When’s the right time to turn down the heating?

Recently, we all enjoyed the annual spring forward routine. Households across Europe took part in the well-trodden ritual of putting our clocks forward an hour.

Historically, this is also the time for the biannual family debate on household heating. Adults everywhere are currently going head-to-head on optimum temperature settings, thermostats and turning off the heating for the warmer months ahead.

So let’s settle this once and for all. What is the best temperature for your home? And, when is it really the right time to turn off the heating?

What is the optimum household temperature?

The best and safest temperature for your home is between 18˚C and 20˚C. The World Health Organisation recommends up to 21˚C for households with small children, or elderly inhabitants. While we’ve all had one eye on the purse strings this winter, there are several good reasons to keep the thermostat steady at 19˚C.

• Fewer arguments! Most people are comfortable at 19˚C
• Damp and other household issues are kept at bay
• It takes less energy to keep your home at a steady temperature than to warm it from freezing. This means, it costs you less in the long run
• Feeling cold or being cold can weaken our immune responses, meaning viruses can spread more easily

How do I keep my home warm but the costs down?

The UK has been at the mercy of a perfect storm this winter. Soaring energy prices and inflation, not to mention the ongoing fall out from the pandemic. It’s to be expected that we are all slightly more price sensitive than we were a few years back. Oh, for the halcyon days of whacking up the thermostat to 22˚C with merry abandon.

The great news is that we are fast approaching the 14 April, when statistically, Britons opt to turn off the heat. Before we arrive at this magic date, there are a few measures you could consider to help minimise bills for the dregs of this winter, and into next.

• Get a thermostat installed, or make sure you’re using the one you have. Setting the thermostat at 19 ˚ C is the most cost-effective way to ensure your home is kept safe and comfortable. If you need any advice on installation, please give us a call. One of our friendly engineers can discuss the most economical options with you
• Make sure you’ve had your boiler and heating system serviced. We always recommend booking your annual service with one of our Gas-Safe registered engineers during the warmer months, instead of waiting for dormant issues to crop up when the mercury drops. This is also the best way to ensure your heating system is working efficiently and not just burning through energy at the rate of a space rocket in launch mode
• If you’re really watching the pennies, you could try turning your thermostat down to 14˚C overnight, but be prepared for a chilly start to the day

Only a few short weeks to go until we can bask in the glow of summer. Longer evenings will stretch before us, smells of BBQs and mown grass will once again pepper our nostrils.

While your boiler takes a well earned rest, make sure you get it booked in for a bit of R&R with one of our experienced engineers. After all, it’s been a long winter, hasn’t it?

Need help with your boiler or heating system? Contact us today