Overview

• The Met Office invited the public to pick a side in a new video, noting the first frosts for some areas and acknowledging there is no single right date to start heating.
• Comments show a split in behavior, with some households already using heating and others waiting for single-digit nights, the first frost, or even November.
• A plumbing expert advises considering heating when indoor temperatures consistently fall below 18C, with around 20C recommended for elderly or vulnerable people.
• The NHS guidance cited in reports suggests starting to heat homes once temperatures drop below about 15C, and the WHO recommends maintaining indoor temperatures of roughly 18–21C.
• Practical steps highlighted include testing systems now, setting timers for 30–60 minutes before waking and before bedtime, using off-peak hours on smart meters, heating only used rooms, opening curtains for sunlight, and keeping nights at roughly 16–18C.