Martin Lewis urges households to make one thermostat change to 'save 10% on bills'

Martin Lewis urges households to make one thermostat change to 'save 10% on bills' It can save money and you will barely notice any difference Now that the colder weather is setting in, many UK homes are reaching for the thermostat. However, with high energy bills, more and more homes are being cautious about how best to use the central heating. It is vital to ensure you are actually getting the benefit of turning your heating on amid the high costs. Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has shared many tips over the years, yet one piece of advice is a good place to start. Before winter arrives, autumn is an ideal time to see if the easy tip work for you. Martin recommends turning the thermostat down just just one degree as it has a much bigger impact than you might think. Save money by turning down your thermostat You don't need to worry about making a huge difference to the heat in your home, as Martin suggests turning your heating down by just one degree. It has been labelled as "one of the easiest" changes to make to save money. According to the Energy Saving Trust, dropping the temperature by one degree could save around 10% a year on heating for a typical home. Ensure our latest money saving headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings Speaking on his The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Martin said: "This is a big one. Take my one degree challenge. The World Health Organisation says 18C is fine for adults. Younger, older or ill might need more. "It is not for me to tell you what to do, but I would like you to try reducing one degree. That could save you around 10% on your heating bill." The Money Saving Expert blog added: "Many have their thermostats set in the 20s. And while cutting from, say, 21°C to 20°C doesn't sound much, it should reduce your heating bill. "As a 'way to think of it' concept (not science), imagine your home was already at 13°C, dropping the difference between that and what it's warmed to by one degree will make up a big chunk of that. "There's also no need to turn up the temperature when it's colder outside. The thermostat's job is to heat the home to the set temperature, it just may take longer in colder weather." What temperature should homes be? For healthy adults, the World Health Organisation says that 18C is enough. Slightly higher temperatures are needed for the young and old. Is it cheaper to leave the heating on all day or turn on when needed? The Energy Saving Trust says that leaving the heating on all day consumes more fuel, leading to greater heat loss. This results in higher costs. It would be better to heat your home when you need it and not pay for heating it when you don't. According to the trust, this is the best way to save energy and money.