Central heating is there to keep you warm when the weather is freezing outside.
However, 52 per cent of us make a big mistake when using our system which leads to a higher heating bill.
That mistake is turning the thermostat up higher than its usual value during cold spells, in the hope it will counteract the effects of the cold weather.
This is a mistake, according to the Energy Saving Trust, who conducted the survey, and a misuse of the heating system.
But what is the ideal house temperature?
The ideal house temperature is at least 18 degrees Celsius, according to government recommendations.
Turning the temperature up when it’s particularly cold outside is a mistake because your thermostat is designed to keep your house at a stable temperature at all times, regardless of the weather outside.
“Millions of householders are confused by their heating controls,” said Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the trust.
“But there are steps we can all take to deal with the current cold snap.”
Another common misuse of heating is to crank up the thermostat to a particularly high value, in the hope it will heat the home up more quickly.
Over a third of us are guilty of doing this, according to the survey by the Energy Saving Trust.
“This does not help a room become warmer any quicker and only heats the home to a warmer temperature,” added Philip.
Rather than your home getting warmer faster, it will reach an uncomfortable temperature and waste energy and money.
If your radiators do fail to heat up adequately, it may be down to a boiler blockage which requires a service.
If your house is simply too cold despite your radiators working, the issue might also be with your home insulation.
Contact your supplier to see if you qualify for a free loft or wall insulation, which is offered by certain energy companies.
Alternatively, use a heat pad to stay warm without turning up your thermostat.
Microwavable heat pads can be prepared in minutes, and provide a useful and inexpensive heat source for cold nights.