Despite us slowly edging into spring, we’re nonetheless very a lot counting on heating our properties, which means our greatest good thermostats are persevering with to work additional time. However, households throughout the UK at the moment are being warned {that a} poorly positioned thermostat might be silently including lots of of kilos to annual heating payments.
Experts say one thing so simple as the place a thermostat is put in can considerably have an effect on how effectively a house stays heat. According to Gordon Wallis, vitality skilled at Your NRG, incorrect placement is likely one of the commonest but ignored causes of wasted vitality.
“Where your thermostat sits has a huge influence on how your heating behaves,” Wallis explains. “If it is in the wrong location, it can cause your system to turn on and off at the wrong times, pushing bills up without you realising.”
What is the worst place to your good thermostat?
One of the largest errors is putting in a thermostat within the hallway. These areas are sometimes colder than the remainder of the house attributable to draughts and frequent door openings.
“When you open the front door and cold air rushes in, the thermostat can think the entire house is too cold,” says Wallis. “That tells the boiler to send out more heat, even if your living spaces are already warm enough.”
Wallis additionally warns in opposition to inserting thermostats close to radiators, home windows or in direct daylight, as this could distort temperature readings.
“If a thermostat is too close to a heat source or exposed to sunlight, it may believe the room is warmer than it actually is. That can cause the heating to switch off too early, leaving other rooms underheated and uncomfortable.”
(Image credit score: Netatmo)
Where must you place it?
For most households, the lounge is usually the best location. It’s often probably the most occupied area and tends to have extra steady airflow, making it simpler for the heating system to control the general temperature precisely.
Small tweaks can even ship noticeable financial savings. Wallis notes that almost all properties solely should be heated to between 18°C and 21°C throughout winter, and reducing the thermostat by only one diploma can reduce heating prices by round 10% yearly.
For extra good heating suggestions, take a look at 3 ways my smart thermostat helps me beat the cost of living crisis next.