Smart Controls
How to Set Your Heating Schedule Properly
Reviewed by our Gas Safe registered engineers · Last updated 22 July 2026
Most homes run the schedule that was set the day the thermostat went in — which rarely matches real life. A schedule built around when you’re actually home is the single easiest way to cut heating waste. Here’s how to set one that fits.
Quick answer: Set the heating to come on about 30 minutes before you get up, and wind down about 30 minutes before you leave or go to bed — the house holds warmth for a while, so it doesn’t need to run to the last minute. Aim for around 18–21°C when you’re in and active, cooler overnight. Use separate weekday and weekend patterns, and let geolocation or a frost setting cover the gaps. Don’t set it hotter to ‘heat up faster’ — it won’t.
Example
A sensible weekday schedule
Here’s a starting point for a typical working household — adjust the times to your own routine.
| Time | Setting | What it’s doing |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 | On, ~20°C | Warms the house before you’re up |
| 8:00 | Setback, ~16°C | Everyone’s out or busy — no need to heat fully |
| 16:30 | On, ~20°C | Warms up before you’re back |
| 22:00 | Setback, ~16°C | Winds down for the night; the house holds heat |
| Overnight | Frost protection | Only fires if it gets very cold |
Do & Don’t
Getting it right
Do
- Warm the house before you need it, not the moment you need it
- Use a setback temperature rather than fully off in cold spells
- Set weekdays and weekends separately
- Turn down TRVs in rooms you don’t use
Don’t
- Crank the thermostat to 25°C to ‘heat up faster’ — it just overshoots
- Leave one schedule running all year round
- Heat empty rooms and an empty house
- Forget to lower the temperature overnight
Engineer Insight
The two-degree rule
Turning your thermostat down by just 1–2°C and letting the schedule do the work typically trims a noticeable chunk off a heating bill without you feeling colder. You don’t need the heating blasting the second you walk in either — a well-set schedule warms the fabric of the house gently, so it feels even rather than a quick hot-then-cold cycle. And if you’ve got TRVs, turning down rooms you don’t use stops the schedule heating empty space.
Costs
Getting your controls sorted
Typical North London guide prices — you’ll always get an upfront quote before any work starts.
FAQs
Heating schedules — your questions answered
What’s the best heating schedule?
One that matches when you’re actually home: on about 30 minutes before you get up and before you return, off or set back when you’re out or asleep. Around 18–21°C when you’re in, cooler overnight. Weekdays and weekends usually need different patterns.
Should I leave my heating on low all day?
For most homes with a sensible schedule, no — heating an empty house wastes money. In very cold weather a low setback rather than fully off can avoid a big reheat, but a schedule still beats leaving it on all day.
Does turning the thermostat up heat the house faster?
No. The boiler heats at the same rate whatever the target — a higher setting just makes it overshoot and run longer. Set your comfortable temperature and let it get there.
What temperature should I set my heating to?
Around 18–21°C is comfortable for most people when active, and a degree or two lower overnight or when out. The World Health Organization suggests at least 18°C for a healthy home. Every degree higher adds noticeably to the bill.
How far ahead should the heating come on?
About 30 minutes before you need the room warm is a good starting point, longer for a poorly insulated home or a cold snap. A learning thermostat works this out for you.
Related
Related guides
The leave-on-low debate, settled.
Read guideEnergy SavingHow to Reduce Heating BillsMore ways to cut waste.
Read guideSmart ControlsSmart Thermostat GuideLet a smart stat build the schedule for you.
Read guideEnergy SavingBoiler Efficiency GuideLower flow temperatures save even more.
Read guideHeatingThermostat ProblemsIf the thermostat won’t hold a schedule.
Read guideCentral HeatingHow Central Heating WorksHow the thermostat fits the system.
Read guideBrowse all Smart Controls guides, or head back to the Help & Advice Centre.
Want your controls set up properly? We’ll help.
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