Worcester, Bosch Group has commissioned a survey to reveal the UK’s heating habits.
The study revealed that 32% of Brits tend to turn the heating thermostat above the recommended level of 20°C and 21°C and are, therefore, incurring unnecessarily high fuel bills.
Research found that homeowners willing to turn their thermostat down by just one degree can make savings of up to ten per cent a year on fuel bills. With the average household heating bill expected to reach £1,400 next year, the benefit of keeping the thermostat down soon adds up.
The research also revealed there are regional differences with how the UK handles the thermostat. Residents in Northern Ireland were more likely to turn the thermostat up above the recommended level, with over 36% admitting to setting it to between 22 and 25° C, this was closely followed by 28% of Scots.
Despite it often being considered as colder than the south, heating habits in the North East were found to be the best, with almost 57% setting their thermostats between the recommended temperatures, closely followed by London (49%) and the North West (48%). Those in the Midlands were most likely to set the dial at 18°C, with 14% feeling most comfortable at that temperature. On the flip side, the south east was most likely to enjoy a cooler temperature, with 16% setting the temperature at a frugal 15-17° C.
Martyn Bridges, director of marketing & technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group, said:
“We are all guilty of having our own heating habits and this prompted us to take a closer look at the different preferences around the country.
“With many installers being asked by their customers how they can reduce their heating bills, we hope this research reinforces the message that education around how to optimise the use of heating controls remains the best solution.
“Ultimately, the importance of heating controls must be explained to the homeowner. The improved awareness of heating control and their use can make a big difference to the way individuals heat their homes for less.”