Winter is here, which means the nation will be turning on their heating systems for the first time in months as the temperatures drop and the days shorten. If you're trying to heat your home, you might be wondering if you should keep the heat on all the time or if you should turn it on when necessary.

MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis and his team have put together their thoughts on this issue. They said: "This is a hotly debated one. According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth.

"They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money. A timer's best, as your thermostat turns your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set, BristolLive reported.

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"It's all about the total amount of energy required to heat your home. A certain amount of energy is constantly leaking out of the building (how much will depend on how good your insulation is). The Energy Saving Trust says if you're keeping the heating on all day, you're losing energy all day, so it's better to heat your home only when you need it."

On the website, the MSE team said: "Some argue you should keep the heating on constantly for an entirely different reason.

"They advocate keeping the heating on low all day, turning all radiator valves up to the max and the boiler down to the minimum. This is because condensation collects within the walls each time the heating is turned off. Some argue that this condensation can help to conduct heat outside the home – meaning you lose heat more quickly and use more energy as a result."

MSE experts also shared feedback they received on the site's forum: “Some complain that only having the heating on when required risks you being cold, as it takes time to heat up homes. That may be true, but this is a MoneySaving site, so we're focused on cost. As a balance, you could switch the timer on a little earlier, so your home will be warm when needed, but you're not pumping out energy all day.”