Thermostat settings for Winter vs. Summer. What’s best & why?

Adjusting your thermostat for the seasons is one of the easiest ways to improve comfort and reduce energy use in a property. Many homes use the same settings all year round, but small seasonal adjustments can make heating and cooling systems far more efficient.

Here’s a quick guide to the best thermostat settings for winter and summer, and why they matter.

Best thermostat settings for winter

In colder months, most experts recommend setting your thermostat between 18–21°C when the property is occupied. This provides comfortable heating without forcing the system to run continuously.

Lower temperatures can be used when the property is empty or overnight. For example:
- 18–21°C when occupied
- 15–17°C overnight or when empty

Reducing the temperature slightly during these periods can help lower energy consumption while maintaining comfort.

What about thermostats in summer?

In many UK homes and rental properties, air conditioning isn’t installed, so thermostats primarily control the heating system.

Because of this, the common advice for summer is simple: turn the heating programmes off and rely on manual heating if needed.

Occasionally, a property may still require a short burst of heating during colder summer mornings or unexpected temperature drops. This is where a boost function can be particularly useful, allowing temporary heating without restarting full heating schedules.

Why seasonal settings matter

Leaving heating schedules running during warmer months can lead to unnecessary energy use if the system activates when it isn’t needed.

Seasonal adjustments help ensure that heating systems only operate when required. This can help:
- Reduce unnecessary energy consumption
- Prevent heating from running during warmer periods
- Simplify thermostat use for tenants or occupants

Making seasonal changes simple

For landlords and property managers, thermostats that include seasonal settings and simple boost controls can make managing heating much easier.

For example, a seasonal mode can suspend heating programmes and minimum temperatures during the summer months, while still allowing temporary heating through a boost countdown if needed.

This approach keeps controls simple while ensuring heating is only used when required.

Final thoughts

Seasonal thermostat adjustments don’t need to be complicated. In winter, maintaining comfortable programmed temperatures helps keep homes warm efficiently. In summer, turning heating programmes off and relying on occasional manual heating is often the most practical approach.

Thermostats designed with landlords in mind can make these seasonal changes even easier. TIME:O:STAT, for example, includes features such as a simple boost countdown and a seasonal mode that suspends heating programmes during warmer months, helping ensure heating is only used when it’s actually needed.

It’s a straightforward way to keep properties comfortable, reduce unnecessary energy use, and simplify temperature control throughout the year.