Are you getting the best out of your central heating?
Which, to channel Game of Thrones can only mean one thing - WINTER IS COMING. And that means energy bills will be bursting.
So I want to play a little game of True or False with you over a series of popular energy myths.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSee how many you get right, and give yourself a warm pat on the back if you do well, and a cold slap across your fiscal face if you get most wrong.
TRUE OR FALSE: The cheapest way to pay energy bills is by direct debit?
True (but specifically it needs to be monthly direct debit). Then suppliers offer discounts of around 7%.
Yet while you pay less in total, as its estimating your usage, if it overestimates it could ask you for more cash – leaving you in-credit - or worse, leaving you underpaying, and in debt with it.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSo ensure you always give regular meter readings to get accurate bills. And if you think its estimate is wrong, you’ve a right to challenge.
TRUE OR FALSE: It’s cheaper to leave the heating on low all day rather than have it turned off and on?
False(ish). Just pay to pump energy in as and when is needed, as 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThis is the view of both the Energy Saving Trust and British Gas, so in general I’d stick with that.
Yet some heating engineers argue that keeping all the radiators on full but with the boiler down can reduce condensation.
Whereas on and off can make it worse. As condensation helps conduct heat outside the home – you lose heat more quickly and will use more energy as a result.
So if your house is prone to condensation, you may want to think about it.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTRUE OR FALSE: Renters can’t switch energy provider without their landlords’ permission?
False. You have a right to switch energy provider in your home even if you only pay the rent.
There are two exceptions to this: 1) If you don’t pay for energy yourself, it’s all included in your rent;
2) If you’re looking to switch meter, eg from prepayment to a credit meter, as that’s a physical change to the property that needs permission.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSo feel free to do a comparison. Just plug your details into my www.cheapenergyclub.com or any other www.ofgem.co.uk - approved comparison site and it’ll tell you the best deal for you.
Just make sure you select ‘all tariffs’ as some comparison sites now default to only show you the ones that will pay them (my cheap energy club doesn’t do this).
If the landlord says it’s written into your contract that you can’t switch, challenge it.
Preventing a tenant from changing energy suppliers may be viewed as an unfair term in a tenancy agreement.
Talk to www.citizensadvice.org.uk to see if it can help.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTRUE OR FALSE: If you’re in credit when you switch energy provider they must give you the money back?
True (now anyway). If you pay by direct debit and when you leave an energy firm you’re in credit, then since 2014 you should automatically get this back.
But track it and if the supplier doesn’t, call it and ask for the cash. If you switched before 2014 and think you might have been in credit then call to check as they operated a ‘don’t ask don’t get policy’ and you can still ask.
TRUE OR FALSE: When you change energy supplier someone will need to visit your home?
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFalse. Nobody usually visits your home. Your pipes don’t change and your gas and electricity won’t get cut off.
You don’t even need to contact your old energy supplier to tell it you’re switching.
The only thing that changes is the price and service. It’s so easy to switch. It isn’t a big deal.
* Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com.
To join the 12 million people who get his free Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert/latetesttip