Room Thermostats: Best Use & Advice for a Warm, Efficient Home

What Does a Room Thermostat Do?

Best Practice for Setting Your Thermostat

• Recommended setting: 18–21°C (most households are comfortable here)
• Don’t keep turning it up: Setting the thermostat higher won’t heat your home faster. The boiler will work at the same rate until the chosen temperature is reached.
• Avoid constant adjustments: Find your ideal temperature and leave it—frequent changes can waste energy.
• Only heat occupied rooms: Use thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to control temperatures in individual rooms.

Where Should I Place My Thermostat?

• Keep it in a living area: Avoid hallways, kitchens, or near doors and windows.
• Don’t cover it: Curtains, furniture, or heat sources (like radiators or sunlight) can give false readings.
• Smart thermostats: Can be placed almost anywhere and controlled remotely for even more flexibility.

Tips for Getting the Most from Your Thermostat

• Lower by 1°C: Reducing your thermostat by just one degree can cut heating bills by up to 10%.
• Don’t turn it off completely: Letting your home get too cold can cause damp and make the boiler work harder to heat up again.
• Use a timer/programmer: Schedule heating to match your lifestyle- warm when you need it, off when you don’t.
• Consider smart controls: Modern smart thermostats can learn your habits, adjust for weather, and save even more energy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Setting the thermostat too high and opening windows to cool down.
• Placing the thermostat in a cold spot (like an unheated hallway) so the boiler runs longer than needed.
• Ignoring regular servicing—an efficient boiler and a well-placed thermostat go hand-in-hand.

Need Help with Your Heating Controls?

• Boiler servicing and maintenance
• Boiler repairs
• Contact us for expert advice