By Sally McLean

Copyright dailyrecord

After months of the heating being turned off the arrival of autumn sees the annual debate ignite once again. When is the right time to turn on the central heating and can we leave it a bit longer? For some, the boiler will already have been fired up, especially those living in Scotland where temperatures are cooler generally. But there are others who won’t flick the switch until much later in the year preferring to adopt the ‘put on a jumper’ stance. Now experts have waded in and have determined the exact outside temperature households should be cranking the heating on once again. Your NRG suggest the best time is when the temperature consistently falls below 15C. And they say this is a point many are likely to reach by the last weekend of October. However, that of course, depends on where you live with some areas hitting that regular temperature much earlier than that. Your NRG said: “Many households in the UK struggle with deciding when to turn the heating on as temperatures drop. “The general rule of thumb is to switch on your central heating when the outdoor temperature falls below 15C. This is when most people start to feel uncomfortable, and this year, we expect to reach that point around the last weekend of October.” They also issued some advice on whether it’s better to run the heating on a low temperature all day or to only turn it on when needed. They said: “In homes with poor insulation, leaving the heating on all day results in significant energy loss, as heat escapes through windows, doors, and walls. It’s usually more economical to heat your home only when required, particularly in older or draughty properties. “Maintaining a low, consistent heating level may seem more practical for those living in well-insulated homes, as less heat is lost and the boiler doesn’t need to work as hard. “However, for most people, especially in less energy-efficient homes, turning the heating on only when it’s genuinely needed will save the most money in the long run.” The 15C rule is particularly important for some people, they said. “Remember that indoor temperatures shouldn’t fall below 15C, especially if you have elderly relatives or anyone with health concerns, they added. “Keeping a consistent temperature of around 18 to 21 degrees during the colder months is ideal for comfort and well-being.” The advice comes as householders were warned that overusing your thermostat this autumn and winter is adding around 10 per cent to the yearly heating bill. Heatforce said that this doesn’t heat your home faster and simply wastes energy and money. They advised avoiding boosting the thermostat this winter. They also agree that leaving the heating on all day is not cost-effective and day only to use it when needed.