This is the exact date you should turn your heating on, according to experts

It’s still only September, but there’s a definite chill in the air and as such you might find yourself wondering when to turn the heating on at home.

Some people like to switch it on as soon as possible, hating to feel cold in the slightest, while others will opt to wrap themselves up in a few extra layers, holding out as long as possible to save money — especially as the Energy Price Cap is about to rise.

From October 1, the unit rate for electricity will be 24.50p per kilowatt-hour, for a standing charge of 60.99p per day – this is the fixed daily fee you pay, even if you use no electricity. Gas, meanwhile, clocks in at 6.24kWh and now has a standing charge of 31.66p per day.

This means 28.4million households will be paying about £149 more a year for their bills. This will be in effect from October 1 to December 31 as Ofgem announces a new cap every three months.

So what does this mean for turning the heating on? When is the best time to do so and are there any steps to take before you do?

Here’s what the experts have to say about it…

The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating your home to between 18˚C to 21˚C during winter, while the World Health Organisation suggests 18˚C for healthy people, so when the indoor temperature falls below this, you could consider turning the heating on.

Although there’s no ‘correct’ or ‘right’ time to turn your heating on, many people like to aim for the date the clocks go back, and in 2024 this will be on Sunday, October 27.

And according to British Gas, who have around 7.53 million customers across the UK, on average most of the people they supply opt to turn the heating on during the last week of October.

They added that when the temperature at night starts dropping below 9C for a ‘prolonged period’ this is also a good time to consider switching the heating on.

But of course if you want to turn your heating on before then, you don’t have to wait.

Joanna Flowers, engineer at British Gas, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Ahead of colder weather, we would encourage people to check their boilers and heating are in working order.’

USwitch’s Natalie Mathie added: ‘When you turn your heating on for the first time on a very cold day, you don’t want to find your system is not working efficiently.

‘It may be worth turning your heating on ahead of time to test that your boiler is working properly, and if your radiators have cold spots and need bleeding.

‌’Consider getting your boiler serviced if you haven’t had one in the past 12 months. If a breakdown happens on a cold day, it may take longer to get a call-out.’

How to save money on heating bills

Joanna also shared some of her top tips for saving on bills. She recommends doing the following:

• Bleed your radiators — if there are cold spots at the top, use a radiator key to let the air out.
• Use draught excluders — they’re available from DIY stores and you can seal joints around doors, windows and letterbox brushes.
• Turn off radiators in rooms not in use
• ‘Furnish for warmth’ — avoid putting a thick sofa in front of a radiator, for example, as it will absorb much of the heat.
• Ensure water pipes are properly lagged.
• Cover a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and place it behind your radiators to reflect the heat.
• Use a smartphone to control heating when you’re out and about so you’re not heating an empty home.
• Get the help you’re entitled to. Check if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme (it opens in October 2024), and most suppliers offer assistance and grants. The British Gas Energy Trust offers up to £1,500 per household and you don’t need to be a customer.

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