Expert settles debate on if you should put heating on this week

An energy-saving expert has settled the debate on if homeowners should put their heating on this week following a change in the weather . After a boiling hot summer, the weather has changed drastically over the last couple of weeks, with the UK being battered by rain across a number of areas .

However, summer is set to return this week, with an autumnal twist, as The Met Office is predicting heavy downpours to soak the UK as well as temperatures reaching over 20C. But the increased wind and rain have had homeowners pondering if they should turn the heating on for the first time this autumn and increase their energy bills .

Now, an expert from Energy Saving Trust, a company dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, has settled the debate on if people in the UK should put their heating on this September.

The expert said: "Generally, you should put the heating on when you start to feel cold. This is especially important if anyone in your home is; an older person, someone with a medical condition

"We asked our social media community when they usually start to turn on their heating. More than half (58%) of people said they leave it as late as they can before they turn the heating on. And a third (33%) said they already had the heating on by mid-September.

"You’ll often see it reported that people start heating their home once temperatures regularly drop to 15°C and below. According to the Met Office , this tends to be around October, but the occasional cold snap may have you reaching for that boiler switch sooner."

According to the Met Office, The UK will be hit with heavy spells of rain until Wednesday, September 23, followed by frier, brighter and fresher days later on in the week. Temperatures will remain above 15C, with some areas in the south of England reaching 24C this week.

With the weather not consistently dropping below 15C this week, people might want to wait a little bit longer before reaching for the thermostat or boiler controls.

As the days get a little bit colder, homeowners will be looking for ways to make the most out of their heating. Utility Bidder , a comparison website for business utility tariffs, has shared eight ways people can make the most out of their heating, without wasting money.

The first method includes putting a shelf above your radiator. The business said: "A correctly positioned shelf above your radiator can help push warm air further into the room rather than letting it rise straight up."

The second is making sure your thermostat is in the correct place, so it is measuring the temperature of the room and not an external heat source. They said: "Don’t hide your thermostat behind a sofa, radiator, curtain or furniture.

"It needs to measure the room temperature accurately, and if it’s behind a heat source, the temperature could be misleading. Thermostats should have a free flow of air in the home."

The next method surrounded when the heating should be turned on to make sure the warmth is retained.