Central heating controls allow you to turn your heating on and off, set your preferred temperatures, and use timers to schedule your heating to operate automatically at specific times. If you're looking to take this one step further, smart thermostats like tado° offer app control, geofencing and weather adaptation, helping you to save significantly more energy while staying comfortable.
Effectively controlling your home's heating system may seem complex, but learning to use your central heating controls correctly can significantly cut your energy bills. Setting your heating to run only when and where it's needed makes all the difference.
Central heating controls aren't all the same. There are different components that can be used individually or in combination – and the more precisely you use them, the more efficiently your home heats up.
The most common types are:
Typically, room thermostats are located in hallways or living rooms. Their role is to monitor the temperature and signal to the boiler when to switch off. Most people set their thermostat to between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, as this is generally considered a comfortable range. Some modern heating controls combine a timer and a thermostat in one device, allowing you to set different temperatures at different times of day – these are known as programmable thermostats.
With a programmable thermostat, you can schedule your heating to turn on around 30 minutes before you wake up or get home, and switch off around 30 minutes before you no longer need it. A well-insulated home will heat up faster and retain warmth longer, so it's worth experimenting with your settings to find what works best for your household.
Hot water cylinder thermostats help you manage the temperature of your hot water by switching off the heat input from your boiler once the desired temperature has been reached. This prevents energy waste caused by your water overheating and can lead to meaningful savings on your bills. Note: if you have a combi boiler, hot water is produced on demand – so you won't need a hot water cylinder thermostat.
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) lets you regulate the temperature in individual rooms by controlling the flow of water through each radiator. For example, if you spend most of your time downstairs during the day, you can set the ground floor TRVs higher and the upstairs ones lower – heating exactly where you need it. It's generally not advisable to switch off radiators completely for weeks at a time, as cold rooms can develop damp and mould. Instead, turn them down and close the door to keep heat from escaping.
Smart homes are becoming increasingly common – and with that comes growing interest in smart heating. With an app on your smartphone or tablet, you can control your heating from anywhere. Smart systems let you adjust schedules on the go, manage different zones separately, and respond to changes in your day without wasting energy. Some apps go further: they use your phone's GPS to raise or lower the heating automatically depending on whether you're heading home or leaving. Others factor in the current weather forecast too.
An example: tado°
Say your heating is set to come on at 6pm, but you're running late – no problem. You can simply delay the start time from your phone, so you're not heating an empty home. Family members can connect to the same account too, making it easy to manage heating across the whole household.
Find out more about tado° Smart Thermostats →
Room thermostats and radiator valves come in a range of types – from basic to fully connected. Mechanical thermostats are the simplest option: they switch your heating on and off at set times – nothing more. Digital thermostats offer more flexibility: you can programme different temperatures for different times of day and days of the week, and in some cases manage multiple heating zones separately. Smart thermostats go one step further: they can be controlled via app from anywhere, adapt automatically to your behaviour and the outside temperature, and help you save energy without having to think about it.
The controls you need depend on how heat is distributed in your home. Here are the most common setups in the UK – and what works best for each:
If you have a gas or oil boiler, there's one more factor to consider:
Whichever system you have, make sure your thermostat is compatible with your boiler before buying. Use our tado° product finder to find the right device for your setup. Check whether your new thermostat needs to be installed by a professional. tado° devices are designed for easy DIY installation – the step-by-step guide in the app is tailored to your heating system and walks you through the whole process.
These tips will help you get the most out of your heating system.
Set your heating to the lowest temperature you find comfortable – usually between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. One degree more or less may not feel significant, but it can make a real difference to your bills. Turning it up higher won't heat your home faster. If your boiler has weather compensation, it will automatically adjust the flow temperature based on the outside conditions – so you don't need to manually turn things up when it gets cold.
Only heat your home when you need to. A good rule of thumb: set your heating to come on around 30 minutes before you wake up or get home, and switch off around 30 minutes before you head to bed or leave. If no one's home during the day, a setback temperature of around 16 degrees is enough to keep the chill off without wasting energy.
Not every room needs the same temperature at the same time. Bedrooms cooler, living rooms warmer – TRVs on your radiators make this possible. Just remember: never turn radiators off completely for extended periods. Persistently cold rooms are prone to damp and mould.
Room thermostats only read temperatures accurately when air can circulate freely around them. Keep them away from curtains, furniture, and heat sources like lamps or appliances.
The only real downside of upgrading to a smart system is that you may need to replace existing devices. With tado°, you can do this yourself. The benefits far outweigh the upfront effort.
Smart heating controls are more precise and efficient than ever. You have full control over when and how your heating runs – meaning you're far less likely to heat an empty home. Switching to a Smart Thermostat can meaningfully reduce your heating bills and pays for itself over time.
Using less gas or oil directly reduces your carbon footprint. According to the Energy Saving Trust, heating accounts for around 55% of what UK households spend on energy each year – making it the single biggest area where smarter control can make a difference.
Smart heating lets you divide your home into zones that you control independently. Many people use this to manage their upstairs and downstairs heating separately – keeping downstairs warm during the day and warming the bedrooms before sleep.
With a smart thermostat, you stay in control even when you leave the house. Whether you're working late, stuck in traffic, or away for the weekend – you can adjust your heating from your phone in seconds. Smart controls can also respond to unexpected situations automatically. tado° AI Assist detects things like an open window or an unoccupied home and adjusts the heating accordingly – without you having to lift a finger.
Smart thermostats take the mental load out of heating. You don't have to remember to switch anything on – your schedule handles it. Your home is always warm when you arrive, never when you don't need it.
Smart heating is a natural first step into the smart home. Connect your Smart Thermostat to a voice assistant like Alexa and control your heating with a simple voice command. The key to seamless integration is Matter-enabled devices – a universal standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon and tado°. Additionally, tado° devices also use Thread, a modern alternative to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that adds speed and stability to your smart home setup.
tado° devices typically replace existing room thermostats and radiator thermostats, or communicate directly with your boiler. Here's an overview of the tado° products for heating control:
Choosing the right central heating controls – and using them well – is the key to lower energy bills, a more comfortable home, and a smaller carbon footprint. Whether you're starting with a programmable room thermostat or going fully smart from day one, what matters is that your heating runs when and where you actually need it.
tado° has a solution for every heating system, from simple upgrades to full room-by-room control. Not sure where to start? Our product finder will guide you to the right device in just a few steps.
Most modern room thermostats have a built-in timer or scheduling function. You can set your heating to come on at specific times – for example, just before you wake up or get home from work. Smart Thermostats like tado° let you do this via the app, from anywhere.
Most people find 18 to 21 degrees Celsius comfortable. Some people with certain health conditions prefer a warmer home.
Set your heating to the lowest temperature you find comfortable – for many people that's around 18 degrees. Make sure your heating is off or set back when you don't need it, such as overnight or while you're at work.
Yes – many Smart Thermostats, including tado°, can be installed without making permanent changes to your home and can be taken with you when you move. You benefit from the energy savings without making a long-term commitment to the property. If you're unsure, it's worth checking with your landlord first.
