As we reach the end of October, the colder and longer days are creeping in and so, our thoughts are switching on the boiler for the first time this year. You may be wondering though, ‘what day should I turn my boiler on?’
The Rise of the Energy Price Cap, The Rise of Boiler Switch On
Many homes will turn theirs on at the first sight of cold. However, others can’t always afford to do this, particularly with the Energy Price Cap rising on October 1st.
The unit rate for electricity will be 24.50p per kilowatt hour with a standing charge of 60.99 daily, the fixed fee that homes will pay even if no electricity is used.
Gas will amount to 6.24kWh and a daily standing charge of 31.66p.
This will leave nearly 29 million households with an extra £149 to find, just to pay their bills.
When Should you Switch Your Boiler On?
The recommended temperature for your home in winter is between 18*C and 21*C and anything below this means you should be putting your heating on.
Now, there’s not an official date to turn switch your boiler on, but many people out there like to turn it on the day the clocks go back for winter. This year it will be Sunday October 27.
What to Consider Before Switching your Boiler On?
As it’s probably been a long time since you last had your boiler on, it could be a good idea to make sure it is working correctly. You don’t want to turn it on in the cold weather and it’s not working.
Here are 3 things you should do during Boiler Switch on Week:
- Turn your heating on ahead of time to see if it is working.
- Check radiators for cold spots, they may need bleeding.
- Consider a boiler service if you haven’t had one in the last year.
And some other tips and tricks to consider:
- Draught excluders to seal joints around doors, windows, and letterbox brushes.
- Turn radiators off in unused rooms.
- Furnish your home with warmth in mind, e.g. don’t put a thick sofa in front of a radiator.
- Water pipes should be insulated.
- Try putting a thin piece of tinfoil behind your radiators, this reflects the heat.
- If you can, use a smartphone to control heating when you are not at home.
- Any help that you are entitled to should be made use of. This can be found below.
The Help You Are Entitled To
If you currently struggle to pay for your energy bills or are worrying about switching your boiler on, there may be a chance you are entitled to help. Here at Energy Advice Helpline, we are dedicated to make these known to you:
