How Brits really use their heating

Average thermostat settings vary widely across the UK. One in seven (13%) set their thermostat above 22°C – exceeding the Energy Saving Trust’s recommended range of 18-21°C for healthy adults. Millennials are the most likely to do so (19%). 

Interestingly, five of the 12 regions surveyed report average thermostat settings below the recommended range, with the thermostat temperatures in the North East dipping as low as 16.6°C. 

This seemingly simple decision sparks more debate than you might think, according to recent Good Energy research* revealing that more than a third of households (36%) disagree about when to put the heating on. 

While all 12 UK regions report an average heating switch-on date in October, a significant number of households buck the trend. Nearly one in 25 (4%) say they don’t turn on their heating at all, and over one in ten (11%) plan to wait until late November or beyond. 

For most households, the process is democratic: two-thirds (67%) say they consult everyone’s opinion before turning on the heating, while only 12% admit to doing so without consulting anyone else. 

To keep warm without cracking up the thermostat further, our data shows that Brits rely on classic comforts. The top six winter essentials are: 

1. Warm clothing – such as snoodies or dressing gowns (49%) 

2. Slippers (46%) 

3. Hot drinks (46%) 

4. Warm blankets (40%) 

5. Heavy winter duvets (32%) 

6. Hot water bottles (28%) 

1. Draught-proof doors and windows. Block gaps around letterboxes, window frames and external doors to keep warm air in and cold air out.
2. Use heavier curtains and close them at dusk. Thermal or lined curtains help retain heat, especially in older homes with single-glazed windows.
3. Bleed your radiators. Releasing trapped air helps radiators heat up properly and reduces wasted energy.
4. Don’t block radiators. Move sofas, cabinets or drying racks away from heat sources so warm air can circulate freely.
5. Check radiator thermostatic valves. Make sure they’re working correctly and set rooms to appropriate temperatures.
6. Keep internal doors closed. It helps maintain steady temperatures, especially in larger or draughty homes.

Brits’ reputation for stoicism shows up clearly in the research too. Many of us take pride in holding out as long as possible before switching the heating on, with 17% saying they won’t even consider it until outdoor temperatures drop to around 8–9 degrees. Having said that, when the cold truly hits, even the toughest resolve doesn’t last forever.  

Almost half (46%) of those aged 55+ and over half of Scots (56%) admit they turn the heating on as soon as they feel cold. Others attempt to delay with just over a third (34%) only holding off the ‘big switch on’ for a few days, where as 9% make it to a week, and one in eight (12%) hold out even longer. 

With all that in mind, heat pumps could be the real game-changer for homes. Rather than relying on bursts of gas heat or cranking up the thermostat, an air-source heat pump draws warmth from the air and runs steadily, delivering a consistently cosy temperature even when it’s freezing outside. 

Good Energy installations routinely reach an efficiency of around 360%, meaning you get nearly four units of heat for every unit of electricity you use. That efficiency can lead to lower bills and a much smaller carbon footprint – cutting emissions by around 65% compared to a traditional gas boiler.  

And to top it off, it could even provide a solution to family disputes over when to turn the heating on – because heat pumps work most efficiently when your home is kept to a constant cosy temperature.

Paul got his heat pump with Good Energy, and says “Our air source heat pump makes our home permanently comfortable. We absolutely love returning to a lovely warm house – which is such a contrast to our days with an oil-powered boiler.” You can read his story here.