How to save money in winter while keeping radiators at the right temperature

Saving money in winter is a priority for many families, because heating is one of their biggest expenses in terms of energy costs.  Knowing how to set radiator temperatures correctly enables you to enjoy a comfortable environment while avoiding excessive waste.

Although many people think that adequately heating a home means keeping temperature settings high, the truth is quite different.  Often, it is sufficient to take a few small measures to reduce energy consumption and provide comfort.  The secret is finding the perfect balance between efficiency and wellbeing, by choosing the right temperature level and introducing some good habits into your daily routine.

The ideal temperature to save money in winter

The recommended temperature for keeping the home warm without consuming too much energy is around 20°C.  This level is an ideal balance, as it is warm enough to ensure wellbeing, but not so high that it increases heat loss from the house.

A temperature of 20°C, which corresponds to 68°F, is recognised in many guidelines as an optimal threshold for domestic efficiency.  Maintaining this temperature enables natural heat loss to be balanced and avoids making the boiler work more than necessary.

Considering that for every degree less, savings of up to 10% on bills can be made, lowering the thermostat by 7 to 10° C for 8 hours a day (for example overnight or when everybody is out) results in significant annual savings.

A common mistake is to believe that lowering the temperature when leaving the house leads to greater energy consumption on returning.  In fact the opposite happens: a colder house loses less heat to the outside, therefore less energy is needed overall to bring it back to the desired temperature.

Setting a moderate temperature and lowering it strategically when everyone is out, enables homeowners to save money in winter without compromising wellbeing.  Furthermore, it reduces stress on the heating system, which is able to work constantly and uniformly, avoiding waste.

Smart thermostats: a useful tool for lowering bills

A modern, efficient way of managing radiator temperatures effectively is to use smart thermostats.  These devices offer a series of advanced functions which enable heating to be automatically optimised.  The main advantages include:

• advanced programming: enables precise on and off times to be set, adapting the temperature to suit the family’s daily routine;
• geofencing: helps the thermostat to understand when the house is empty, so as to automatically lower the temperature and then raise it at the set time;
• consumption analysis: it identifies waste and improves efficiency, via clear graphics and data;
• control via app: allows the heating system to be controlled remotely, avoiding it coming on when not needed, thereby optimising energy consumption.

Airing rooms is one of the key steps;  opening the windows for a few minutes during the warmest part of the day allows good air turnover without cooling the rooms too much.  It is useful to remember to turn off the radiators during this phase, to prevent the boiler working needlessly.

A careful approach to furnishings is another key element.  Radiators covered by thick curtains or furniture prevent the home from being heated uniformly, forcing the heating system to work harder.

Natural light can also be a precious ally, as leaving the curtains open during the day allows the warmth of the sun’s rays to enter the rooms, contributing towards bringing down energy consumption.

Finally, the role of insulation should not be overlooked.  Drafts and old window fittings can disperse a surprising amount of heat, but small actions, such as the use of draft excluders or insulating screens, can signficantly improve the building’s capacity to keep heat inside.

Regular maintenance of the heating system, including cleaning the boiler and bleeding the radiators, certainly helps to maintain the system’s efficiency over time and reduce waste.

Heat pumps or traditional radiators?  Which is really better?

In recent years, heat pumps have become one of the most widespread options for domestic heating, especially with a view to energy savings and consumption reduction.  But how do they behave when compared to traditional radiators powered by a boiler?

Heat pumps use the energy present in the air outside to heat the inside of the home, mainly powered by electricity.  Their efficiency is often much better than traditional boilers because they are able to produce more heat energy than the electricity they consume, thanks to the COP principal (Coefficient of Performance).  In favourable conditions, a heat pump can generate 3 or even 4 kWh of heat for every kWh of electricity consumed.

Traditional radiators however, work via a boiler which burns gas or other fuel.  This means that efficiency is linked to the quality of the boiler, higher consumption on very cold days and a greater tendency towards heat dispersion.

Reduce the heat gap to consume less

Maintaining the temperature of radiators at around 20°C is a strategic choice, as it limits heat dispersion.  If the house is heated too much, the heat inside tries to escape to the outside more quicly.

Lowering the heat gap is therefore one of the main steps towards lowering costs.  The house will still remain comfortable and the heating needs to be on for fewer hours.

Furthermore, a moderate temperature improves general wellbeing.  Too warm an environment can make the air dry and cause a feeling of tiredness, while a temperature of around 20°C is generally perceived as a good balance.

In light of this, it is clear that saving money in winter does not necessarily mean sacrificing comfort but rather starting to manage the heating more cleverly.  Setting the radiators at the recommended temperature, lowering it when the occupants are sleeping or not at home, using smart thermostats and taking small daily steps enables waste to be reduced effectively.

By implementing a few small, insignificant measures, it is therefore possible to improve the efficiency of the entire heating system, cutting bills and facing the winter more sustainably.