People have been urged to try following these rules to heat their home, and save money
British Gas has urged its customers to ensure their room is at a suitable temperature to not only keep people warm, but to prevent issues like damp and condensation. While the “best room temperature will vary depending on the people using that space”, there is a general rule of thumb to follow.
According to British Gas, you can follow a simple wait-and-dress-first rule. It urges people to try wearing a jumper or socks and wait to see if this helps keep you warm before turning up the thermostat.
If you do this, you may not need to pump up the heating as much. Not only will this save you time faffing around with the thermostat, but it will also save you money on your bills.
If you have already tried this and layering still leaves you feeling cold, then you can ensure each room is heated to the correct temperature. However, remember that if you are away or on holiday, you can turn this off when you are not at home.
Ideal temperature for every room in your home
- Living Room: 20-22C. This is the primary space for relaxing, so a higher baseline temperature ensures maximum comfort.
- Bedroom (Adults): 16-18C. A cooler environment supports the body’s natural temperature drop during sleep, leading to better rest.
- Bedroom (Baby): 16-20C. Keeping the room within this range prevents overheating and helps reduce the risk of SIDS
- Office: 20-22C. Maintains comfort and aids concentration during long periods of sedentary work.
- Bathroom: 20-22C. Ensures a comfortable transition when stepping out of a warm bath or shower.
- Kitchen: 18-20C. Cooking appliances naturally generate extra heat, so a lower base setting prevents the room from becoming too hot.
- Hallway, Landing & Storage: 15-18C. These are transient areas where people don’t linger, but the heat must be high enough to prevent dampness and condensation.
Other rules to follow
Zoning
Instead of treating the whole house as one unit, the rule is to only apply energy to the spaces currently in use.
Maintenance Cycles
They urge people to maintain their boiler which follows the industry standard rule of Annual Servicing. Most manufacturer warranties and insurance policies require a service every 12 months to remain valid.
One Degree
Lowering your thermostat by just 1C can typically save you about 10 per cent on your energy bill. It may seem like such a small amount, but heating your room that extra degree takes longer, and naturally costs more money.
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Ideal room temperature for babies
Newborns are not yet good at regulating their own body temperature, meaning parents will need to ensure they don’t get too cold or overheat.
It warns: “Overheating can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, so the NHS recommends a room temperature of 16-20C to keep babies comfortable and safe while sleeping.
“You shouldn’t need to keep the heating on all night, and using layers of lightweight blankets or a sleeping bag will make it easier to adjust for the room temperature. Never let a baby sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket, next to a radiator, heater or fire, or in direct sunshine.”
Ideal room temperature for the elderly
According to Age UK, people aged 65 and over should maintain a steady and comfortable temperature in their main living areas, typically around 18C. These are areas like their living room and bedroom.
If money is a concern, it can be beneficial to switch off or turn down the radiators in unused rooms. Make sure to keep doors closed to keep warmth in the areas that are being used. People could also try closing the curtains as soon as it starts to get dark as this will help trap the heat from radiators inside too.
This is personal and largely depends on how comfortable you are at a certain temperature. While there is no ‘ideal’ temperature to group pregnant women into, the largest UK energy and home services company cautions: “Being pregnant during hot weather can be challenging, particularly in a heatwave.
“Like everyone, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and try running your wrists under a cold tap to cool down. Take things easy too to avoid the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.”
When you are sleeping, you can turn the heating down slightly. Even wearing cosy pyjamas can make a big difference. According to The Sleep Charity, the ideal bedroom temperature for sleeping is 16-18C, as anything over 24C could be too hot and make you restless. A temperature of 12C or below could also pose the same issue and make it harder for you to sleep.
