With spring on the horizon and the clocks set to go forward early on Sunday morning, March 26, warm weather is well within sight, and experts say they have worked out the date you should switch the heating off. Using Met Office data, online heating specialists BestHeating analysed average temperatures over the past five years to reveal the date when Brits can look forward to hotter weather and lower bills.
Average temperatures generally rise above 10C from March 7, but with the Arctic blast this year cold weather has plagued the nation for longer, which means the date we can expect to turn our heating off has been delayed. With typical temperatures consistently exceeding 14C by March 22, this should be the date we can expect to turn our heating off, but that is not the case this year.
Due to the cold spell that hit the nation in early to mid March, the date that is predicted to be warm enough to no longer need heating will be 10 days later than usually predicted, on April 1. By this date, temperatures over the past five years have reached as high as 17C (2021) and the weather is expected to be back to normal for the time of year.
Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating, said: “There is a common misconception that when the clocks go forward is the time when heating is used less, but that is not the case in Britain, where warmer temperatures occur very gradually. There isn’t a specific temperature that heating should be turned off, but once the outside temperature reaches more than 14C it is generally warm enough to do so. Research shows that this usually happens at the beginning of spring, however due to the Arctic blast setting us back this year we can expect to have our heating turned up until the start of April, when the weather turns warm enough.
“With the current financial pressures on people across the nation it is tempting to turn heating off as early as possible, but be careful of the health impacts this can have. The chance of increased blood pressure or cardiovascular disease rises significantly for a home that is below 13C, when the body is also more susceptible to respiratory diseases, therefore it’s vital to check your property's temperature before making a decision.”
To help Brits get their heating working better and save money on bills, Jess has provided her three top tips to get the most out of radiators and a boiler:
Clean radiators
“Dust and dirt build up in radiators and this can cause less heat to escape, so make sure radiators are part of your regular cleaning routine, and that they are thoroughly done at least once a year. Not only will this lower energy bills, it also has health benefits for those who suffer with allergies.”
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Update your thermostat
“Your thermostat works by monitoring the average temperature of your home and sending a signal to the boiler to ensure it’s never too hot or too cold compared to what it has been set at. Older thermostats are less accurate and less efficient than new or SMART ones, so consider upgrading it to prevent wasted energy. Similarly, if the thermostat is positioned somewhere that the temperature is constantly changing, it won’t be economical. It is best to keep it on an interior wall that is in a frequently used room located in the centre of a home.”
Service the boiler
"If radiators aren’t working efficiently or your bills seem higher than they should be, there is a good chance the boiler is the trigger. This should be serviced regularly to ensure it is working safely, especially those with an older one. The majority of manufacturers also require this to be done yearly for the warranty to be valid. There is no better time to service a boiler than when the heating is used less. An engineer can do this in as little as 20 minutes and any small issues will be spotted before they become more dangerous and costly.”
