Exact date to turn your heating off and slash energy bills by £100s
AS winter gradually retreats, experts have shared advice on the best time to switch off your heating in preparation for spring.
The suggested date to turn off your heating is Sunday, 30 March, according to energy specialists.
Uswitch explains that by late March, average temperatures begin to rise, daylight hours increase, and the clocks go forward, marking the start of British Summer Time.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at the price comparison site, told The Sun: "Households grappling with rising energy costs will be looking forward to turning off the heating this spring.
"The clocks go forward on Sunday, March 30 this year and this could be a good time for people to review their energy usage.
"Longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures should mean less need to use your boiler."
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Even then, Ben suggests that households should already being gradually reducing the amount of time their heating is on.
He said: "As the weather begins to improve, households could try gradually reducing the amount of time their heating is on and turning down the temperature of their thermostat.
"Every degree you reduce the temperature of your thermostat is estimated to cut your heating bill by about 10%, so it can make a big difference."
Energy bills are set to climb again this spring, with increases exceeding initial forecasts, delivering a fresh blow to millions of households.
Energy suppliers have predicted that the price cap will rise by up to 6% in April, significantly higher than previous predictions of 1-3%.
Currently, the price cap stands at £1,738 for households with average energy consumption, on a variable-rate energy tariff, and paying by direct debit.
This is expected to rise to £1,847 in April, marking an average increase of £109, with an additional £35 hike anticipated in July.
Ofgem's price cap sets a maximum rate that energy suppliers can charge per kilowatt hour (kWh) of gas and electricity for customers on standard variable tariffs.
However, it does not limit your total energy bill.
Therefore, if you use more energy than the typical household, your bills will exceed the average figures mentioned above.
Ofgem is set to announce the confirmed price cap for April on 25 February, which could still vary from the current forecast, either increasing or decreasing.
In the meantime, we've outlined practical steps to help you reduce your heating and electricity costs.
How can I cut my heating bills?
Turning down your thermostat by just one degree could save you around £90 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust.
However, lowering your boiler's flow temperature, along with adjusting any thermostatic radiator valves in certain rooms, could save you an additional £180 per year on your energy bills.
A couple also shared how they managed to cut £400 off their EDF Energy bill by turning off their immersion heater.
Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can bring a household a further £230 worth of annual savings, according to Nesta.
It is also important to ensure that when your boiler's running there's no draught.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but it's the first place where heat will escape.
If there's a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.
You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.
Consider what rooms in your home need heating.
You won't be using each one 24/7 so make sure the radiators are switched off in any rooms that aren't occupied.
There is also a list of other common boiler problems we've rounded up that could be pumping up your bills.
What do the numbers on my radiator mean?
THERMOSTATIC radiator valves (TRVs) work by controlling the flow of hot water inside a radiator.
These energy-saving gadgets work by detecting the temperature of a room and then controlling how much hot water is let into the radiator.
TRVs have numbers printed on them, which roughly correspond to the room temperatures shown above.
So if the room is colder than the number it's positioned to, the TRV will sense this and allow more hot water into the radiator to heat up the room quickly.
As the room gets warmer, the TRV will restrict the amount of hot water coming into the radiator to maintain the temperature of the room.
And as the room temperature starts to drop, the TRV senses the temperature and will allow more hot water in again, repeating the process.
The average household can save up to £75 every year if they have thermostatic radiator valves fitted on all their radiators, according to British Gas.
Experts recommended that households should set their TRV to 2 or 3 in the average room.
If you don't need to heat a room, set your radiator TRV on the lowest setting.
This will give the devices frost protection and will allow hot water to briefly pass through but only if the temperature drops below 7°C.
How else can I to cut my energy bills?
Switching off appliances left on standby around your home could save you £45 a year, while turning off lights in unused rooms may save you an additional £7 annually, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Washing your clothes at 30 degrees could reduce your energy bills by £12 a year.
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Similarly, running your dishwasher only when it's full and cutting back by one cycle per week could save another £12 annually.
Boiling only the amount of water you need in your kettle, combined with fitting a kitchen tap aerator, could further reduce your costs by £29 a year.
What energy bill help is available?
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.