Autumn is upon us, and the weather has taken a chilly turn after scorching summer days. Brits will be wondering when they will for the first time since the beginning of year switch on the central heating after months without it. Experts at Vaillant, a boiler and heat pump firm based in Derbyshire, have analysed UK weather data to reveal the ideal, and “earlier than expected”, date to take the plunge. October 3 is the national average they decided upon, which differs from the usual recommendation of the middle of the month, typically around the 13th.
Specialists said: “With October temperatures dipping below 15.5°C, it might be time for Brits to give their heating systems some extra attention before switching them on October 3.” They added: “With temperatures expected to drop around this time, and the possibility of colder weather arriving even earlier, now is the ideal moment to check your boiler and heating system to ensure everything is in working order.
“Doing so can help keep you warmer, improve energy efficiency, and potentially save money on your energy bills.”
Average dates around the country
Notwithstanding the proposed mean date, experts added that regional differences across the UK are “stark” when it comes to turning the heating on.
In Bradford, for example, households typically switch the heating on by September 24, the earliest average turn-on date in the latest data.
In Sheffield, residents also tend to act quickly. The average heating switch-on date is around September 29, closely matching the national average of October 3.
Nearby cities like Nottingham and Birmingham are not far behind, with average dates of September 29 and 30, respectively.
This shows that “households in the Midlands begin to feel the seasonal drop in temperature by the final week of September”.
Meanwhile, in cities like Liverpool and Manchester, the data shows a similar trend, specialists said.
Homes in the latter city tend to switch the heating on by September 26, while, in Liverpool, the average date is slightly later, on October 2.
Glasgow and Newcastle also hover around September 25 and 26, showing a consistent pattern across northern cities where the chill sets in earlier.
However, at the other end of the spectrum, London and Southampton stand out as “clear outliers”.
People in the capital typically delay switching the heating on until October 23, and, in Southampton, the average turn-on date is even later – October 26.
This ensures that the city has the latest heating switch-on in the dataset.
“These later dates are likely influenced by milder southern climates, as well as possibly higher energy costs influencing behaviour,” experts said.