Page 5 | Thermostat at 18 degrees

SmileEachDay · 2025-02-19T19:21:43+00:00

My sister is telling me I’m a freak - but any hotter is awful, surely? YABU - team sister YANBU - me --and the correct answer--

LaughingCat · 19/02/2025 22:36

Mine’s at 18.5 as a compromise for my soft Southern DH. I am in a t-shirt during the day, and sweating cobs in bed at night 😂. I prefer it at around 15, personally so 18 is more than high enough! YADNBU.

My mum has hers at 22 and I have to go out for fresh air - she’s always thought I was weird for preferring a cooler house as well 🤣

DressOrSkirt · 19/02/2025 22:35

I have it at 21 during the day as I work from home so am sitting still. It goes down to 19 in the evening as I'll be moving around more, then 17 for falling asleep.

I don't understand changing it depending on the weather outside. If you're comfortable at 18 in the winter then why would you be too warm at 18 during the summer?

Happycyclist · 19/02/2025 22:34

22 just right.

HashtagBlessedHashtagGrateful · 19/02/2025 22:34

18 here too, but I usually turn it off around 17 or it gets too hot and I can't breathe. DP's is 21.5 and I'm always cold there.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 19/02/2025 22:33

MotionofTime · 19/02/2025 20:52

God, I live in a freezer compared to most - house is usually 12 degrees.

12 degrees is dangerous and unhealthy. You're risking hypothermia.

BatchCookBabe · 19/02/2025 22:31

SleepToad · 19/02/2025 22:28

Yep I'd make it the law...every fucker who complains about global warming I'd inspect their home and sentence them to hard labour...seriously I'd make it law that no heating system could go above 18 it's warm enough...put another jumper on.
My lounge is 13.7 I've been outside all day, I've 3 layers and a right over me and I am hot

👏 This. ^

buffyfaithspikeangel · 19/02/2025 22:29

16-18c for me, no heating overnight
If I have a guest over I'll put it up to 19-20 as I don't want people to be uncomfortable

Nellsbell · 19/02/2025 22:29

18.5 here used to set at old house to 23 but it was always cold. Sometimes I push to 19 and it can feel stuffy. Plus it costs a fortune.

SleepToad · 19/02/2025 22:28

Yep I'd make it the law...every fucker who complains about global warming I'd inspect their home and sentence them to hard labour...seriously I'd make it law that no heating system could go above 18 it's warm enough...put another jumper on.
My lounge is 13.7 I've been outside all day, I've 3 layers and a right over me and I am hot

Bringonchristmas36 · 19/02/2025 22:27

My issue would be the damp in the house by having it too low

ThisFluentBiscuit · 19/02/2025 22:27

BatchCookBabe · 19/02/2025 21:58

18 degrees C is absolutely fine. Any warmer than that is too high IMO, and will make the house too hot. No wonder some people have such high energy bills if they're cranking the thermostat up to 21-23 degrees C! And 26 C is absolutely ludicrous!

I think people need to sort out the insulation in their house if they are having to put the heating up to anything over 21 C to heat up the house... Our house is around 90 years old, but we have excellent insulation throughout, and once we put the thermostat up to 17 degrees C, the gas boiler comes on and stays on for about 20 minutes, and the house gets lovely and toasty, and stays so for 6-7 hours... And then the heating comes on for 20 minutes again, and warms it up again for another 6-7 hours.

We have it at 12-13 C overnight. (And it rarely comes on at that temperature for the vast majority of the year...Only when it's very cold.) We hate it coming on when we're in bed! And the pipes aren't going to freeze over at 12-13 C! And no, it's not competitive stinginess, or a race to the bottom. This is what works for us. (DH and I.) Result: average gas bill for the year (including the gas cooker and hob) around £425. (3 bedroom, 90 year old cottage.)

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18 is the minimum to avoid health issues in healthy people, per the WHO, and should be higher for anyone vulnerable. Pipes absolutely can freeze at 12-13, because the concrete around them gets colder than the temperature. If your house is often cold, which it probably is if 18 is your max, then you're also risking mould and damp.

For your health, your residents' and guests' health, and the health of your home, 18 should be the minimum for room temp during the day.

FlowerUser · 19/02/2025 22:25

It will cost about £20k to replace our double glazed windows which will negate the need for a high thermostat level.

Paying an extra £500 or so a year is literally cheaper.

Original poster

SmileEachDay · 19/02/2025 22:25

ThisFluentBiscuit · 19/02/2025 22:20

18 is the minimum for room temperature, according to the World Health Organisation. And anyone vulnerable - the elderly, ill, and children - should have it higher. I think 18 is quite cool.

I think it’s cool too 😎

Oh. Wait…that’s not what you meant.

OP posts:

FrangipaniBlue · 19/02/2025 22:25

Ours is set at 13-15 during the day, off at night.

