Brits can’t decide when the best time to put the heating on is, so the Met Office have tried to see both sides to settle the debate of when it’s acceptable to turn it up
Every single person in the UK has no doubt noticed a frosty drop in temperature, which has likely led you to contemplate turning on the heating full blast. You may have switched your iced coffee for hot and your vest for a cosy hoodie, but when it comes to putting the heating on in September or even early October, many need to weigh up how it will affect their energy bills.
With some people saying that they struggle through until November before even considering flicking the switch, to others admitting they popped the heating on weeks ago, it’s a fierce debate that the Met Office has tried to settle.
They captioned their video: “When is it OK to put the heating on? Are you ready now it’s turned colder? Or is it still way too early?
“Monday morning will see the first frost of the season in some parts of the UK, so we expect the switch to be flicked in places. Are you Team On or Team Off?”
The Met Office noted that the “leaves are changing colour and the nights are drawing in” now it’s officially the start of autumn. Plus, we’re set to see “some particularly chilly mornings,” which many will be able to relate to.
In the video, Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “One person wants it on, but there’s always someone who says ‘just put another jumper on’. Do you always want it turned up, or are you on team ‘don’t touch that dial’?
“So just when is it acceptable to turn the heating on in the UK? The first of October? The first of November? The first frost? Or when it’s actually warmer in the fridge than in the kitchen?”
Well, they didn’t have an answer, but they did ask people to battle it out in the comments – and battle people did.
Some shared that they’d been putting their heating on for a while, with one woman writing: “Ours has been on multiple times since last weekend, I refuse to be cold and miserable in my home”.
Another said that when the heat outside goes to “single figures” that’s when “the heating goes on”.
“Put a jumper on! Double if you need to,” somebody else argued, saying that it’s important to heat the person and not the home, as it’s expensive to unnecessarily heat rooms up.
“Living in a detached converted barn in a field, it’s already been on about a month,” one man admitted.
Somebody joked that they’d be putting it on “on Christmas Day for one hour,” but others admitted that they have “under floor heating” as well, so they’d “already put it on”.
A woman wrote: “I only put the duvet on the bed last week (4.5 tog for now) and have yet to need a jumper, either inside or out”.
Although there’s no right or wrong time to turn your heating on, plumbing expert David Doran at Blackstone Plumbing & Heating Ltd recommends not rushing to turn it on just yet. He shared: “It’s advisable to consider turning on your heating when indoor temperatures consistently drop below 18C (64F). For elderly or vulnerable people, maintaining a temperature around 20C (68F) is recommended. In many places, early to mid-October is when temperatures typically start dropping, making it a common time to turn on heating.”
Similarly, Stephen Hankinson, Managing Director at Electric Radiators Direct, advises there isn’t “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to turning on your heating, as it will vary from person to person, and the type of heating in your home. That being said, he explained: “However, the NHS suggests that once temperatures fall below 15C, it’s a good idea to start heating your home. Ideally, aim to keep your living spaces at a minimum of 18C (65F), although many people prefer their living rooms to be a bit warmer.”
What about you? Have you put your heating on yet, or are you waiting for the temperature to drop even further? Let us know in the comments…