More than half of UK homeowners do not schedule their heating and face rising gas bills, according to a new study.
BOXT has researched how Brits typically schedule their boilers and the average temperature they set their heating at, and provided an optimal boiler calendar to help people programme their boilers correctly to save money and energy.
Only 27.3% of its 500 surveyed participants scheduled their boilers, with 12.6% programming their heating to come on in the morning and evening, and 14.6% scheduling specific times throughout the day.
Meanwhile, 21.3% left their heating on permanently, while 51.4% didn’t schedule their boiler at all.
BOXT suggested homeowners should leave their boilers on between the times of 6.30AM and 10.30PM, turning the boiler off or reducing the temperature whenever leaving home or going to work.
It said boilers can be turned on or up to daytime temperature half an hour before waking up and reduced or turned off half an hour before going to bed.
According to The Sleep Charity, the ideal room temperature for a comfortable night’s sleep is between 16°C to 18°C.
Andy Kerr, the co-founder of BOXT, said: “During winter, it can be tempting to crank up the thermostat. But experimenting with different temperatures can both reduce energy bills and potentially lead to a better night’s sleep.
“Instead of setting one temperature across the whole day, try switching between daytime and nighttime temperatures, as this may make you more comfortable at home and also reduce your energy usage.
“To minimise instances where you leave the heating on accidentally or let the home get too warm, try scheduling specific times and temperatures throughout the day. You can also use a smart home thermostat, like the Google Nest, to create a schedule based on your home heating preferences.
“Leaving the heating on permanently can lead to a rise in energy bills. In properties with less insulation, heat is quickly lost in the colder months, so scheduling your heating to come on just before you come home from work will save a significant amount of money, and may not alter the indoor temperature you arrive to by much.
“Smart thermostats make this especially easy to program.”