How warm should my house be?

How warm should my house be?

“How warm should my house be?” is a common question we encounter at Feature Radiators. An internet search will throw up numerous conflicting answers and opinions, so it’s easy to become confused.

The idea behind central heating is to maintain a comfortable temperature within each given room.  But some like it hot, others not.  One person’s “comfortable” room temperature may feel distinctly chilly or stiflingly hot to another. Which is what we find when we have ‘temperature wars’ here in the office at Feature Radiators. Why? - Because we’re all different, with different backgrounds, different metabolic rates, different attitudes and different lifestyles.  

Comfort is subjective.  Some of us choose to keep our homes warmer whilst others opt for a fresher feel with lower temperatures and additional layers of clothing. 

When deciding on the right temperature, you can’t please all the people all the time.  However, a key consideration, which is universally applicable when considering the optimum temperature for a room is “How is the room used?”

When generating heat calculations for the customers of Feature Radiators we like to consider the common sense observations below.

Rooms in which we wear little or no clothing, like bathrooms, need to be warmer.

Rooms where we lie under duvets and blankets don’t need to be as warm.

Rooms where we sit and relax and where we are not especially active, like dining rooms and sitting rooms, need to be warmer.

Common areas, like hallways and landings, which are used as walk-throughs, don’t need to be as warm.

Areas with appliances, such as fridges and ovens, and in which we move around a lot, like a working kitchen, need less heat.

Whilst there is no right or wrong answer, there are some guidelines within the heating industry.  The minimum suggested design temperatures for each type of room, as outlined in BS5449:1990, are listed below.   

 

Room type           Temp °C

 

Lounge /

Study /

Games Room - 21

Dining room   - 21

Kitchen          - 18

Kitchen / Dining Room - 21

Hallway / Landiing - 18

Cloakroom / Toilet / Utility Room - 18

Bedroom -18

Bathroom - 22

Dressing Room - 21

Storeroom - 16

To ensure a room can reach its desired heat, heat calculations are essential and installing the correctly sized radiators is imperative.

The best way of maintaining the desired heat once it has been reached is through the use of thermostatic valves which offer control of room temperature. The numbered dials each relate to a temperature, once this is sensed by the thermostatic head, the valve will restrict water flow. So knowing the specific dial numbers temperature is a must for heating specific rooms.

If you require further information regarding the optimum level of heating for more specific and vulnerable age groups such as the very young, elderly or infirm; the NHS and charities such as Age UK can offer advice.  

For more information on heating your rooms, contact Feature Radiators on 01274 567789, visit their large showroom in West Yorkshire or visit their website www.featureradiators.co.uk