Why Couples Make Heating Their Homes A Top Argument

The winter has arrived and the temperature dials are being turned up for longer and causing arguments in most British households. The arguments and squabbles are so common that in some parts of the UK over 23% say they argue about heating

 

We may have grown up with a grumpy parent complaining about wasted heating and now the cold chill is making its way into house mates lives. With energy costs rising, heating a home isn’t cheap. Where some people will value warmth and comfort, others think the expense is more important

 

Research by AA Home Membership* shows that one in six householders have a run-in with a housemate over the heating each week. And tempers could heat up as temperatures drop.

 

The heating spat hotspot is Northern Ireland, where almost a quarter (23%) says they argue over the heating.Scotland comes second (18%) while the South West is the most chilled-out region, where just one in ten (10%) have heating-related disagreements.

 

Their most common squabbles are over what temperature the heating should be, with 60% of those who’ve had a fall-out citing this as the cause. Another 42% have fallen out over the length of time the heating is on and 27% butt heads over the price of the energy bills.

 

 

 

Helen Brooker, Head of AA Home Membership said: Many people know what temperature they feel comfortable with and when they want it on. People can be quite set in their ways about this sort of thing but if family members have different views it can lead to tension and even arguments.

  

The research also reveals that the nations favourite temperature is 20C, though six per cent of those from both Northern Ireland and the North West like their home to be a toasty 25C or warmer.

 

Saving money on energy bills

 

Most people seem to make some sort of compromise in order to save money on their energy bills. A hardy seven out often will put on warmer clothing rather than the heating while four out of ten keep their heating on a lower temperature than they’d like. Almost half say they only heat specific rooms to save money.

 

 

Do you argue with the people you live with about the heating?

 

Region	Percentage of those who argue once per week or more
Northern Ireland	23%
Scotland	18%
South East	17%
West Midlands	17%
Yorkshire and Humberside	17%
East of England	16%
East Midlands	15%
London	15%
North West	15%
North East	14%
Wales	12%
South West	10%
Average	16%

 

What are these arguments usually about?

 

Argument	Percentage
What temperature the heating should be	60%
The length of time the heating is on for	42%
The price of our energy bills	27%
At what time of day the heating goes on or off	27%
At what time of the year to turn the heating on or off	22%
Not knowing how to use the heating controls	9%
The state of repair of our central heating system	3%
Other	5%

 

 

Research was carried out by Populus amongst a sample of 2110 adults aged 18+ on September 26 September and 4^th October.

 

Author :
Nick Marr