- Almost two million households say they won’t turn on their heating at all this winter – nearly double the 972,000 who said they took the drastic step last year[1]
- More than half (55%) blame rising living costs, while a quarter (25%) of over-65s say it’s down to the loss of winter fuel payments[2]
- Another one million households say they will hold off putting on the heating until December[1] to keep costs down
- On average, households say they will put their heating on 6th October, but nearly six million people have already turned it on[1]
- With energy bills rising, more than one in six households (17%) plan to set their thermostats colder than recommended levels of 18°C[3]
- At the other end of the scale, nearly four million households are setting their thermostats at 22°C or above[3]
- Uswitch.com offers households advice on how to avoid overspending on heating this winter and save 10% on bills for every degree they turn it down.
More than 1.7 million households say they won’t turn on their heating this winter — nearly double the 972,000 who said they took the drastic step last year[1], reveals new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
Over half of households (55%) who can’t afford to warm their home blame it on rising living costs[2], while a quarter (25%) of pensioners say it’s down to the loss of winter fuel payments.
A further one million people are determined to put off switching on their heating until December[1] to help keep costs down.
The average household will turn on their heating on 6th October this year – nearly a week earlier than last year’s big switch-on, which fell on 12th October. Due to last week’s cold snap, six million people have already turned on their heating[1].
Households say they will set their thermostat at 19.4°C on average this winter, up from 19.3°C a year ago[3].
The average temperature is in line with Energy Saving Trust guidelines, which recommends heating your home to between 18°C and 21°C during winter[4].
Worryingly, more than one in six (17%) are planning to set their thermostats below the recommended levels to save money, with nearly one in ten (8%) planning to heat their home to 17°C, and 11% at 16°C or lower[3].
At the other end of the scale, nearly four million households are setting their thermostats at or above 22°C[3] — hotter than it is currently in Rome[5].
Cardiff residents have the UK’s hottest homes, setting their thermostats to 20°C on average, while Edinburgh households will set theirs to the lower end of Energy Saving Trust recommendations at 18.5°C[1].
Average thermostat setting in UK cities [1]
| City | Average thermostat temperature (°C) |
|---|---|
| Cardiff | 20.0 |
| London | 19.8 |
| Leeds | 19.6 |
| Manchester | 19.5 |
| Southampton | 19.5 |
| Brighton | 19.4 |
| Bristol | 19.3 |
| Glasgow | 19.2 |
| Sheffield | 19.2 |
| Liverpool | 19.2 |
| Norwich | 19.0 |
| Nottingham | 18.8 |
| Newcastle | 18.8 |
| Plymouth | 18.5 |
| Edinburgh | 18.5 |
Source: Uswitch.com
High energy prices mean many households are being cautious about their energy use. Two in five households (43%) will only turn the heating on if they are too cold, while three in ten (31%) will only heat some rooms in their home[6].
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that people can save 10% on their heating bills for every degree they turn down their thermostats[7], though it is recommended that people do not set them lower than 18°C[3].
With temperatures likely to drop soon, Uswitch.com advises households to check their boilers are working and serviced correctly before winter arrives.
Uswitch tips for getting boilers ready for winter
1. Check if your boiler is working. Many of us have had our heating switched off for six months or so, and you don’t want to wait for the first sudden drop in temperatures to discover your boiler isn’t working. Consider getting it serviced if you haven’t had one in the last 12 months. If you have an older boiler, you may want to consider boiler cover.
2. Change your thermostat and boiler settings. Check the temperature on your thermostat and adjust it if required. The World Health Organisation suggests most healthy people should heat their homes to 18°C. Reducing the flow rate on combination boilers to around 60°C can cut heating bills, and you won’t notice the difference.
3. Set a heating schedule if you can. Setting a schedule for your heating to go on and off at set times can help to ensure you are not wasting heat while you are not home. For example, you could choose to have your heating come on before you get up in the morning, and just before you come home from work in the evenings.
4. Change your radiator settings. Get ahead of the first sustained cold spell by checking if your radiators are up to scratch. Bleeding your radiators will prevent cold spots, and you may want to consider turning radiator valves down – or off – in the rooms you use less often so you are not heating rooms unnecessarily. Keep your radiators free from obstructions, like furniture, for maximum heat.
