When Do You Turn the Heating On (and What If the Boiler Won’t Work?)

• Turn heating on to around 18-21°C when it gets cold and use timers wisely to save on bills
• The LEAP Boiler Scheme has reopened to repair/replace broken gas boilers and the LEAP Heating Tune-Up service is designed to help maintain and improve your heating system
• This is a referral-only service - please contact LEAP or a LEAP partner for help and energy advice

When do you finally nudge the thermostat up a degree or two? During the first cool snap of autumn, the October half term when more people are at home, or do you wait until late November nights really start to bite? Whatever your preference, a reliable boiler makes all the difference. If yours has broken down or is showing signs of trouble, the choice between comfort and cost can be daunting. That’s why the LEAP Boiler Scheme has reopened, to help fuel-poor and vulnerable homeowners repair or replace faulty boilers and get safely back to warmth this winter.

When Should I Turn the Heating On?

According to the Energy Saving Trust, there isn’t a specific go-to date. Put the heating on when you’re cold, especially if anyone at home is older or has a health condition.

 Good practice is to set your room thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature (typically 18-21°C) and let your controls do the work. The boiler should only kick in when the home drops below that set point. Turning the thermostat down just 1°C (for example from 22°C to 21°C) can trim around £90 a year from your bill in Great Britain, and £100 in Northern Ireland.

A useful tip is to use timers so heat increases before you wake and cools down before bed, preventing the boiler from working too much round the clock and heating only when needed. (Heat pumps are the exception as they’re often most efficient, running steadily.)

The LEAP Boiler Scheme

The LEAP Boiler Scheme is there to support qualifying residents who are referred by our referral partners or energy company funders. We want to reach households identified as most at risk, and connect them with LEAP’s energy advice, practical fixes and guidance to reduce energy bills long-term.

The LEAP Boiler Scheme helps bridge that gap when there’s no suitable emergency funding available quickly enough for your situation.

Who can qualify?

To be eligible, all of the following must apply:

• Your household is in fuel poverty or a fuel-poverty risk group and at least one resident is aged 65 or over, under compulsory school age, or living with significant health problems or a disability
• You own your home
• Your primary heating is gas central heating
• Your boiler is broken, leaving you in a no-heat or intermittent no-heat situation
• Your property is not considered higher risk (for example, park homes, high-rise buildings or traditionally constructed properties that are protected/listed)
• There is no other suitable emergency funding you can access in time (e.g ECO would require an unaffordable contribution or the timeline is too long for your circumstances)

Please note: Proof of eligibility is required before our advisors can make a referral. Please ensure residents have evidence ready at the time of the call or visit.

How to access help

Because the scheme is referral-only, the quickest route is through a LEAP referral partner (for example, a local authority, trusted community organisation or an energy company funder linked to LEAP). Here’s how to prepare.

1. Gather proof: documents showing home ownership, your heating system and eligibility (age or health criteria), plus confirmation that the boiler is broken and that no suitable emergency funding is available in time.
2. Speak to your referral partner: they’ll check the criteria and, if appropriate, make a referral into the LEAP Boiler Scheme.
3. Engage with LEAP’s wider support: alongside boiler help, you’ll receive practical energy-saving advice to keep running costs as low as possible.

The LEAP Heating Tune-Up service

Alternatively, the Heating Tune-up offers improvements designed to enhance the performance of your home's heating system. This service is ideal if your boiler hasn’t been serviced in over 12 months. 

What your tune-up may include:

• Boiler service: Full service and worn parts replaced to maintain efficiency, reduce breakdowns and lower bills.
• CombiSave device: Reduces water flow until hot, saving water and gas.
• Water quality: Treats system water to prevent corrosion/sludge and protect performance.
• Heating controls & TRVs: Smarter, room-by-room temperature control for comfort with less waste.
• Radiators & Radbot: New radiators and Radbot controls improve distribution and timing, adapting to your routine.
• Cylinders and controls: Efficient, insulated hot-water storage to cut heat loss.
• Carbon monoxide alarm: Alerts you to dangerous leaks to keep your household safe.

The process starts with a LEAP advice call. A LEAP-certified installer reviews your details and photos, then arranges a home visit for assessment and develops a tailored plan.

Don’t wait in the cold - reach out to LEAP

If you’re holding off turning the heating on because your boiler is unreliable (or not working at all), please reach out. 

Partners 

Please check the criteria carefully and confirm residents have proof before making a referral. 

Residents 

If you think you might qualify, contact your local referral partner or get in touch with LEAP to see if a referral can be made.