Spring has sprung, or at least is in the process of springing. For many, this will lift their spirits – a promise of warmer weather, longer days, blossoms, raving lambs… In our household, however, this new season brings something else – arguments about whether the heating should still be on or not.
to be honest, steam heating is one of the main causes of domestic disputes here. I live in an Edwardian house that is somehow constantly cold, even in the middle of summer. If I had my choice, the heating would have been on almost constantly, but alas, the heating bills that would have followed excluded that.
If, like me, you live with someone who is happy to just ‘cover up’ and are wondering how to navigate this time of fluctuating temperatures in terms of running the central heating, I’m researching on your behalf. I asked a number of experts when the best time to turn off your central heating at this time of year is to put an end to the battles with the thermostats.
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When is the best time to turn off your heating after winter?
Now that things are feeling a little less arctic, many people will be wondering if they should turn off their central heating – but when is the best time to do so?
“There are no hard and fast rules for when homeowners should turn off their heating, although most people tend to do so around mid-April, once spring temperatures start to rise and stabilise,” advises Martin Garbutt, head of technical management at the home services platform Dean.
According to the experts I spoke to, rather than a set date when everyone should turn off their central heating, it’s more about being aware of how you feel at home, how your boiler is working and the temperatures around you. Here are the three signs they said to look out for that indicate it’s time to turn off the heat and get started saving energy.
Martin has over 30 years experience in the gas industry so he knows a thing or two about boilers and heating systems. He worked for gas regulator CORGI before moving to the private sector in 2009 to oversee gas compliance issues in the government’s flagship energy scheme, Warm Front.
He is recognized in the gas industry with Chartered Engineer status and is currently a member of the Gas Utilization Committee of the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM). Martin is a fully qualified gas incident investigator and has a proven track record of competence through the national Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) in domestic, non-domestic and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations.
1. Outside temperatures are rising
One obvious sign that the central heating season is over is when the temperatures outside start to rise.
“I’d say when it’s consistently around 14 to 15C during the day, you can probably turn it off,” says Martin Fowler, founder of Elite renewable energy sources. “At this point, most homes keep enough heat naturally and don’t need the heating running all the time.”
This is what Michael Zohuri, founder of Pyramid Ecois also keen to point out the importance of looking at how you are currently using your heating.
“I would look at how often the system actually runs. By March or April, a lot.” types of boilers they’re still programmed with winter schedules that run several hours a day, even though the house doesn’t need as much heat anymore,” explains Michael. “In the winter, many homes run morning, afternoon, and evening heating cycles. In the spring, you can usually eliminate the diurnal cycle altogether.”
Founder of Elite Renewables, Martin Fowler is one of the UK’s leading renewables experts working with heat pumps for the past two decades. His passion for decarbonisation combined with deep technical expertise in the technology makes him one of the industry experts on all things renewable.
Michael Zohoury is the founder of Pyramid Eco, bringing over a decade of experience to the company. His experience covers energy efficient retrofit projects including insulation, solar and heat pump installations.
2. Your internal temperatures are consistently higher
This may sound obvious, but it’s really important to look at the ambient temperature in your home if you want to assess whether or not your central heating is still needed.
“What really matters is the internal temperature and how well the house retains heat,” says Martin Fowler. “If the house is kept at around 18°C without the heating running during the day, that’s a good sign that you can start reducing the use.
“Homes with good isolation will reach that point sooner than older or poorly insulated properties,” points out Martin.
“It’s also worth checking how quickly your home cools overnight,” adds Michael Zohoury. “If the indoor temperature drops just a few degrees by morning, that usually means the building is retaining heat well and you can reduce heating hours further.”
3. The boiler does not run during the day
If your central heating system works with a thermostat, it’s usually easy to see if it should be turned up more or not.
“I encourage homeowners to pay attention to how often the boiler actually fires up during the day,” says Michael Zohoury. “If it hasn’t been necessary to turn it on for several afternoons in a row, that’s usually a clear sign that the heating schedule can be reduced again.”
Martin Fowler agrees. “One simple sign is when the heating has not been turned on for several days in a row, even though it is still programmed. This usually means that the house is staying warm enough on its own,” says Martin.
“The key is to let the thermostat do the work,” he continues. “Set a reasonable goal ambient temperature and leave the heating on only when the house really needs it. Many homes lose energy in the spring simply because the winter schedule continues to run even though the weather has improved.”
What is the most efficient way to heat in the spring?
The weather in the UK is proverbially unreliable, meaning that even when spring arrives, just because we can enjoy glorious sunshine and warmer temperatures one week, there’s no guarantee we won’t be back to gloomy skies and a distinct chill in the air the next – so what the most efficient way to use central heating in the UK in the spring?
“Spring actually means a gradual reduction in heating,” advises Michael Zohoury. “Set the timer, shorten the heating cycles and let the house respond to the milder weather instead of maintaining the winter settings.
Martin Fowler agrees. “Spring means adjusting the schedule, not turning off the heating completely. Instead of running the system all day like in the winter, it’s more efficient to use shorter periods of heating,” says Martin. “A short run in the morning can take the chill out of the house, and sometimes a quick jog in the evening is enough if the temperatures drop again.”
“A smart thermostat can make it easier to deal with temperature fluctuations, as it can automatically adjust your heating based on various environmental factors and measured temperatures,” points out Martin Garbutt. “If you pre-program what temperature you want the home to be, whenever it drops below that, the heating will turn on automatically. These settings can often be controlled from your smartphone, allowing you to adjust the temperature in your home wherever you are.
“During the warmer summer months, lowering the boiler’s flow temperature is a simple change that can help reduce energy costs by up to £65,” adds Martin. “To do this, reduce the flow temperature using the buttons or dial on the control panel. If it is not clear from the look of your boiler, check your manual for how to do this.”
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FAQ
How should you maintain your heating system in the summer?
Once your heating is well and truly no longer needed, forget about it. You need to be sure that when you need it again, it won’t let you down.
“The warmer months are a great time to make sure everything is working properly,” explains Martin Garbutt. “Start by evaluating the efficiency of your radiator by checking for cold spots at the top of the radiator. This means air has collected in the radiator, preventing hot water from circulating and heating. This is when bleed radiator is required.
“The warmer spring and summer periods are usually the best time to have your boiler serviced as there is usually less demand for engineers,” adds Martin. “It also means any problems can be fixed while heating usage is low.”
If you want to switch off your central heating but still feel the cold at certain times of the day, it’s worth looking at other types heat emitters to help bridge the gap. Oil radiators and other types of electric heaters can really be useful for turning up the heat quickly.
