Best temperature to set your heating

WITH temperatures plummeting across the UK it can be all too easy to blast on the central heating and leave it for the day.

However, you may be wasting an unnecessary amount of money on your energy bills and could even be making your health worse.

Previous studies found that millions of homes in the country tend to put their central heating up above 20C, which many experts and health organisations say is simply unnecessary.

It’s also important to keep an eye on the temperature outside and be reactive to changes to your home’s heating.

For example, some experts recommend leaving the central heating until outside temperatures dip to 15C which is when people will likely begin experiencing discomfort.

But when it is time to switch on the central heating, it can be a daunting task figuring out what the correct temperature should be while trying not to waste any cash. Fortunately, a handful of experts have weighed in on the debate.

What is the ideal temperature for central heating?

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you should aim for your thermostat to land between 18C and 21C. This is backed up by the World Health Organisation which also suggests the ideal room temperature to be 18C for the average healthy person. However, it’s important to take into account who is in your household and whether they have any health conditions that may require higher temperatures. For example, the WHO also recommends that rooms be heated to 20C if someone is old, very young, or generally unwell in order to keep them comfortable.

Meanwhile, Lullaby Trust advises homes with babies in to set temperatures at around 16C to 20C. This is because babies who are too hot have a higher chance of developing illnesses and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).