Get your scarves and jumpers ready: this is the date your heating will probably go on

Virgin Radio

11 Oct 2023, 12:57

We might have only just had a heatwave, but the colder nights are due to be setting in.

Many people are trying to keep the heating costs down, but eventually the heating will have to go on.

According to the NHS, the correct temperature to put your heating on for is when the temperature drops below 15 degrees.

The recommendation is to keep the temperature at 18°C in the rooms you use on a regular basis.

This includes your bedroom and living room.

Online heating specialist BestHeating is predicting that we will turn up the heat on October 20, 2023.

Data suggests that temperatures probably won’t reach above 15°C for the rest of the year after this date.

However, 2022 proved this wrong with an abnormally warm year, with temperatures reaching23°C on October 29th, so we'll have to wait and see.

Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating, said: ‘Whilst there isn’t an optimum time to switch heating on, our research shows that once temperatures are below 15°C, usually in the middle of October, it is best to turn the heating on as we feel the chill more. By the end of the month, even the hardiest among us will have our heating on to keep warm as temperatures are predicted to drop further.

‘Research shows that by reducing a home’s temperature by a little, good savings can be made on energy bills,’ she said. ‘20.8°C is the average thermostat setting in the UK, but 18°C should keep you comfortably warm throughout the colder months.

‘This can save up to 10% on a fuel bill or an estimated £80. A clever way to assess if the heating is too warm is to turn the thermostat down by one °C and see how you feel.’

One trick is to only turn the heating on in the room that you're using.

‘One of the simplest mistakes people make during winter is heating an unused space,’ Jess said.

‘Make sure to turn radiators off in rooms that are not in use such as bedrooms throughout the day.

‘The one caveat to this is not to turn the radiators off in the room where the thermostat is located, or it could cause issues with the temperature of the rest of the home. Doing this will improve the boiler’s efficiency, allowing rooms you are in to warm quicker and saving over £100 for heating if used daily.’

‘If the temperature is going to be lower than 10°C,’ Jess says, ‘set it to come on an hour before your alarm to take away the chill. If you are out all day, then do the same in the evening.

‘Anyone with a Smart thermostat will be able to control their heating more easily, as they can make sure there is no wasted energy when out at work or shopping and can also set it so that they return to a warm house that is cost-effective.’