Energy bills have skyrocketed, meaning many households are looking to keep costs down and will be worried about keeping their home warm - so when should you turn the heating on?

As the days get colder, you might be tempted to reach for the thermostat and turn the heating on.

But as energy bills have skyrocketed in recent years, many households are looking to keep costs down and will be worried about keeping their home warm. If you’re wondering when is best to turn the heating on, most experts suggest the temperatures particularly start to drop when the clocks go back.

The clocks went back this Sunday (October 29) as we switched from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Of course, some households with vulnerable people or those with medical issues will have no choice but to switch the heating on.

The Ofgem energy price cap currently sits at £1,834 a year - this is based on the typical household using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas. Ofgem recently changed its methodology, due to people using less energy to save money - under the old formula, the price cap is set at £1,923 a year.

Even though the price cap has come down in recent months, energy bills are still much higher than they used to be. The price cap stood at £1,277 a year in October 2021 and £1,042 a year in October 2020.

BOXT founder Andy Kerr recently told The Mirror: “With temperatures dropping and thunderstorms affecting parts of the UK, many Brits are starting to feel colder inside their homes. While some might delay putting the heating on to save money, many are turning it on sooner rather than later to combat that chilly feeling.

“Experts recommend turning on your central heating on around October 29, as this is when daylight saving time ends and temperatures begin to fall. We always advise keeping your thermostat at a minimum of 10 degrees to protect your pipes from freezing.

“Frozen pipes not only stop your heating from working properly, but can lead to costly complications, including burst pipes and plumber call-out fees, and it is ideal to ensure your heating system works reliably before the really cold weather arrives."

If you're looking for ways to keep costs down, we recently spoke to experts at Uswitch.com about the cheapest ways to keep warm without putting the heating on.