One of the biggest money-saving mysteries always rolls around as temperatures begin to drop: is it more economical to keep our heating on low throughout the day, or blast it for a shorter period when you need it?
Now Martin Lewis has waded in on the topic, revealing which approach is better when it comes to saving cash.
In his weekly newsletter, the Money Saving Expert explained it's cheaper to switch your heating on and off as required throughout the colder months, adjusting the temperature as needed rather than leaving radiators running all day on a lower setting.
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He explained: "Having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money."
The Money Saving Expert team have also gone into more detail on the MSE website, as part of a new Energy Mythbusting guide.
Referring to the dilemma as a 'hotly debated one', the team wrote: "According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money."
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They advised that a timer is best as your thermostat turns your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set.
The post continued: "The key thing to understand here is that it's all about the total amount of energy required to heat your home.
"It's a given that a certain amount of energy is constantly leaking out of your home (how much will depend on how good your insulation is). The Energy Saving Trust says if you're keeping the heating on all day you're losing energy all day, so it's better to heat your home only when you need it."
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It added that it's obviously not always 'quite that clear-cut' as some specialists disagree - although they argue you should keep the heating on constantly for an entirely different reason.
"They advocate keeping the heating on low all day, turning all radiator valves up to the max and the boiler down to the minimum, and say the problem with turning the heating on and off is that every time it's turned off, condensation collects within the walls," the MSE team said.
"This condensation can help conduct heat outside the home, they say - meaning you leak heat more quickly and so will use more energy as a result."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, News, martin lewis