WITH the nights getting colder and energy prices rising, many of us are waiting until the last possible moment to turn on the heating.

One company has provided a Q&A to help homeowners judge how and when they should use their heating to get the best results for the lowest amount of money.

Northwest Heating Solutions have put forward the following points to help residents decide.

Heating advice Q&A from Northwest Heating Solutions:

Q: Should I turn the heating up to warm my house quicker?

A: You can, but you need to consider that your annual heating bill increases by about 10% for every degree you turn your thermostat up.

Q: I need a cheap and effective way to keep the cold out - how can you help?

A: Draught proofing is a simple yet effective way to save money and energy. Blocking up any gaps around windows, doors and the floor will ensure it takes less energy to heat your home. Fitting thick, lined curtains can also help keep heat in your home overnight.

Q: I keep my heating on but why is it still cold in my house?

A: Properly insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to keep heat in and cold out. Around one-third of all heat lost in an uninsulated house escapes through the walls and 25% is lost through the roof.

Q: Should I turn my radiators off in unused rooms?

A: Yes, don’t waste energy or money heating rooms that nobody is using. Turn the radiators off in those rooms or put them on a very low setting. If you turn all the radiators off in an unused room, keep the door to that room closed to minimise heat loss from other warmer parts of your home.

Q: How can I choose the best heating options for my home?

A: You have to consider the age of a property. Even the most efficient heating system will struggle to keep your property warm if you have single-glazed windows, uninsulated walls and gaps around the doors. You also need to think about the size and location of the property. If you have a larger property, you’ll need a more powerful boiler to heat the whole building and ensure the appropriate water pressure is maintained. Additionally, not all homes are connected to the gas grid, especially those in more rural locations so you may have trouble getting heating oil and LPG delivered if you live far from a road. If this is the case, you could use renewable energy to generate electricity to power your home.

Further information about Northwest Heating Solutions can be found at: https://www.northwestheatingsolutions.co.uk/.

Whilst many of these practical solutions can help residents to save money, it must be noted that they also (especially in the case of insulation and draught proofing) require the individual to fork out an initial outlay in order to benefit from lower energy use further down the line. This is something which sadly, many of the most vulnerable will not be able to do.

The defining factor for each household will still be the extremely high price of energy. With the government's £2500 price cap now in position, the hope is that this will be enough to save households from a perilous winter.

The Express tentatively suggested today (Monday, October 10) that the replenishing of gas reserves on the continent, which has seen energy prices begin to fall, could mean that prices will drop below the price cap of their own accord.

However, uncertainty over factors such as the severity of the winter and Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine mean that it is still too early to say.