Martin Lewis issues warning to anyone putting the heating on as cold weather strikes

Martin Lewis has issued a warning to anyone who is putting the heating on as cold weather hits the UK.

The Met Office has issued eight alerts for disruptive snow and ice across the country.

Between the plummeting temperatures and ongoing cost of living crisis, many are choosing to intermittently turn their heating on and off to save on money.

The Money Saving Expert has offered advice on the best time to turn heating on and the optimal length it should be left on for to keep bills as low as possible.

Where some suggest leaving heating on all day at a low level, others suggest only turning it on when needed.

Martin Lewis has now explained the most cost efficient way to heat your home.

He said: “The general advice from the energy saving trust is that you have your heating on when you need it, and you turn it off when you don't need it. The myth that it is cheaper to have it on all day is false."

He went on to explain that homes prone to condensation use up more energy if you turn heating on and off when you need it, he continued: “In most cases, you turn the heat on when you need it and turn it off when you don't. It's best to do it on a timer and a thermostat."

Elsewhere, he warned people against turning their thermostat up, urging them to be patient when heating their homes: “When it gets cold, people turn their thermostat up, but if it's set to 20 degrees, you don't need to turn it up because you're cold now.

“You're just going to have to wait until it gets up to the temperature."Don't turn it up to 22 just because it's not on right now. That's what a thermostat is for.

“It will give you the temperature that you've predefined it to be."

Wednesday’s yellow weather warnings were extended into Thursday and Friday, with ice in coastal and northern England, with both snow and ice expected in northern Scotland.