Feeling the chill Yet? New data reveals the ‘ideal’ date to turn your heating on

• 19th October Identified as National ‘Turn On Day’ - Vaillant pulled over five years of Met Office weather data revealing the precise date heating should be turned on this Autumn.
• The North South Divide - A quarter of Londoners (24.6%) turn on the heating within 5 hours of feeling cold. Compared to a third of people in Leeds (35.7%) who admit to holding off as long as possible before hitting the switch, turning to extra layers to stay warm.
• Early Warmers - Over 32% of the nation succumb to the chill early, turning their heating on while outdoor temperatures are still sitting at 13°C or above.

As colder weather approaches across the UK, Brits are beginning to look ahead to cosy winter moments. However, new national research from heating experts at Vaillant reveals when British households are actually planning to reach for their thermostats this year.

While tradition suggests switching boilers on around September or October, Vaillant’s analysis of five years of Met Office weather data forecasts that the official ‘Turn On Day’ for Brits will fall on 19th October. This marks a noticeable shift from 2025, when colder conditions brought the national turn-on date forward to 3rd October.

In tandem with weather data, Vaillant’s nationwide survey highlights a stark divide in heating habits. Almost a third of Brits (32%) turn on their heating early, when outdoor temperatures are 13°C or above. Conversely, nearly half the nation (49.7%) are holding off until outdoor temperatures drop below 10°C. This cautious approach comes as the energy price cap rises by 4% this autumn, prompting many to intentionally delay switching on their heating.

Leeds takes the top spot for the earliest switch-on, with temperatures predicted to hit the tipping point on 2nd October. Newcastle and Glasgow follow closely behind on 3rd October, more than two weeks ahead of the national average.

However, while temperatures drop simultaneously across northern regions, Vaillant’s survey reveals that local heating habits don't always align. Over a third of people in Leeds (35.7%) admit to holding off as long as possible before turning it on. By contrast, Scots prioritise immediate comfort, with 30% of Glasgow residents revealing their heating comes on as soon as they start feeling cold at home.

Further down the table, Manchester is expected to turn on its heating just after the national average on 21st October, with nearly half of residents making the switch once outdoor temperatures drop between 10°C and 15°C.

Heading south, Southampton stays warmer well into autumn, with temperatures holding off until around 6th November. According to historical weather data, Londoners are the last to feel the cold, reaching their switch-on threshold on 11th November. But once the cold snap hits, capital dwellers don’t miss a beat - a quarter of Londoners (24.6%) turn their heating on within five hours of feeling chilly.

Despite these regional nuances, the national average turn-on date - based on Vaillant’s weather analysis - falls on 19th October, suggesting that mid-October is when most UK households should transition into the heating season this year.

Methodology:

To estimate when UK residents typically begin using heating, five years of temperature data from the Met Office were analysed across ten UK cities. For each city, the first occurrence in each year where the daily temperature remained below 15.5°C for four consecutive days was identified. These dates were averaged per city, and then an overall UK average was calculated.

Additionally, a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted in August 2026. The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK Nat Rep General Consumers (Aged 18+). The data was collected between 26.08.2026 - 28.08.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.