Martin Lewis shares verdict on whether you should leave heating on all day

It's safe to say October has brought some very dismal weather along with it.

Excessive rainfall has prompted flood warnings across the country – and we've definitely noticed it getting nippier too. So much so that people are already considering putting their heating on!

On X, one user pondered: “Is anyone else tempted to turn on the heating?” Another questioned: “So… at what point does everyone turn on their heating? What is too cold?”

Another said: “Turned my heating on. Summer’s officially over.” And a fourth added: “That’s it… I give up… I tried my best.. can’t do it any more… I’ve had to turn the heating on.”

But what is the best way to heat your home? Should you crank it up to full for an hour or leave it on low all day? You don't want to drive up energy bill costs too much, after all.

To find some answers, many have turned to Martin Lewis. They have tuned into an old This Morning segment the Money Saving Expert founder appeared on in the past.

He once said: "They say it's better to only put the heating on when you need it. "You pay to pump energy in as and when is needed, and to keep pumping it in constantly isn't efficient.

"Using a timer's best, because your thermostat is designed to turn your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it at. So in general I'd stick with that...

"There are some engineers who argue that keeping the heating on low with all the radiators on and the boiler down can work as it reduces condensation, which when the heating is turned off collects within the walls, and can help conduct heat outside the home.

"This means you lose heat more quickly and will use more energy as a result. So if your house is prone to that you may want to think about it."

In short, you should take note of how your own home operates before making a decision. But typically, it's less cost effective to leave your heating on all day so a timer will likely be the better option.

So have you put your heating on yet? Let us know in the comments section below.