It's the debate that divides the nation's couples: when should the heating be turned off? New study settles the argument once and for all
74% of British households are currently locked in a bitter battle over when the cold winter weather is over and the heating can finally be switched off, arguing an average of five times a week about it.
But the debate is finally over! According to our new research, the nation is most likely to turn the heating off when the outside temp hits 15°C or when April comes around.
Almost half of Brits (48%) admitted to being ‘secret heaters’, where they have turned the heating back on after making a push to turn it off, BUT hide it from their other half. Even though we’re eager to flick the heating switch, 75% wait an average of 5 days to see whether the weather is going to drop before taking the plunge. Despite this, over 81% have been caught out by an unexpected freeze and have secretly turned the heating back on.
The main reasons for turning the heating back on included:
- Worrying about the children being cold (42%)
- Wanting to give the house a quick blast of warm (35%)
- Not wanting to come back to a cold house in the evening (30%)
- Hating feeling even a little bit cold (26%)
1 in 6 (16%) say that their partner would rather wear three jumpers than put the heating on, while 7% confess that they dread the cold weather as they know the heating will cause arguments.
27% say they are arguing more as a result of energy bills continuing to rise, with 1 in 10 (9%) saying it is more of a bone of contention than money. According to our findings, 67% of men want to turn the heating off first, compared to 59% of women, even though nearly two thirds (61%) ended up feeling cold but pretended otherwise to their partner and family
It’s no surprise that 92% agree that there is nothing worse than feeling cold in your home. And with 16% of couples saying that heating is the number one battleground at home, we have enlisted the help of much-loved husband and wife podcasters and television hosts - Chris and Rosie Ramsey - to help end the great thermostat debate once and for all.
"I have lost count of the amount of debates we have in our house about the heating. It’s like a cold blooded reptile and a warm blooded mammal are living together. The thermostat should be a source of warmth, not tension! That’s why Rosie and I have partnered with Worcester Bosch to take the heat out of the nation’s big home heating debate.”
Your Perfect Match
The partnership is part of ‘Your Perfect Match’, our new consumer campaign that’s designed to restore heating harmony across UK households. Jo Shepherd, our Sales & Marketing Director said: “Chris and Rosie Ramsey themselves are a perfect match for each other and so we’re delighted to be partnered with them to help match UK homeowners with their perfect home heating system."
It seems that the responsibility of the heating is predominantly shared between partners (63%). 21% say they are the only ones who control it, while 14% say that their partner has ownership.
As a result...
Nearly two thirds (63%) admit to getting frustrated when others touch the thermostat, with partners (77%), daughters (14%) and sons (13%) the most likely culprits for changing the temperature.
Other bones of contention among the nation’s couples include:
- Snoring at night (31%)
- What temperature the heating should be on when it’s on (29%)
- Leaving the lights on (29%)
- What to watch on TV (23%)
- Spending too long in the shower (21%)
- How often to clean the house (19%)
- Bathroom hogging (14%)
One in six (13%) argue about how to stack the dishwasher, while a further 13% always discuss what the water temperature should be.
*This research was commissioned by Worcester Bosch and conducted by Perspectus Global during March 2025.