With heating bills at an all-time high, many are looking into how they can reduce their energy bills. With that, comes a lot of outdated central heating myths doing the rounds once again, so we’re here to set the record straight. Whilst some of these myths are in fact true, others may be costing you more than you think, bumping up your energy bills.
With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at ten of the most common heating myths, debunking what’s right vs what’s wrong when it comes to reducing your central heating bills this winter!
Myth 1
“Keeping my heating on a low all day will save me money”
False – Now, whilst it makes sense that keeping the heating on a low temperature all day will help to save money, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will. It depends entirely on your home and the heating system within in, possibly being the source of your higher heating costs. In fact, it costs far less setting your heating to come on in the rooms you need it to rather than keeping it on low throughout your home all day.
Myth 2
“It’s less expensive to use an electric heater”
False – It’s actually more expensive to use an electric heater compared to central heating, even if you only want to heat one room in your home. Despite what many are led to believe, electric heaters are much more expensive than switching the central heating on in your home, costing approx. 68p an hour compared to turning on your central heating.
Myth 3
“Painting my radiator will increase its efficiency”
False – Another common central heating myth is that painting your radiators a dark colour, such as black, will increase their efficiency. Again, this is completely not true. Regardless of the colour of your radiator, it will continue to emit the same amount of heat. What makes your radiators more efficient is where it’s positioned in the room.
Myth 4
“Setting my radiator to a higher temperature will heat my home quicker”
False – When it is cold indoors, it can be tempting to turn the thermostat up to heat your home more quickly. However, doing so won’t heat your home any quicker than if it was on a lower temperature, it will simply result in a higher overall room temperature. So, setting your thermostat to a higher temperature won’t speed up the process.
Myth 5
“It’s cheaper to heat my home at night”
False – Onto myth number 5. Many of us believe that it’s less expensive to heat our homes at night compared to during the day. For most, this unfortunately isn’t true. The only way it may be cheaper to heat your home at night is if you are using electric radiators and have either an Economy 7 or Economy 10 electric meters, whereby you’re provided less expensive electric for up to 10 hours a day which is commonly during the night time. Outside of this it may even cost you more, as the temperatures get lower your central heating has to work harder to maintain the temperature in your home, using more energy and increasing the cost.
Myth 6
“Bleeding my radiators two times a year will increase their efficiency”
True – Bleeding your radiators on a regular basis (at least every few months) is a great way to ensure your radiators give off the heat they should, helping to heat your home quicker and for longer. By doing so, you’re releasing trapped air from within, increasing the radiators efficiency. It only takes between 20-30 seconds to do per radiator and can immediately reduce your energy bill cost.
Myth 7
“Upgrading my boiler will save me money”
True – Investing in an energy efficient boiler will save you money in the long run, making the initial investment more than worth your while. Generally speaking, modern boilers are much more efficient compared to those that are 15 or more years old, so it may be worthwhile upgrading yours, anyway.
Myth 8
“Installing a protective film on my windows will reduce heat loss”
True – It might sound extravagant but covering your windows with clingfilm will form a trapped layer of air, helping to keep the heat in your home for longer. It may not look the most attractive, but it’s an effective short-term solution to those experiencing condensation in the home or struggle with draughts. There are also other options available online such as at-home film insulation kits that offer greater durability if needed.
Myth 9
“Installing a smart meter will save me money”
False – All we hear about these days are smart meters and, whilst they do help to increase the energy efficiency within your home, they won’t necessarily help you save money. Instead, they track the amount of energy you use, providing real-time insight into where it you may be able to cut back, to then save on costs. Whilst the smart meter alone won’t save you money, it can help you identify where you are wasting energy.
Myth 10
“Installing a wood burner will save me money in the long-term”
False – Fireplaces and wood burner are a great addition to any home, adding to the cosiness in your sitting room. But, despite what’s believed, they aren’t necessarily the most energy-efficient option to heat your home. Chimneys are the top cause for heat loss, causing cold air to get into the home and the warm air to escape. Whilst you could keep the fire on all day, the cost of the firewood would far outweigh other conventional heating systems, making it simply not worth it.
So, there we have it! The top 10 central heating myths fact checked! By following (and not following) some of these myths, you’ll be able to save more money on your heating bill this winter and increase the efficiency of your central heating system, helping you to keep you and your family warmer for longer, for less.