I hate the way central heating makes the air feel heavier and stuffy, I just can't breathe. I'd rather it was cooler and use a blanket.

So if that is the temperature outside on a cloudy dat, would you happily sit in the park with no coat on? Most people outside would be wearing coats walking around at 13⁰.

Actually yes, I would and today I have. It was about 6-8 degrees and I walked from the car to the gym and car into work in just a jumper, no coat.

If I'd spent longer outside I would've worn a coat but at 13 degrees I wouldn't, I'd just have a jumper on and I'd say that's the norm up north?

We joke that only single figures is "big coat weather" 😂

SongSungBlues · 19/02/2025 22:25

17° during the day and evening, and off at night. I have a mini oil radiator under my desk if it gets really cold while I’m working, and a great selection of wool jumpers - I find synthetic ones really don’t keep you as warm.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 19/02/2025 22:20

18 is the minimum for room temperature, according to the World Health Organisation. And anyone vulnerable - the elderly, ill, and children - should have it higher. I think 18 is quite cool.

godmum56 · 19/02/2025 22:20

Stirabout · 19/02/2025 22:12

@BatchCookBabe
not everyone can increase property insulation.
We’ve done what we can but are prevented from doing any more as we are Grade 2star listed.

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"I think people need to sort out the insulation in their house if they are having to put the heating up to anything over 21 C to heat up the house"

reads as pretty judgy to me

DurbevillesGirl2 · 19/02/2025 22:15

I set mine to 23/24, anything else and I’m cold

Pickingmyselfup · 19/02/2025 22:14

Gonners · 19/02/2025 21:35

I find that as long as my feet are warm, I'm fine - so fluffy bedsocks do the job for me!

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I hate socks on in bed, they have to come off immediately!

CrossCountryWoosh · 19/02/2025 22:14

Mine is anywhere between 17 and 19. It tends to cover around 18 at this time of year.
It gets far too hot if it stays at 19 too long.
I just don't understand how people have it 20+
Like the wicked witch - I'm meeeeelting

It's the drafts that bother me most though.

Stirabout · 19/02/2025 22:12

godmum56 · 19/02/2025 22:08

My 90's house is double glazed and cavity wall insulated also loft insulated as far as we can without risking the (lagged) pipes freezing. I keep my thermostat between 20 and 22, and wear sweaters. My gas bill is less than yours! I am glad you are happy but I think you are getting a bit judgy there.

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@BatchCookBabe
not everyone can increase property insulation.
We’ve done what we can but are prevented from doing any more as we are Grade 2star listed.

friendlycat · 19/02/2025 22:11

WalkingWavy · 19/02/2025 21:17

We’re a 23 household! DP says we don’t work full time to be cold in our own house so he always has it on and swans around in shorts and tshirt. We’re in Scotland too so perhaps a bit colder than down south

Obviously you can do whatever you want, but don’t you recognise that clothing choices change with the seasons? I would expect to walk around the house in those clothes in the Summer!

I couldn’t stand the stifling heat and don’t want any heating on at night. I do want the house to be warm though.

Wasvular · 19/02/2025 22:08

My kids are used to it too, one wears shorts all winter

Wasvular · 19/02/2025 22:08

If it gets below 10 I feel cold but I don’t put the heating on unless it’s around 7 or 8 degrees.

godmum56 · 19/02/2025 22:08

BatchCookBabe · 19/02/2025 21:58

18 degrees C is absolutely fine. Any warmer than that is too high IMO, and will make the house too hot. No wonder some people have such high energy bills if they're cranking the thermostat up to 21-23 degrees C! And 26 C is absolutely ludicrous!

I think people need to sort out the insulation in their house if they are having to put the heating up to anything over 21 C to heat up the house... Our house is around 90 years old, but we have excellent insulation throughout, and once we put the thermostat up to 17 degrees C, the gas boiler comes on and stays on for about 20 minutes, and the house gets lovely and toasty, and stays so for 6-7 hours... And then the heating comes on for 20 minutes again, and warms it up again for another 6-7 hours.

We have it at 12-13 C overnight. (And it rarely comes on at that temperature for the vast majority of the year...Only when it's very cold.) We hate it coming on when we're in bed! And the pipes aren't going to freeze over at 12-13 C! And no, it's not competitive stinginess, or a race to the bottom. This is what works for us. (DH and I.) Result: average gas bill for the year (including the gas cooker and hob) around £425. (3 bedroom, 90 year old cottage.)

Show quote history

My 90's house is double glazed and cavity wall insulated also loft insulated as far as we can without risking the (lagged) pipes freezing. I keep my thermostat between 20 and 22, and wear sweaters. My gas bill is less than yours! I am glad you are happy but I think you are getting a bit judgy there.