What Temperature Should Your House be?
Members in the same household can prefer different room temperatures. Air humidity, clothing worn, and physical activity levels can all affect this. It is also important to note air humidity, as the higher the humidity, the lower the room temperature will need to be.
Achieving the perfect room temperature can be important for many reasons, with physical comfort being number one on that list. Being too warm can impact your ability to concentrate, but being too cold may increase the risk of airborne illnesses.
Alongside physical comfort, central heating costs are a significant factor when choosing the appropriate room temperature.
How to heat different rooms
On average the typical room temperature is around 20°C. Generally, this is a suitable ambient temperature, but different rooms can be heated differently to suit individual needs. When setting your thermostat, consider the 18-21°C mark, as this is cost-effective whilst still allowing you to reduce your environmental footprint.
Thermostats can allow you to schedule home heating levels, particularly if you’re away from home often.
Living room and office temperature
Living rooms and offices are usually set at the 20-22°C point as these are spaces where people are most likely to spend the majority of their time. If you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact you can either lower your room temperature or schedule your heating to come on at a particular time.
Kitchen temperature
Kitchens are usually kept at lower temperatures due to high activity levels. Electrical appliances such as cookers, ovens and hobs can also affect kitchen room temperatures (through heating the air) which is worth bearing in mind when it comes to mealtimes.
Bathroom temperature
Bathrooms have higher temperatures around the 20 to 22°C point, this ensures a comfortable temperature after showering.
Bedroom temperature
Did you know your body temperature decreases during sleep, with cold rooms allowing you to maintain this internal temperature regulation? Due to this, bedrooms should be kept at 16-19°C. With children’s rooms being slightly warmer (16-20°C, depending on their age.)
Corridor, laundry room and loft temperature
When it comes to spaces that people normally just pass through, such as corridors, laundry rooms and lofts, these can be cooler than living spaces. Aiming for temperatures between 15 to 18°C could help you save on your heating bills.
Monitoring and controlling room temperatures may become a struggle for some people, which is when thermostats come to the rescue, allowing you to manage room temperatures on a room-by-room basis – allowing you to both save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
What is the ideal room temperature in winter and summer
Cold weather can result in difficult-to-manage, costly temperatures. Some ways you can become prepared for this involve investing in upgrades to improve efficiency and using soft furnishings to insulate your home.
In summer the opposite challenge applies as you should work to drop the temperature down to 18-20°C. This includes opening windows to keep humidity low and using thinner duvets to achieve a good night’s sleep.
Heating a home economically
Heating a home involves significant monthly outgoings, particularly in colder months, which is even more of a reason to heat our home cost-efficiently.
Often, people try to help this by reducing their central heating system overnight or turning it off completely in unused rooms. Although this can reduce short-term costs. They will eventually encounter problems such as damp walls as water vapour condenses on them, resulting in heat loss and structural/cosmetic damage. In more extreme occasions frozen pipes may occur, which is costly to resolve.
Risks of not monitoring home temperature
Not having the correct home temperature can not only put your home at risk of structural damage but also badly affect your health. See how below:
Cardiovascular disease
Blood vessels turn narrow in cold temperatures.
Asthma
Cold air affects the function of the respiratory tract when the temperature dips below 16°C.
Respiratory infections
Cold homes can also increase the risk of respiratory infections. Common cold-causing rhinoviruses, replicate faster in cold noses, while parts of the immune system also become less effective in lower temperatures.
Home mould build-up
A home that is too cold can risk mould build-up. This is caused by cold air transporting water vapour onto walls instead of vapourising it. Mould is an unpleasant repercussion to deal with and can even cause health issues if left untreated, house damage and high removal costs.
Home efficiency
Reducing your central heating in the way noted above will result in your gas boiler having to work harder to achieve the ideal temperature, with more fuel being used along the way. Although this can be cheaper than leaving your heating on low all the time, there can be other, better ways to improve overall efficiency.
House Insulation
Improving insulation through glazing or draught proofing can help to save on heating bills. Regulating your home temperature through periphery devices can also assist with this.
Control and thermostats
Smart controls have become increasingly popular in recent years, they can be paired with smart thermostats to help control the heat of your home whilst you’re away. Not only will this increase home temperature comfort, but also reduce energy use and how much money you’re saving along the way.
FAQs
What is the ideal room temperature during pregnancy?
According to the NHS, pregnant women report feeling hotter during pregnancy, and whilst there is no ideal set temperature, we recommend finding one that is comfortable for you.
Ideal room temperature for babies and children
Babies and young children are less able to regulate their body temperature. It is important to use central heating for them to stay comfortable.
The room temperature for a baby should sit around 16–20°C. The Lullaby Trust advises a room thermometer to monitor this. Similarly, the NHS advises a well-ventilated temperature of 16-20°C.
What is the ideal room temperature for the elderly
CDC advises that the elderly are more sensitive to temperature changes, whether this be hot or cold. The NHS also recommends a heat of 18°C if you have health conditions – hot water bottles or electric heat blankets can help aid this and keep the room warmer.
Closing curtains at dusk can help to avoid drought, alongside maintaining your heating system.
What is the recommended room temperature for pets?
Size, weight, age, health, coat type and breed can all be factors to take into account when it comes to a pet’s thermal comfort level.
The PDSA explains that pets can be either prone to overheating or losing heat, meaning that it is important to monitor temperature levels, particularly in warmer temperatures where there is a risk of heatstroke.
Colder months also involve the risk of your pet’s body temperature dropping, resulting in extra blankets being needed and the central heating being further monitored.
Finding the right home for you with County Town Homes
Our new build properties are embedded with top-quality insulation, with some including sturdy double glazing – Allowing you to keep cool in the summer and nice and snug in the winter.
For further home advice and information, contact our friendly team.
