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An explanation for householders
A room thermostat simply switches the heating system on
and off based on room temperature. It works by sensing
the air temperature, switching on the heating when the air
temperature falls below the thermostat setting and switching
it off once this set temperature has been reached.
Turning a room thermostat to a higher setting will not make
the room heat up any faster. How quickly the room heats up
depends on the design of the heating system, for example,
the size of the boiler and radiators. Neither does the setting
affect how quickly the room cools down.
Turning a room thermostat to a lower setting will result in
the room being controlled at a lower temperature, and saves
energy. The heating system will not work if a time switch or
programmer has switched it off. The house insulation quality
is a key factor in heating control. The way to set and use your
room thermostat is to find the lowest temperature setting that
you are comfortable with, and then leave it alone to do its
job. The best way to do this is to set the room thermostat to a
low temperature – say 18°C and then turn it up until you are
comfortable with the temperature (20°C is the usual preferred
set point). You won’t have to adjust the thermostat further.
Any adjustment above this setting will waste energy and cost
you more money.
If your heating system is a boiler with radiators, there will
usually be only one room thermsotat to control the whole
house (but building regulations Part L require houses above
What is a Mechanical Room
Thermostat?