5. Consider switching to a new deal: Last but not least, shop around to see if it’s worth changing your energy tariff. Prices will be going up from October and you could save money by locking in a cheaper, fixed deal. There are a number of reasonably priced fixed tariffs on the market right now, so run a comparison at Uswitch to see the range of tariffs.
Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “It’s deeply concerning to see how many households plan to get through winter without heating due to financial struggles.
“Spending winter in a cold home can be a health risk and households should keep the temperature at safe levels.
“People are advised to set their thermostats to between 18°C and 21°C, so households should try to keep within this range even when trying to save money.
“Electric blankets are a good way to keep warm, and cost a lot less to run than electric heaters.
“You can set a schedule for when your heating goes on and off so you only warm your home up when you need to, and turning down radiator valves in rooms you are not using means you are not heating them unnecessarily.
“There are a number of fixed tariffs worth considering right now. By opting for a fixed deal, you’re locking in those rates for the duration – usually 12 months – which means households could have price certainty and avoid the ups and downs of the price cap.
“The easiest way to assess your options is to run a comparison at Uswitch.com, where you’ll be able to see available tariffs with personalised costs based on your household consumption.”
Check out the latest energy deals by running an energy comparison at Uswitch.com.
For more information
Sarika Patel | PR Lead
sarika.patel@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to editors
Research conducted online by Opinium, 6th to 10th September 2024, among 2,000 UK residents, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. Respondents were asked ‘When did you turn your heating on last year and when will you turn your heating on this year? The number who answered I did not / will not turn my heating on doubled from 3% last year to 6% this year. 6% of 28.4 million UK households = 1.7 million households. 6th October was the average date for this year, and 12th October was the average date for last year. 4% of respondents said they would turn it on in December or later. 4% of 28.4 million = 1,109,286.
2. Respondents were asked ‘You mentioned you will not turn your heating on this year. Why is this? Please select all that apply.’ 55% said ‘I can’t afford it due to the rising cost-of-living’
3. Respondents were asked ‘What temperature did you / will you set your thermostat to each year? Please think of the temperature your heating will come on at when you first put this on’. 19.3°C was the average temperature last year, and 19.4°C is the average this year. 13% of households will set their thermostat above 22°C while 17% will set it below 17°C. See regional table in release for average temperatures by city.
5. BBC Weather - temperature in Rome. Correct as of 12/09/2024
6. Respondents were asked ‘Will you do any of the following this winter as a result of high energy prices?’ 43% said ‘I will only turn on the heating if I am too cold’, 31% said ‘I will only heat some rooms in my home (i.e. turn some radiators off)’.
7. Energy Saving Trust: New research finds 96% of UK homeowners are concerned about their home energy efficiency.
Cheapest ten fixed energy tariffs
| Supplier | Tariff | Average annual bill | Saving against Oct cap (£1,717) | Exit fees | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outfox The Market | Outfox the Price Cap (Oct 24) Fix’d Dual v1.0 | £1,600 | £117 | £25 per fuel | Direct via Outfox The Market* |
| E.ON Next | Next Gust 12m v10 / Next Fixed 12m v25 | £1,640 | £77 | £50 per fuel | Direct via E.ON Next |
| British Gas | Fixed Tariff 12M v14 | £1,642 | £75 | £50 per fuel | Uswitch, Confused.com, and British Gas** |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus 15M Fixed August 2024 v1 | £1,656 | £61 | None | Direct via Octopus Energy |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus 15M Fixed August 2024 v1 | £1,656 | £61 | None | Direct via Octopus Energy |
| Co-op Energy | Co-op 12M Fixed August 2024 v4 | £1,656 | £61 | None | Direct via Co-Op Energy |
| EDF | Energy Essentials Fixed 1Yr Sep25v3 | £1,658 | £59 | £25 per fuel | Uswitch, Confused.com and EDF |
| OVO Energy | 1 Year Fixed 28 August 2024 | £1,660 | £57 | £50 per fuel | Uswitch, Confused.com and OVO |
| Sainsbury’s Energy | Sainsbury’s Fix and Reward Fixed 12m v25 | £1,670 | £47 | £50 per fuel | Direct via Sainsbury’s Energy |
| So Energy | So Sunflower 1yr Fixed | £1,705 | £12 | £50 per fuel | Direct via So Energy |
| Co-Op Energy | Co-Op Community Power 12 Fixed August 2024 v4 | £1,721 | -£4 | None | Direct via Co-Op Energy |
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to find their energy, broadband and mobile deals than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.