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Worldwide locations With Christmas fast approaching and temperatures plummeting accordingly, couples up and down the country are engaging in intense stand-offs – and you might be surprised about the reason why.
An annual battle for the thermostat seems to have commenced in most households which has predictably sparked an endless cycle of disagreements.
Andrews Heat for Hire recently surveyed 2,000 cohabiting couples on the matter, with around half of respondents admitting that they have quarreled with their partner over the temperature of their home.
Our findings also uncovered that more than 90% of people switch their central heating back on before December which means that arguments are extremely prevalent at this time of year!
A common cause of conflict is the cost of overuse, with 62% of those asked pinpointing rising energy bills as a factor they’re particularly wary of. This mindset is responsible for one in seven couples delaying warming up their property for as long as possible.
Naturally, some take matters into their own hands. Almost 60% have returned homed to discover the temperature has been changed to befit the preference of their partner – a regular catalyst for spats!
One in six said they frequently control the thermostat via an app which appears to be an increasingly popular method by which to monopolise the central heating system.
Of those who control their thermostat through their phone or tablet, over two thirds have used it to change the temperature behind their partner’s back.
The study revealed that this kind of underhand behaviour is among the most frequently pinpointed traits that people dislike of their other halves. Snoring, mismanaging money and being lazy were also consistently selected but as the statistics above prove, it’s difficult to find something more divisive than people’s preferred temperature in the home!
1. Have you turned the central heating on in your home yet?
Yes 88.70%
No 7.10%
I don’t have central heating 4.20%
2. In which month does the heating typically go on in your household?
August 2.30%
September 10.65%
October 43.11%
November 36.74%
December 2.87%
Not sure 4.33%
3. Do you ever worry about how much your energy bills will cost if you turn on the heating too early?
Yes 62.06%
No 37.94%
4. For what reason might you wait till later in the year to turn the heating on?
To keep costs down 59.76%
My partner wants to keep it off 14.09%
Environmental concerns 17.17%
I don’t get that hot 15.08%
My heating is broken 3.76%
Other reasons 5.27%
N/a – no particular reason 10.44%
N/a – I do not wait to put the heating on 11.69%
5. What have you ever done to avoid putting on the heating? (tick all that apply)
Wore an extra layer 50.65%
Used blankets 38.65%
Used an extra duvet 21.75%
Bought extra socks 13.53%
Worn slippers 34.75%
Drank hot beverages 34.57%
Kept blinds and curtains open to let more light and heat in 8.87%
Eaten soup 17.79%
Stood by the oven / cooker 14.72%
Worn your coat indoors 12.23%
Covered yourself in towels 2.72%
Spent longer in the shower 9.22%
Used an electric blanket 10.46%
Stayed in bed longer 20.63%
Used a portable heater 11.94%
Filled up a hot water bottle 22.99%
Had an extra-long bath 11.35%
Worn gloves 8.63%
Gone to someone else’s house 4.85%
Sat in the car with the heater on 3.61%
Keeping the windows closed 36.41%
Bought rugs / carpets 4.91%
Used microwavable heating packs 5.61%
Worn a scarf indoors 10.99%
Exercised 10.99%
N/a – I don’t get cold 1.30%
N/a – nothing in particular 15.84%
Other 1.18%
6. When you have the heating on, how often does your partner adjust the thermostat in a way you don’t like?
Every time the heating is on 6.78%
Most of the time when the heating is on 15.92%
Occasionally when the heating is on 33.46%
Never 26.20%
N/a – my partner never adjusts the heating 17.64%
7. If your partner adjusts the thermostat / temperature in the house, which are they most likely to do?
Turn the heating up 34.79%
Turn the heating down 28.96%
Neither / both equally likely 36.25%
8. Who controls the thermostat in your home?
Me 30.58%
My partner 20.98%
Other family member 2.24%
N/a – no one in particular 46.19%
9. Have you ever argued with your partner about the right time to turn the heating on?
Yes – all the time 10.07%
Yes – once or twice 29.59%
No – but argue about other things to do with the heating 10.49%
N/a – never argue with my partner about the heating 49.84%
10. Have you ever argued with your partner about the temperature the thermostat is set to?
Yes – all the time 23.20%
Yes – once or twice 54.63%
No 22.16%
11. How many times do you argue about the heating in your home? (in an average week)
0 16.55%
1 18.31%
2 13.84%
3 10.61%
4 8.01%
5 7.28%
6 2.91%
7 2.60%
8 1.04%
9 0.52%
10+ 2.19%
Not sure 16.13%
Average 2.59
12. Do you ever change the temperature on the thermostat when your partner is not looking?
Yes – all the time 11.90%
Yes – sometimes 38.94%
No 49.16%
13. Do you own a remote or app to control the heating?
Yes 16.08%
No 83.92%
14. Have you used a remote or app to control the heating behind your partner’s back?
Yes – all the time 31.17%
Yes – sometimes 37.01%
No 31.82%
15. Has an argument ever broken out between you and your partner as a result of them changing the heating settings behind your back?
Yes 34.71%
No 65.29%
16. Which of the below most closely applies to your partner?
My partner gets hot more easily than me 28.95%
My partner gets cold more easily than me 41.60%
Both 14.35%
Not sure 15.10%
17. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘I have considered breaking up with my partner because of their irritating thermostat-adjusting habits at least once’?
Strongly agree 4.88%
Somewhat agree 12.66%
Neither agree nor disagree 13.15%
Somewhat disagree 5.09%
Strongly disagree 64.21%
18. Does your partner have any annoying habits which get on your nerves?
Yes, many 17.35%
Yes, one or two 48.70%
No, not really 33.95%
19. Which of these annoying habits does your partner have? Tick all that apply.
Bad breath 9.08%
Snoring 41.48%
Restless / Fidgety sleeper 20.97%
General poor hygiene 6.13%
Burping / Farting 24.15%
Sharp fingernails / toenails 8.18%
Bites nails 10.45%
Drinking from the carton 6.74%
Poor grooming 8.10%
Poor diet 12.64%
Swearing 12.26%
Bad table manners 9.61%
Generally rude 9.01%
Poor money management 19.38%
Smoking 9.69%
Binge drinking 9.16%
Laziness 18.47%
Being late 12.34%
Cheating 4.47%
Being disorganised 22.79%
None of the above 11.13%
20. What temperature do you consider to be just right inside your home? (in degrees) Please select best match
16 1.30%
17 1.45%
18 9.35%
19 9.30%
20 20.85%
21 15.45%
22 12.10%
23 6.40%
24 3.15%
25 2.55%
26 0.80%
27 0.30%
28 0.50%
29 0.10%
30+ 0.55%
N/a – I do not have an ideal temperature 15.85%
Average 20.76
21. How long do you tend to leave the heating on each day? (in hours) please select best match
0 0.37%
1 2.61%
2 8.66%
3 9.29%
4 13.73%
5 11.59%
6 10.59%
7 5.69%
8 7.15%
9 2.09%
10 4.49%
11 0.47%
12 2.56%
13 0.37%
14 1.41%
15+ 5.74%
N/a – I do not have the heating on every day 13.20%
Average 6.12
22. Have you ever argued with your partner about costly energy bills?
Yes – all the time 7.62%
Yes – once or twice 23.70%
No 68.68%
23. If you own a car, do you argue with your partner about the heating whilst you are driving?
Yes – all the time 5.55%
Yes – sometimes 24.05%
No 58.80%
N/a – Do not own a car 11.60%
24. Do you ever get too hot at work?
Yes – all the time 8.40%
Yes – sometimes 32.20%
No 29.45%
N/a – unemployed / retired 29.95%