HEATING costs are soaring for millions and households are scrambling for ways to cut back on outgoings.
But you might not know where you place your thermostat might be adding hundreds to your bills.
GettyYou shouldn’t have the thermostat in the coldest room in the house[/caption]
Essentially, you shouldn’t have the device in the coldest room in your house as it will trick you into paying more to heat up the other rooms that might not need it.
Taking the advice on board is extra important with the average households’ energy bills at £2,500 a year.
Plus, the cost of food has soared in recent months too.
But there are plenty of steps you can take to try to lower your bills, and you should start with your thermostat.
Experts say placing it in the bathroom, a room that has such an inconsistent temperature, could throw off its readings.
That’s because the temperature it’s sensing will jump from hot to cold as showers are run and baths are drawn.
The same goes for placing the thermostat by a window.
Just as a window can can cause waste energy to trickle out your home as cool air comes in, the cold of a window ledge could affect your thermostat too.
But at the other end of the scale, direct sunlight on your thermostat could trick it into thinking that the house is too hot.
Where should I place the thermostat?
If the thermostat is placed in a colder area, especially if it doesn’t reflect what’s going on temperature-wise in the rest of your home, it’ll mean your home is being heated unnecessarily.
You should aim for the thermostat reading to be as accurate as possible, so it can work efficiently and you’re not wasting energy.
You should have it in your most used room, according to the CIBSE domestic heating design guide.
This should also be somewhere you’ll want to feel the heat most, like the living room or main bedroom.
Many people like to keep the bit of kit in their hallway too which could be a central location in the house, but remember to keep drafty doors closed if that’s the case.
However, if you have a wired thermostat, it could be a costly and awkward job to move it.
Investing in a wireless thermostat that you’ll be able to position as you please could be a worthwhile investment as it will give you more control over your heating.
How else can I help lower my bills?
It’s not just where you position the thermostat that’s important, but exactly how you use it.
Most households will regularly set their thermostat above 22°C but that’s higher than needed and meaning you’re paying more than you need too.
Uswitch explained that households could make potential savings of up to £127.70, by turning down the temperature of the thermostat just one degree.
Also upgrading the kit you’ve got to a smart thermostat could save you as much as £164 a year – it’ll connect your heating system to the internet so you can turn down temperatures on your phone while you’re out and about.
But this comes with an upfront cost that you’ll have to factor in, ranging between £150-£250.
Draught excluders can save you around £30 a year the Energy Saving Trust has previously said.
We’ve spotted them on sale at Amazon for £10.29 before, but of course you should always shop around for better offers.
And switching off so-called “vampire devices”, that drain energy when left on standby or used inefficiently, could save you on your bills as well.
Here are 30 straight-forward ways to cut your energy bill now.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]