Millions of Brits struggle to understand how their central heating works – with more than a third admitting they just leave it on 24/7 during winter as a result.
More than half (53%), of 2,000 adults polled, said they would struggle to change the settings on their boiler, with 55% resorting to searching online to figure out what the symbols on their heating system mean.
Of the two-thirds (63%) of Brits who have a boiler, 41% do not confidently know how it works – and four in ten have given up when faced with a symbol they didn't understand.
And 62% have tried and failed to personalise their heating system to suit their household needs, such as changing the time it turns on and off.
As a result, nearly three-quarters (71%) feel they waste money on bills due to not fully understanding their heating.
Kirsty Duffy, property expert and spokeswoman for smart heating brand, Wiser, which commissioned the research, said: “The research shows how little people know about their own home and their boiler settings.
“This can result in people spending more money than they should, and perhaps not being able to keep the home heated in the most efficient way.
“Understanding the household heating system can be overwhelming, especially if there are lots of different buttons and symbols on the control panel.
“However, at a time of rising energy bills, it is important homeowners know how to operate it in the most economical way.
“This is why we have created the Wiser Home Heating Guide, which aims to help homeowners understand their heating.”
The study also found there is some fear surrounding changing boiler settings, as 49% actively avoid amending the controls in case they change something they can’t reverse.
Despite rising energy bills, 59% have turned their boiler on or “boosted” it, only to forget to switch it off again when they go out – which happens on average four times a month.
But leaving the heating on leads to three in ten (29%) worrying about wasted use of energy, while 49% are more concerned about frittering money on bills.
More than half (51%) said the recent cost-of-living increases have resulted in them making more effort to understand their central heating system.
But more than a third (36%) of those polled, via OnePoll, admitted that instead of trying to work out the timer setting on their boiler, they typically just leave it on 24/7 over winter.
Wiser’s spokeswoman added: “Everyone knows that this winter is going to be tough due to rising energy costs – but our worry is that homeowners lack of understanding about their heating controls will also leave them with high energy bills.
“Simple steps, such as setting timing schedules or personalising the heating to each room, can significantly reduce energy bills.
“However, investing in a smart heating system can provide even more cost-saving benefits for households – with functionality such as “insights” and “eco mode”, households can save up to £450 a year on energy bills.”
