Overview
- Official guidance centers on thresholds: start heating as outdoor temperatures fall toward roughly 15C and keep living spaces around 18–21C, with higher targets for elderly or vulnerable people.
- The Energy Saving Trust advises boiler users to heat on demand rather than continuously, while some heat pump setups can be more efficient left on low; Money Saving Expert says there is no single rule and recommends testing what works at home.
- Practical scheduling tips include setting the heating to start about 30 minutes before waking and switching off about 30 minutes before bed, pre‑warming before returning home, and trimming thermostats by 1C (22C to 21C) to save about £90 in Great Britain and £100 in Northern Ireland.
- A Vaillant analysis identifies October 3 as the UK’s average switch‑on date, with many northern cities typically starting in late September and London and Southampton often waiting until late October.
- The Met Office notes the first frosts in places and has prompted public discussion, reflecting a split between households already using heating and those choosing to wait or layer up.