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
