How to Get the Most from Your Heating Controls

Heating controls are often misunderstood — a 2019 study found that 25% of UK homeowners didn't know how to programme their room thermostat. Here's a simple guide to getting it right.

The room thermostat

The room thermostat controls when the boiler fires based on room temperature. Set it to your target temperature — typically 18–21°C for most homes. Many people leave it at maximum (which means the heating runs until turned off by the timer, regardless of temperature) — this is wasteful.

The thermostat should be in a room you use regularly (hallway or living room) and not in drafts or near heat sources.

The programmer / timer

Set heating to come on 30 minutes before you wake up, and turn off 30 minutes before you leave. Set it to come on 30 minutes before you return in the evening. Don't run heating through the night — modern homes with decent insulation will only drop a few degrees overnight.

Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)

TRVs control the temperature of individual radiators. Turn them down in rooms you don't use — spare bedrooms, storage rooms. Don't turn off the radiators in these rooms completely in winter — this can cause condensation.

The hot water programmer

For combi boilers: no programmer needed — water is heated on demand. For system and heat-only boilers: programme hot water to heat for one hour each morning and one hour each evening. Twice-daily heating maintains cylinder temperature without constant energy use.