If you're a heat greedy pig, you're wasting money. Here's the right temperature, as advised by Sean Paul.
With an ongoing energy crisis and prices set to rise further through the weather, many households are wondering how they can be as efficient as possible with their energy consumption.
One such approach is to set your thermostat to the optimum temperature for both energy efficiency and comfort.
Let's dive in...
What is a Thermostat and How Does It Work?
Households use thermostats to regulate a heating system’s temperature. You can, of course, use it to set the desired temperature.
A thermostat can then detect temperature changes and make the necessary adjustments to maintain a certain heating system temperature.
In other words, it works to maintain a given room temperature, thus how much your heating system has to work to keep your room, say 20°C, would depend on a range of factors.
These might include how the outdoor temperature changes, whether you leave doors open, and how well-insulated your home is at any given time.
There are many types of thermostats, including:
Wired thermostats
Wireless thermostats
Programmable thermostats with the ability to schedule
Smart thermostats
Mechanical thermostats
Digital thermostats
Of course, the descriptions used above may cross over (e.g., smart and digital thermostat or wired and mechanical).
So, these types are designed to cover all the bases of how a thermostat may work.
But what temperature should you set yours to during the coldest months of the year?
The Ideal Winter Room Temperature
There is no one answer to this question because it depends on who lives in your home and whether anyone is more vulnerable to cooler temperatures or not.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the optimal temperature of a home is 18°C to 21°C
However, the exact temperature you should set your thermostat to can depend on various factors.
Based on advice from the World Health Organisation, these temperatures are optimal for different groups of people:
Healthy and well-dressed individuals
18°CBabies and infants
20°C*The elderly
20°CUnwell individuals
20°C
*Health warning for newborns: A newborn baby’s room should have a temperature of 16°C to 20°C. Getting this right is essential for their health.
Please be aware that failing to get the temperature right for the elderly or unwell can increase a range of health risks.
For instance, for those who are most vulnerable, a temperature below 9°C could result in hypothermia, whereas a temperature of 9°C to 12°C or more than 24°C brings a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Of course, having a room temperature that is too high or too low is not good for anyone.
It’s more a matter of the risks being higher for those who are most vulnerable than not existing at all for the least vulnerable.
Related thermostat guides:
Energy Efficiency During the Winter
To make it clear, you should not lower your temperature below the recommended levels, even if everyone in the home is healthy.
But, if you tend to set your thermostat to say 19°C during the winter and no vulnerable individuals live in your home, you can slightly lower your energy bill by bringing it down to the safe minimum of 18°C.
However, energy efficiency is very important and generally a more effective way of lowering your energy bills.
Ultimately, the temperature you set your thermostat to is not some fixed measure of how much energy you use when your heating is on.
After all, how well you keep the heat in will determine how much your heating system needs to work to maintain a given temperature.
The more you keep the heat in, the less energy it uses, and the lower your bills will be.
Here are some free and low-cost tips for improving your home’s energy efficiency:
Keep your doors closed, particularly in the evening time
Close your curtains at night
Consider installing a door sweep
Moving furniture away from vents and radiators, was safe and possible
Do not hang curtains directly over radiators since this will cause heat to be funnelled out via your window
Reseal windows if necessary
For higher-cost investments, you may want to consider:
Installing better-insulated windows (e.g., double-glazed windows)
Having your walls cavity insulated
Attic insulation
Internal or/and external wall insulation
Replace old appliances with modern and more energy-efficient alternatives (e.g., boiler*, fridge and freezer, washing machine, microwave, etc.)
Installing solar panels, thus increases your energy self-reliance and reduces your bills
Having an electric heat pump installed to either meet or assist in meeting your energy needs. You should note that Ofgem’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers homeowner’s the possibility of up to £5,000 off the labour and supply cost of an air source heat pump. Moreover, you may be able to use the BUS to get £6,000 off the labour and supply cost of a ground source pump (e.g., water source heat pump).
*If you feel it’s time to have your boiler replaced or that it’s getting close, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to buy now and pay later.
By purchasing a boiler on finance, it’s possible to spread the payment (for both the labour cost and standalone cost of the boiler) over a several-year period. Sometimes this comes with interest and sometimes it doesn’t.
Lastly, we also recommend checking that your boiler is working correctly. Do not perform any gas work, however.
Just use the manual provided to make any evaluations you can.
If you suspect that your boiler’s efficiency could be improved with some changes, you could hire a heating engineer to do so.
If you have any safety concerns, you must do so for the safety and well-being of everyone in your home.
PS you can now read our complete review of the best thermostatic radiator valves in the UK.
Related thermostat reading:
What about When I’m Away?
If everyone in your household is leaving for several days or more, there is generally no need to leave the heating on or even to schedule it to come on during that time span.
However, there are scenarios where you would want to keep your heating on while you’re away:
Your home is at risk of freezing*
You have pets who will be staying in your home when away ^
You will be away for weeks or months and want to avoid mould or mildew growing
* You must ensure you do not let your home freeze when you’re away, otherwise it could result in flooding which would necessitate expensive repairs. You only need your thermostat to be about 5°C to prevent your home from freezing while away.
^ Make sure, you do not overlook setting a safe and consistent temperature. Obviously, most pets are not meant to be left at home on their own for days on end but even if you have someone to check in on them and take them out for walks (if applicable), you should ensure they’ll be able to keep warm when home alone.
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