The stress of not heating your home effectively can impact your mental well-being, and adolescents who live in cold homes are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, according to National Energy Action.

So what can you do to improve your quality of life? Especially during winter.

One solution is a smart heating thermostat device that empowers landlords and local authorities to identify in-home hazards such as damp and mould, optimise property performance, and help reduce heating bills for residents by up to 17%.

Why is it important to set your heating to a schedule?

“It’s important for landlords to get the message out to residents this winter: ‘Set your heating to a schedule,’” says Emma Bitting, Customer Success Manager at Switchee. “As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, everyone is looking for money-saving wins. Setting heating to a schedule will maintain a comfortable temperature in a home, while reducing consumption and cost, and will help to maintain the property.”

Residents can use their thermostat to set a target temperature for the home. If the temperature drops below that target, the thermostat instructs the boiler to turn on and heat the home to that required temperature – and then turn itself off again.

Because you’re not keeping your home at a constant high temperature, you’re using less energy to maintain a comfortable environment.

Emma says: “It’s common to put the heating on high to feel the benefit of the heat quickly, and then turn it off again. Constantly turning a property’s heating on and off is expensive, and it also means that the boiler has to work harder, so it’s more likely to fail. If residents use heating systems as efficiently they could avoid unnecessary maintenance call-outs. That’s why landlords need to get this message out to residents this winter: ‘Set your heating to a schedule.’”

What are the benefits?

Emma adds: “ By having home heating on or off at specific times, tailored to your needs, you can reduce excess energy usage and avoid overheating your home unnecessarily, saving money on bills. There’s also a big health benefit. The Public Health England guideline is that properties should be heated to 18 degrees or more. This is also the metric used to measure fuel poverty in England.”

Setting heating to a schedule is a more cost-effective way to heat your home. So it isn’t simply a way to save money – it’s a way to keep well.