Choosing the optimal temperature for your home may be a point of contention. With the British weather not ever seeming to get better, but the cost of living crisis driving energy bills sky high, and your co-habitants fighting over the thermostat as often as they fight over the TV remote, you might be wondering if there is one ideal temperature for your home.
Well, GreenSmart are here to help with this handy guide on the most comfortable temperatures for the different rooms throughout your home and the different people who inhabit them.
What do we mean by ‘room temperature’?
When discussing average or ideal ‘room temperatures’ throughout this article, we are referring to how hot or cold the air in a particular room is. This can be affected by a number of different factors, including the weather outside, the humidity and the purpose of the room in the house.
How we experience temperature will also depend on some independent factors, such as our age, our level of activity and our choice of clothing. For example, the living room would feel warmer to someone who has just returned from a workout than from someone who has been sitting in front of the TV in shorts and a t-shirt. Additionally, an older couple may choose to heat their home at a higher temperature than a younger couple, as older people tend to feel the cold more.
What is the average room temperature in the UK?
Interestingly, the average room temperature in the UK is 3°C lower than what the population believe to be the ideal room temperature, at 18°C in comparison to 21°C. This could suggest that people have been turning their thermostats down a few degrees in order to save money or do their bit for the environment.
So, what is the ideal room temperature?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the ideal temperature for your home is between 18°C and 21°C – so we’ve pretty much nailed it as a population! However, it’s important to keep in mind that the different rooms in your home will have different ideal temperatures, because the optimal temperatures for specific rooms usually depend on their use.
Rooms you spend more time in, such as living rooms and dining rooms, should be on the warmer side, whereas hallways, landings and storage rooms can afford to be kept at a lower temperature, as they are not used for long periods of time.
The ideal temperature for your living room
The ideal temperature of your living room is between 19 and 22°C, because this is the room that you probably spend most of your time – often sitting still for extended periods. Because you won’t be moving around, it is more likely that you will get a bit cold. However, higher temperatures will use more energy, so 21°C is probably the highest temperature you’ll want to go.
The ideal temperature for your bathroom
We don’t necessarily think of our bathrooms as a room that we need to heat at high temperatures, however who wants to get out of the shower to a freezing cold room? Not us! For this exact reason, ideal temperatures for bathrooms sit at around 22°C. Running the bath or shower will increase the humidity of the room, keeping the air warmer, so your boiler won’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature, saving you money.
The ideal temperature for your bedroom
Despite spending a lot of time in your bedroom, it doesn’t actually need to be as warm as the rest of your house. This is because you spend most of your time there sleeping. Most people don’t like being too hot at night, so the optimal temperature for your bedroom can be anywhere between 15°C and 20°C, depending on your preference. The bedroom is the perfect place to keep costs down, as you can keep your thermostat lower but investing in high-tog duvets and blankets.
The ideal temperature for your kitchen
Many of us get hot whilst we’re cooking! When we have the oven on and food bubbling away on the hob, the temperature and humidity of the kitchen fluctuates. Because of this variation in heat and humidity, the optimal temperature for your kitchen is between 18°C and 20°C.
The ideal room temperature for the elderly
According to the NHS, cold weather can worsen some health problems and possibly lead to serious complications, especially if you’re 65 or older. Because of this, it is especially important that elderly people stay warm.
In order to stay warm, if you’re 65 or over it is recommended that your home temperature is at least 18°C and a temperature that feels comfortable to you.
To avoid draughts, close your curtains and keep internal doors shut to avoid the heat from your radiators being lost into the hallway.
The ideal room temperature for a baby
According to the NHS, a baby doesn’t need a hot room. In fact, it could be dangerous to keep a baby in a room that is too hot, especially overnight. Overheating can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s essential that they are kept at a comfortable temperature at all times. The NHS suggests the ideal bedroom temperature for a baby is between 16°C and 20°C.
You should also try to keep your baby’s room cool by closing the curtains during the day to keep the sun out and ensuring the room is well-vented.
The ideal room temperature when pregnant
Particularly in warmer conditions, a lot of pregnant women experience warmth and unease. Therefore, it becomes crucial to adopt measures to maintain a comfortable and hydrated state, safeguarding both your own well-being and that of your baby. Although a specific optimal room temperature isn’t suggested, the key is to ensure the room ambiance is perfectly suited to your comfort.
The ideal room temperature for pets
Pets are as much part of the family as you are, so you want to ensure that they are comfortable too! However, many different factors come together to determine the perfect room temperature for your pet – such as breed, size, weight, age, coat type and their health.
Generally speaking though, if you are comfortable with the temperature at home (between 18°C and 22°C), they will be too. However, in hot weather, you should make sure to keep your rooms as cool as possible. Some pets, particularly dogs, can overheat, so it would be a good idea to keep windows open and curtains shut.
What are the consequences of setting your room temperature too high?
There are a couple of negative consequences of setting your room temperature too high. Not only are you likely to become uncomfortable, you will also waste a considerable amount of money on your heating bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could save you up to 10% on your annual energy bill!
Contrary to popular belief, turning your thermostat up to the max will not heat your home any faster, and wastes a lot of energy. Leaving your heating on low all day to conserve energy is also a popular heating myth, and wastes a lot of energy and money.
What are the consequences of setting your room temperature too low?
By setting your thermostat too low, you are unlikely to achieve a comfortable room temperature, and will spend your time shivering and reaching for more blankets rather than chilling and relaxing!
As well as this, cold air doesn’t efficiently transport water vapour. This means that it can end up depositing on your surfaces and walls, creating the perfect breeding environment for mould. Not only is this gross, but mould can also cause a plethora of health conditions.
How to maintain your ideal room temperature
Once you have decided on your ideal room temperature, you need to maintain it. Using a smart meter will allow you to keep on top of how much energy you are using, and therefore spending, so it might help you to maintain your ideal temperature if you are more energy conscious.
Another handy gadget to keep rooms at your chosen temperature is the smart thermostat. Smart thermostats take into account various factors such as weather conditions, the thermal characteristics of the building, and even the whereabouts of household members. This wealth of data offers crucial insights to the system, further enhancing your ability to save energy and money over the long run.
How GreenSmart can help
At GreenSmart Services, we are able to service, repair or replace your boiler to ensure that your house is heating in an efficient and effective way.
If you need any advice or someone to assist you, simply get in touch and one of our expert team will be willing to help as much as possible.
