The advantages and disadvantages of turning off radiators in rooms we do not use

We’re all worried about the rise in our heating bills, which shows no sign of slowing down. As of January 2026, the current energy price cap, which sets the maximum suppliers can charge for both electricity and gas, suggest the average household is set to pay £1,758 per year. And, as you’d expect, many householders are worried about the impact of these costs and are looking for ways of reducing energy bills.  

If you have a room in the house which you rarely use, such as a conservatory or spare bedroom, one action often considered is to turn the radiators off and close the doors until the room is needed. This means that one room will at least not be using unnecessary energy to heat it.

However, there is one disadvantage in doing so, which is a potential damp problem. Without decent levels of sunshine in the winter months, north-facing rooms are at particular risk, and there’s little point in trying to save money by turning the radiator off if you end up having to pay to treat a damp problem and redecorate at a later date.

Consider turning the radiator on intermittently throughout the winter to prevent the room developing those tell-tale mold patches on ceilings, walls and around window frames and also the musty smell that is hard to eradicate. A regular airing can also help.

In doing so, hot water that would normally run through all the radiators will bypass those that are turned off and move on to the next one. If the water returns to the boiler hotter because less energy has been lost, then less energy is also required to reheat it back up to temperature. Your boiler should come on for shorter, less frequent intervals as it will be working more efficiently. Hopefully, you will see the rest of the house warming up sooner, so the boiler switches off sooner, and you’ll save money because you’re using less gas.

Just make sure you close the doors so the colder room doesn’t negatively impact the heating in other rooms.

If you have a frost setting on the radiator valve (usually a snowflake symbol), it’ll be a good idea to keep your radiators on that setting rather than turned off completely. That way, if there’s an unexpected frost in the night, the radiator will come on just high enough to prevent your pipes from freezing.

When the weather turns really cold, many people think you should leave the heating on low all day in order to save money on your bills, but according to the Energy Saving Trust, this is a myth. They say that whenever your heating is on, you lose a proportion of it through the walls and windows (how much depends on how well-insulated your house is), so the more heat you use, the more heat you lose.

Their advice is to set the time for your heating to come on a little earlier than normal to ensure your house is nice and warm when you get home.

If you work from home, you’ll generally spend most of your time in the room you use as your office. However, it doesn’t necessarily make sense to go around turning off all the other radiators just so you can have heat in one room. 

The most practical solution would be to install a small electric radiator in your office that isn’t connected to the central heating system. Designer electric radiators have a timer control and can also be linked to your smart home system. This allows you to only heat one room during the day, and only when you’re using it.

In the evening, when the central heating warms the rest of the house, you can switch off your office radiator and save money by not wasting energy.  

Our wide range of designer radiators is efficient and controllable, and they will keep you warm and cosy throughout even the coldest winters. We also have a range of energy-efficient radiators.

In addition, most of our radiators are compatible with heat pumps if you are thinking of dispensing with your boiler altogether. Visit your nearest radiator showroom or contact us to discuss how you can keep your home warm at the same time as being as fuel efficient as possible.

If you would like to see our selection of radiators, contact us to make an appointment to visit one of our radiator showrooms.