Page last updated on 17th August 2026
What’s the most efficient way to heat a house?
By adopting cost-effective heating habits, you could be on your way to making your home energy usage efficient and cheaper. With rising energy prices, you might be researching the most efficient way to heat a house; this is when small changes to heating habits and home insulation can help improve comfort while managing energy use more effectively.
How to make your home more energy efficient
Start by improving insulation, reducing draughts and making better use of heating controls before considering larger upgrades. There are several steps and energy saving habits you can adopt to optimise the efficiency of your existing home heating system:
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Why is regular boiler maintenance important for energy efficient heating?
Regular boiler maintenance can help your system run more efficiently, as it may reduce wasted energy and lower running costs over time.
According to Energy Saving Trust, an impartial and trusted organisation for energy efficiency, it is recommended that you have your boiler serviced every year to ensure it is working efficiently. The cost of boiler maintenance depends on where you are located and how much work needs to be done. If you want to know the most economical way to heat your home, the more efficient a boiler is, the less it can cost to run.
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Why should you bleed radiators regularly?
Bleeding radiators regularly helps them heat up evenly, which can make your home feel warmer without keeping the heating on for longer than needed.
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How can a programmable or smart thermostat help?
A programmable or smart thermostat can help you avoid heating your home more than necessary by giving you better control over when and how rooms are heated.
The cheapest way to heat a house with electricity or gas could be to use a programmable thermostat that works with your heating system. Many programmable thermostats allow you to manually set different temperatures for different times of the day, such as lowering the temperature at night.
A smart thermostat can be operated using a smartphone app, allowing you to set schedules and adjust temperatures even when you’re not in the house. Curious about how much energy you are consuming? By switching to a smart meter, you can monitor how much energy you are consuming in near real-time, helping you make more informed decisions about your energy usage.
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What temperature should you set your thermostat to?
In general, the rooms you use most should be kept at a comfortable, steady temperature, with 18°C often recommended as a minimum during winter.
Ensuring that the rooms you spend most of your time in are kept at a minimum of 18°C, particularly during the winter months, can help keep a consistent and comfortable temperature in your home. Staying with the recommended temperature range supports your wellbeing and helps you manage your energy usage effectively.
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Should you only heat the rooms you are occupying?
Yes, focusing heat on the rooms you are using can help reduce wasted energy, especially if you can control temperatures room by room.
You can learn more about adjusting your thermostatic radiator valves on our energy saving tips page.
Using your thermostatic radiator valves (the valves fitted to the end of your radiators), you can control the temperatures of individual rooms around the house. One way of making your home energy efficient and cheaper to run is turning down the valves in rooms that you are not occupying and keeping your doors closed when not in use. This can also help households looking into what is the most efficient way to heat a house without wasting heat in unused rooms.
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How can curtains help keep heat in?
Curtains and blinds can help reduce heat loss through windows, especially at night and during colder weather.
Retain heat around the house by using thick curtains or thermal blinds in the winter or at night. In the day, open the curtains to allow natural sunlight in for added warmth. Thermal curtains and insulation improvements can contribute to energy efficient heating by reducing heat loss through windows.
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Why is blocking draughts an effective way to keep your home warm?
Blocking draughts helps keep warm air inside, which means your heating system does not have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. Some ways to block draughts include:
Keeping doors closed to avoid losing heat.
Placing draught excluders under gaps such as doors and window frames.
Insulating your home.
Most economical way to heat your home: alternative heating
Alternatively, if you’re wondering “how can I be more energy efficient and save money on my heating bills”, you might be interested in knowing more about different types of heating sources:
Is conventional electric heating an efficient option?
Conventional electric heating can work well in smaller or well-insulated homes, but it is usually more expensive to run than gas-based systems.
Conventional or ‘direct’ electric heating, such as panel or infrared heaters, has low upfront costs and requires very little maintenance. However, since electricity is more expensive than gas, the running costs tend to be higher. This means direct electric heating is often better suited to smaller spaces or well-insulated homes. When comparing the most efficient way to heat a house with electricity, some households consider panel heaters or infrared heating for these situations.
Are electric storage heaters a cost-effective option?
Electric storage heaters can be cost-effective in some homes, particularly when they are used with off-peak electricity tariffs.
Storage heaters are designed to store heat during off-peak periods and release it when needed, making them cheaper to run than conventional electric heating, especially when paired with time-of-use tariffs. While they are typically easy to install, they do not always provide consistent heat or precise temperature control. They are sometimes discussed as part of the most cost effective way to heat a house for properties without access to mains gas.
Are heat pumps one of the most efficient heating options?
Yes, heat pumps are often one of the most efficient heating options, particularly in well-insulated homes where they can run effectively at lower temperatures.
Generally, heat pumps work by transferring thermal energy to your central heating system. When making your home energy efficient, heat pumps tend to be significantly more efficient than standard heating systems. Although they have a high upfront cost and require proper insulation to function effectively, they usually have a low running cost and can be more environmentally friendly in the long run. For households asking what is the most efficient heating for a home, heat pumps are often highlighted because they can deliver lower long-term running costs and improved efficiency when installed correctly.
Heat pumps are also increasingly mentioned in discussions around the most efficient heating system in the UK because of their lower carbon emissions compared with some traditional heating systems.
It is essential to keep your home warm, particularly at night or during the colder months. In this guide, we've explored ways to heat your home more efficiently and how to optimise your heating system for your property and routine.
If you want to monitor your home energy usage, why not request a smart meter? Enter the name of your supplier in the box below to get started.
FAQs on heating a home
What is the most efficient heating for a home?
The answer depends on your property type, insulation and heating habits. Many households researching what is the most efficient heating for a home compare boilers, heat pumps and electric heating systems based on running costs and efficiency.
What is the most efficient way to heat your home with electricity?
Households searching for the most efficient way to heat a house with electricity often compare storage heaters, infrared panels and heat pumps depending on insulation levels and electricity tariffs.
What is the most economical way to heat a house?
The most economical way to heat a house will vary depending on insulation, heating controls and household energy usage.
How do you efficiently heat your home?
People researching how to efficiently heat your home may benefit from reducing draughts, using thermostats effectively and heating occupied rooms only.
What is the most efficient heating system in the UK?
Questions around the most efficient heating system in the UK often include heat pumps, modern boilers and smart heating controls depending on household needs and property efficiency.
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