EASE THE FREEZE

Budget-friendly ways to heat your home during cold snaps, by LISA SALMON

- LISA SALMON

TOASTY: Make sure your central heating is doing its job

ICY conditions are never far away during a British winter here are some expert tips on how to keep warm at the lowest possible cost...

For boilers, use a programmer and thermostat so heating comes on about 30 minutes before you wake up and switches off about 30 minutes before you go to bed, advises Joanna O'Loan, knowledge manager at the Energy Saving Trust.

"If you're out during the day, turn the heating off while nobody's home," she says. "The most efficient way to heat your home depends on your heating, home and routine."

For most households, setting the thermostat somewhere between 18°C and 21°C is comfortable, says Joanna, although she points out that heat pumps work best keeping your home at a steady temperature.

It may be tempting to turn the heating up a few degrees during a cold snap, but it's not necessary, stresses Joanna.