What is the Ideal Room Temperature
Why is it that people who are always too hot seem to work and live with people who are always too cold?
If your relationships are being tested by the thermostat in your home, then maybe it’s time to find out what the ideal room temperature really is!
First, let’s consider why it matters. Comfort is most people’s chief consideration, but as humans, we need to be at a certain temperature to stay healthy, and this will vary through life as babies and the elderly tend to have different needs to the rest of us. Then, of course, there are matters of cost and efficiency. What temperature your hot water and heating is set to can make a big difference to how much money you spend each month on your energy bills.
Much as we would love to tell you the ideal temperature so all arguments can end, it is not so simple. For instance, a living room should be nice and warm at around 21°C but people need cooler temperatures to sleep, so a bedroom is best kept at 18°C. In the bathroom you don’t want to leap from a hot shower into a freezing room, so traditionally it should be at around 23°C, and that’s before we consider factors like dogs and cats, small children, humidity, the area of the country you live in and…and…there is no single solution that will keep everyone in your home happy while your bills stay low. So what is the answer?
Lower is better
According to the Energy Saving Trust reducing your thermostat by just 1°C can save you as much as 10% on your annual heating costs, so keeping your heating low does make a real impact on your bills.
But don’t go too low
Cold air means the water vapour in the air will not move around your home as efficiently and will take up residence on your walls, windows and ceilings causing mould and other nasty things to appear. So you may save money on your bills, but end up costing yourself more in repairs!
Adjust regularly
As the UK weather proves year on year, you cannot rely on a seasonal setting to keep your home at the same temperature. It’s as likely to hit record high temperatures in April as it is to snow in May, so regularly adjusting your temperature manually, or investing in a smart thermostat (we’ll come to that in a moment) really is the only solution.
Add thermostats to your radiators
To keep your bathroom warm and your bedroom cool when they all run off one boiler, the only real solution is to keep the boiler at a sensible temperature (like the National average of 18°C) and then adjust room by room to suit
Don’t just rely on your radiators
Don’t tell them we said so, but your parents are right. If you’re cold, put a jumper on, or get a higher tog duvet. If you’re too hot, before you plug in electricity guzzling fans, consider taking off your socks and opening a window. If you want to keep your bills down, don’t rely on your appliances to keep your temperature up or down.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats can automatically detect the ambient temperature of your rooms, and adjust the heating to suit. You can also control them from outside of your home using clever apps on your phone.
