Brits warned not to turn boilers off overnight to save energy
With the cost of living crisis in full swing and the weather getting colder, Brits are trying anything they can to save a bit of money.
Even with the energy price freeze that was announced recently, people are holding out for as long as possible before turning their heating on.
And it's not surprising when you consider the fact that even with the help prices have risen from £1,277 a year to an estimated £2,500 over the last 12 months.
While most of us have taken to wearing extra layers and investing in draft excluders, some have started turning their boilers off at night.
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On the face of it, that might seem quite logical, but experts have warned that this could lead to further costs down the line.
Speaking to the Sun, Boiler Central said it's best to turn down your thermostat rather than the nuclear option of shutting it down all together.
A spokesperson for the firm said: "If the boiler is turned off and you have forgotten to turn it back on, some can be temperamental and then require a call out.
"It is advised to first look at adjusting your thermostat settings instead of turning your boiler off.
"If someone is looking to regularly turn off their boiler then to ensure it can be done without causing problems it’s advised to get it serviced annually."
But it's not just boilers either, as some have also turned to switching off their WiFi routers. And again, those in the know have warned that this is not a good thing to do.
Jeff Parsons, technology and science editor at Metro, pointed out that taking this action could save the average household up to £20 a year.
However, he went on to explain: "BT, Sky and other internet service providers recommend leaving your routers on all day, every day."
The reason for this is that constantly switching a router off and on again could indicate to your internet provider that your connection is unstable.
BT said in a statement: "Constantly switching off the hub makes the line look unstable, meaning that your speed may be automatically reduced to improve the reliability of your broadband connection."
It could also lead to issues relating to software updates, said Aman Bhatti, director of propositions at Sky Broadband.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he explained: "We know our routers are put through their paces during the day - whether on video calls, streaming the latest show, or online gaming.
"That’s why our routers run firmware updates during the night, to avoid any unnecessary disruption during the day.
"Switching off your router overnight can affect automatic software updates and optimisations which in turn can impact the overall performance, speed and stability of your broadband.
"Other connected devices in the home that are connected to your router will also be disrupted by the delayed updates."
Dominic Smithers