If you’re spending Christmas away from home, every December one question crops up time and time again for thousands of homes in the UK: should you leave your heating on while you’re away, or turn it off to save energy?
In most cases, leaving your heating on low during the winter is safer and more efficient than turning it off completely while you’re away enjoying the festive celebrations. But the best approach depends on the type of heating system you have and how efficiently it can be managed while you’re away.
— there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
To put your mind at ease, we’ve explored the pros and cons of leaving the heating on using gas, oil and electric systems and ways to manage heating your home more efficiently.
The risks of leaving your home without heating in the winter
Turning your heating off entirely might seem like an easy way to save money when you’re not at home, but during the winter, it can have the opposite effect. When indoor temperatures drop too low, homes become vulnerable to:
- Frozen or burst pipes. This is more likely in older properties or poorly insulated areas. With no heat running through, when temperatures drop the water in the pipes can freeze if they’re not insulated properly. As the water expands, it can cause the pipes to crack and burst.
- Damp. With limited warm air flow, condensation and damp can form during the winter, which is caused by cold surfaces coming into contact with trapped moisture in the air. When moisture in the air accumulates and with nowhere to go, black mould can form, damaging your home’s materials like the fabrics and furniture, causing respiratory issues for members of the household.
- Unexpected repair costs. Fixing a burst pipe or removing mould from ceilings and windows can come at a price, which often outweigh any short-term energy savings of leaving the heating on completely while you’re away for Christmas.
So, is it better to leave the heating on low if you’re away during the winter? In short, yes, running your heating system on a low temperature will help to protect the pipes and reduce the chances of condensation. But, it comes down to the type of system it is and how it’s managed.
Leaving your gas heating system running
Despite the use of fossil fuels, gas boilers are still the common system installed in UK homes. Many are equipped with a ‘frost protection mode’ meaning that while you’re away for Christmas, if the temperature drops below a certain level, usually around 5 degrees, the boiler will kick in and heat the water in the system.
In this mode, the boiler will heat up and repeat the process as often as required until you’re back and your usual winter heating routine is restored. As the energy required to regulate this mode is minimal, you shouldn’t expect to see too significant an increase in your heating bill.
Gas heating can be left running on low while you’re away, but without room-by-room control, it’s often less efficient than modern alternatives. Unless you have thermostats installed (thermostatic radiator valves) on every radiator, the system will heat the entire house using the flow temperature, keeping your home warm at a cost.
Can you leave your oil heating system on?
Leaving an oil heating system on while you’re away can create similar challenges during the winter. While the system provides a good level of heat, it can be expensive to keep it running.
Similarly to gas boilers, it’s best to manage an oil heating system with thermostats, making the most of the heating settings to provide your home with warmth during set periods of the day. However, since oil heating systems can be slow to heat up initially, it can be costly and inefficient to manage the system like this while you’re away. The temptation then is to leave an oil heating system running constantly, but this will lead to increased energy costs.
Leaving your electric heating system on
Older electric heaters had a reputation for being expensive to run, but updated electric heating systems have changed this entirely. Modern systems are designed with features so homes can heat their home at 100% energy efficiency from the moment they’re installed.
One of the biggest benefits is how much control you have. Instead of heating the whole house at a time and at the same temperature, electric radiators enable you to warm just the spaces that need it and at whichever temperature you prefer. That means while you’re away, you can warm your home safely at set intervals throughout the day, ensuring the system stays above freezing temperatures, which will prevent damp and condensation from forming.
With electric heating, it’s not a case of all or nothing and rather, you can efficiently leave the heating on low over Christmas, utilising a customised heating schedule and good insulation to fully benefit from a modern system. It’s one of the easiest, most stress-free ways to look after your home until you’re back.
Adapting your home to electric heating systems over Christmas
When you’re heading off for the Christmas break, having the right heating setup can make all the difference — not just for your energy bills, but for peace of mind that your home won’t be freezing on your return. Here’s what we’d recommend:
Consistently warm your home with electric radiators
With Electric radiators installed, you can maintain a safe, consistent temperature while you’re away without relying on a network of pipes that could freeze when it gets cold. Made with a unique 40mm HeatCore, Fischer electric radiators utilise a smart, enhanced convection chamber which draws cold air from the floor and then distributes heat evenly throughout the room — reducing heat wastage on the back of a cold wall.
Set the radiators to a low, energy-efficient economic temperature to consistently provide warm air flow and protect your home from the risk of damp, without significantly increasing your energy bills, even while you’re off enjoying the festive break.
Manage your home’s heating settings on the go
For added convenience and control, the Fischer WiFi Thermostat makes it easy to manage your home’s heating settings from your smart-phone or tablet while you’re away for Christmas.
Set a seven day economy heating programme so the central heating comes on at regular intervals. If the temperature drops or the weather changes, you can check in and make small adjustments remotely to heat your home. Just before you return, increase the temperature from the economy setting so you’ll come back to a warm and cosy house.
Utilise additional sources of heat generation
High Heat Retention Electric Storage Heaters are another economic option to heat your home utilising off-peak tariffs. Electric storage heaters work by generating heat overnight using cheaper electricity and releasing it gradually during the day. It’s another way to heat your home at a steady, economic temperature without solely relying on warm energy from radiators.
Insulate your home effectively
To get the most out of your electric heating system while you’re away over Christmas, it’s worth taking a few simple steps to help keep your home properly insulated.
- Closing curtains and internal doors before you leave reduces heat loss and helps contain warmth in each room
- If possible, swap your usual curtains to thicker or thermal style, making sure you leave with them fully closed
- Seal any draughts around doors, letterboxes or window frames and to avoid leaving furniture (including Christmas decorations) blocking heaters so warm air can circulate freely
These simple ways to improve the insulation in your home can help your electric heating work more efficiently, keeping your home protected and comfortable without using more energy than necessary.
Take control of heating your home this Christmas
With a range of smart controls and built-in protection, Fischer’s range of electric heating products means you can better manage heating your home while you’re away over Christmas with safe, carbon-free alternatives.
Enjoy the festive celebrations with family and friends knowing your home is kept cosy, protected all Christmas long and you’ll return to a comfortable, warm house without leaving the heating constantly running. If you’re considering a more flexible way to heat your home next winter, book a free survey and make the switch to a modern electric set up.
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