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The Ideal Home Temperature For Comfortable Living

Published: 27 Nov 2023 ・ Read time: 6 mins
Finding the perfect home temperature can make all the difference in our daily lives, whether it's staying cosy during the winter months or keeping cool in the summer heat. 
In the colder months, you might be tempted to turn the temperature down in your home and opt for keeping warm under a blanket instead, in an attempt to reduce your energy bills and find an ideal room temperature during winter.
While this will probably reduce your heating bills, doing so could cost you more in the long run. You might be thinking, why is that? And what is the ideal temperature for my home?
In this blog, we discuss methods for finding the perfect temperature for comfort and health, keeping your home in good condition, and helping you avoid unhealthy or overly expensive room temperatures.

The Ideal Home Temperature for Comfortable Living

Let's start by exploring how to determine the optimal temperature for both health and comfort.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if you are healthy and well-dressed, the perfect temperature setting is 18°C.
The recommended temperature conditions for young children, the elderly and anyone who is unwell is 20°C.
While these temperatures can aid in improving comfort, it is beneficial to keep living rooms and bathrooms a little warmer than these recommended temperatures. 
This suggestion is advised because living rooms will need the added heat to warm up a larger space.
Some bathrooms are typically smaller than living rooms; however, bathrooms will still need the extra heat to keep the space dry and will help prevent dampness and mould.
Here are some additional temperature recommendations for the rest of your property.
  • Kitchens and storage rooms - 16 - 18°C
  • Children's rooms - 18 - 22°C
  • Hallways and corridors - 16 - 18°C
  • Bathrooms - 22 - 24°C
Smart Thermostats and Smart Radiator TRVs excel at keeping each individual room at an optimal temperature - keeping you and your family warm, whilst reducing energy bills as much as possible. 
They are a worthwhile investment for all kinds of homes, as they are compatible with most modern boilers and home heating systems. 
Image of a Smart Thermostat at City Plumbing

The Ideal Temperature for Keeping Your Home in Good Condition

Did you know that setting the temperature in your home too low could prevent you from claiming on your home insurance?
Many home insurers now include a thermostat clause in their contracts. This clause could now allow home insurers to reject a claim should the temperature in your home be lower than the one specified on your insurance documents.
Some insurance companies also insist that the thermostat needs to be set to at least 12°C if you're away from home for more than a few days. This is in order for insurance companies to consider paying out in the event of a claim.
Sadly, this is not the only problem with having the temperature set too low.
Say, for example, if the temperature inside the property is set lower than 15°C, you could end up producing a lot of condensation, which will lead to dampness and mould.
Damp and mould are nothing to joke about, as both will cause extensive damage to your property if not taken care of.
In some cases, damp problems can cost a whopping 5000 pounds to fix, whereas black mould removal can often cost around 100 pounds per room.
With this in mind, decreasing the temperature on your thermostat could cut your heating bills quite significantly, but you may end up paying out more on damp and mould repairs.
To counteract this, you can keep your thermostat set at the recommended temperature, which can lower your heating bills while avoiding any risk of damage to your home without making yourself uncomfortable.

The Ideal Temperature for Saving Money on Heating Bills

This shouldn't be any surprise, but the most alarming way homeowners overpay for heating is by having the temperature set too high. However, by reducing the temperature in our homes by a single degree can make all the difference…
By doing so, customers can make savings of approximately £135 a year on heating bills. By reducing the thermostat temperature by 5 degrees...you can save up to 15% on your heating bills alone.
It's important to remember that your home should always be at a comfortable temperature but ensure your heating doesn't drop below 18 degrees in the colder months.
Image representing saving money on heating bills & best temperature
Here are some invaluable tips for saving money on your heating bills:
  • Ensure that your property is well insulated.
  • Use draught excluders and tape around windows, letterboxes and keyholes. - They are prone to letting cold air in and heat escaping from your home, putting extra strain on your central heating.
  • Invest in a smart thermostat - These smart thermostats, like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat allow you to adjust the temperature when your home is unoccupied while on the go, and restore it to a comfortable temperature.
  • Replace your old boiler - Your old inefficient boiler will need to use more fuel in order to maintain your home's temperature, resulting in increasingly skyrocketing heating bills.

3 Ways To Control Your Home Heating

Finding the ideal temperature for your home can be easily achieved with these three products:
1. Programmable/smart thermostats
Programmable and smart thermostats can be scheduled to turn your heating on and off at specific times of the day. Smart thermostats can be controlled on any smart device, meaning you can have the heating come on just before you come home from work and turn off when you leave your house and in return, heating controls can save you up to 10% on your heating bills.
2. Radiators
Radiators are the perfect way to control our home heating as they heat up the surrounding air, providing us with effective warmth in the winter months. A radiator combined with a thermostat allows us to set the perfect home temperature for comfortable living.
3. Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Radiator valves allow you to control the temperature in each room of your home. This means you can turn down the heating in rooms you're not using and save money on your heating bills. Some radiator valves also allow you to set different temperatures for different times of day, so you can have the heating come on just before you wake up or come home from work.
Finding the ideal temperature for your home has always been a balancing act between personal comfort and energy efficiency. 
You can create a comfortable and cost-effective living environment by considering factors such as recommended home temperatures and energy usage. 

Keep Warm This Winter With City Plumbing Heating Products

As mentioned earlier, investing in a Smart Thermostat is game-changing as it can control your home's heating more efficiently, saving you money. Check out our Smart Home Heating Controls Buying Guide if you are thinking about investing in Smart heating controls.
Get prepared for winter with our best sellers at City Plumbing. We stock a vast range of radiators to help keep the temperature of your home regulated.
Reading all about how you can Reduce your Bills with An Energy-Efficient Boiler can help you boost savings even more.
City Plumbing energy-efficiency experts are on hand if you require further information. Just get in touch or contact your local City Plumbing branch
Author: Alexis Webster

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