It is recommended to set it between 18°C and 21°C.
The combination of cold temperatures and rising energy costs means many households are looking for ways to use their central heating efficiently.
One thing to think about is heating controls.
Heating controls is a broad term covering timers, thermostats and plumbing and electronic components, which help manage when the heating should be on and what temperature your rooms should be.
Heating controls range from traditional mechanical styles that are manually set to internet-connected controls that learn your habits and adjust settings automatically.
But research shows that few people understand their controls and many simply do not use them.
Heating controls help keep your home warm without overheating and wasting energy. Two ways to take into account are thermostats and boilers.
By installing and using your heating controls effectively, you could save money on your heating bills and lower your carbon emissions.
Thermostats
The most common thermostats are room and radiator thermostats.
They enable households to control the temperature and by knowing how to do so, money on energy bills can be saved.
Room thermostats turn your heating system off when the house reaches the right temperature, preventing overheating and energy from being wasted.
It is recommended to set it between 18°C and 21°C.
But if there is someone in the home who is older, unwell or a small child, it might be better to increase the thermostat to 23°C.
Any higher and it will stay on for longer, making the room too hot and resulting in higher energy bills.
This is where radiator thermostats can help as they are used to control the heat in different rooms at different times.
It is recommended to set them at level three or four.
To use radiator thermostats efficiently, reduce the heat in rooms which are used less, such as spare rooms.
Increasing the heat in a particular room will not change the speed at which it heats up but will waste energy and cost more.
Boilers
As a minimum, boilers should include a programmer (time control), a least one room thermostat and, if you have radiators, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).
Systems with a hot water cylinder should also include a cylinder thermostat.
The most recognisable control is the heating programmer, which controls when the boiler comes on and off.
The most efficient way to use this control is when you want the heat to come on and not leave it on all day.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, it is recommended to set the programmer to come on 30 minutes before waking up, to alternate between on and off at times to suit you and to go off 30 minutes before going to bed.
Boilers also tend to have a boost function, which allows for some extra heat in short bursts.
Combination boiler users will have two controls: one for the radiator flow and one for the hot water that goes to your taps. On a combi boiler, you can turn the flow temperature down as much as you like as long as your home stays warm enough.
Ways to save money on energy bills are paramount for many households and making simple adjustments to your central heating is just one way.
Knowing how to use your heating controls via thermostats and your boiler will help you keep warm without increasing your energy bills.