You've been using your thermostat all wrong – and it could save you £100 off your heating bill

TURNING down the thermostat could see hundreds of pounds slashed from your energy bills – and it's a money saving trick few consider in the winter months.

Reducing the temperature it's set to by just one degree can save you over £100 a year according to experts.

Most households will regularly set their thermostat above 22°C, especially as the colder weather sets in.

But that's already three degrees above climate experts’ recommendations and it's higher than you need if you're looking to keep costs to a minimum.

Data from Uswitch suggests that the temperature inside a fifth of UK homes is hotter than Lanzarote currently, and more than a million are heated to 25°C or above which is hotter than it is in Sydney, Australia at the moment too.

But the energy experts explained that households could make potential savings of up to £127.70, by turning down just one degree.

You'll hardly notice the temperature difference if you slightly reduce the heat during the colder months, either.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “Many people have been turning down the thermostat over the last 12 months.

"Some will have been prompted to lower their thermostats so they can reduce their bills, while others are likely trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

“At this time of year it is important to stay warm, and anyone who is worried about paying their energy bills this winter should contact their energy supplier, who can offer advice and support.” 

The cost of living has rocketed for many, with energy bills at all time highs and the daunting period of mega spends that usually come around Christmas time creeping up fast.

It wasn't long ago that households were slamming energy firms for ramping up bills by as much as 80% amid rising gas prices.

That has only lead to the devastating fall and collapse of a number of those providers though, as they struggled, just as households have, to keep up with costs during the ongoing energy crisis.

Many have been successful in slashing their bills after challenging their energy suppliers, having seen their bills triple since the summer.

But others have looked to other avenues to cut their costs.

What can I do to cut down my heating costs?

You shouldn't just stop at turning down the heating if you're looking to save some mega bucks on your energy bills.

But you can stick with the thermostat itself to start with.

Upgrade it to a smart thermostat, and you could save as much as £164 a year – it'll connect your heating system to the internet so you can turn down temperatures on your phone while you're out and about.

You will have to keep in mind potential upfront costs of installation which can typically range from £150-£250, but they will make a saving over the long term.

There are a number of other steps you can take to slash your energy bill too.

You could simply layer up and put on another jumper rather than cranking up the central heating the first chance you get.

Make sure your home is insulated too, otherwise any of the money you are spending on heating will simply be expelled out of the walls as waste and you won't get to feel the benefit.

There are some quirky home tricks you can try to save on buying any fancy fittings too – that way you'll definitely save.

Try looking at your house room by room to see where exactly you can lower costs – you might be able to switch something off here, or plug a draughty gap there, and the pennies will soon add up.

You can also apply for government grants and schemes that help with expensive bills through the winter time.

Get up to £140 cash to cover bills in some circumstances.

Plus low income households can get £25 a week to help with energy bills during the winter thanks to the cold weather payment scheme, and £300 off fuel payments during the coldest months with winter fuel payments.

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