16th December 2022
To keep costs down, it’s tempting to use the heating less or set it to a lower temperature. And while turning down the thermostat might save on your energy bills, it’s also important to know the ideal temperature for vulnerable people, like newborn babies and those who are older.
What do the independent experts say?
The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating your home to between 18 to 21 degrees celsius during winter. AndThe World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests 18 degrees is the ideal temperature for healthy and well-dressed people. Both agree this is also the ideal temperature for sleeping.
In practice, you should be heating your home based on the age and health of your household. The WHO suggests 20 degrees as the ideal temperature for the old, young or unwell. For healthy adults, you should heat your home to a room temperature that feels comfortable.
What’s the ideal baby room temperature?
According to lullabytrust.org.uk, it’s vital a newborn’s room is neither too hot or cold. This is because the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is higher for babies feeling too hot. They recommend heating the room of a newborn to 16 to 20 degrees.
What temperature is ideal for older people?
For vulnerable people such as the elderly, a change in room temperature can present several health risks. For example:
- A temperature of less than nine degrees has the potential to lead to hypothermia
- A temperature of nine to twelve degrees or above 24 degrees increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks
Age UK recommend that older people heat their main living areas to a steady and comfortable temperature, usually around 18 degrees. This should be comfortable for areas like the living room and bedroom. Radiators in other rooms that aren’t being used can be switched off or down to save on energy costs.
Should you heat your home when on holiday?
Only leave your heating on during a holiday if there’s a possibility of freezing. Otherwise, you could return home to a flooded house and costly repair.
But there’s no need to leave it on if you have the Hive Thermostat. Its in-built Frost Protection kicks in when the temperature drops below 7°C to switch your boiler on and prevent your pipes from freezing. Most modern boilers also have a similar feature, so they’re protected when it gets really cold. If you don’t, then set your thermostat at least 5°C to get the same sort of protection.
In summer, it makes sense to switch off your heating while you’re away. The only exceptions to this are if you:
- Have pets in the home while you’re away
- Are away for an extended period and want to minimise the risk of mould or mildew building up
Should you heat your home in the summer?
There’s no need to heat your home during daylight hours. But if the temperature drops at night and you feel uncomfortable, you can turn the thermostat up a notch or two.
That said, a better solution might be to improve the insulation of your home. With your home retaining more heat gained during the day, you can rely less on your central heating.
Should you open windows to circulate air?
Opening your windows may be a great way to let fresh air into your home. But if your heating is on, your home will never reach the desired temperature because heat will escape through the window, which is a waste of money. By pairing a Hive Window Sensor with your Hive Thermostat, you can create a smart home that automatically turns the heating off when it detects a window being opened.
During summer you may be tempted to open your windows to cool down your house. Or to improve your sleep at night. But if it’s a particularly hot summer, warm air from outside may make your room more uncomfortable.
Get smart with your heating
The Hive Thermostat gives you total control of your heating so that you can manage it from anywhere. It could save you up to £311 a year on your energy bills by never heating an empty home. Add in Hive Heating Plus to get personalised tips, set budgets and track your spend in pounds and pence – and save an extra £26 a month during winter.
Find out more at Hive.
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