than a couple of times a year, it's worth getting an engineer to look into why it keeps happening.

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