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Autumn has arrived, and the weather has turned decidedly cooler following the sweltering summer temperatures. Brits will be pondering when they'll switch on their central heating for the first time this year after months of going without it.
Specialists at Vaillant, a Derbyshire-based boiler and heat pump company, have examined UK weather data to determine the optimal date to take the plunge - and it's "earlier than expected".
They've settled on October 3 as the national average, which differs from the typical recommendation of mid-month, usually around the 13th, reports the Express.
The experts stated: "With October temperatures dipping below 15.5°C, it might be time for Brits to give their heating systems some extra attention before switching them on October 3."
They continued: "With temperatures expected to drop around this time, and the possibility of colder weather arriving even earlier, now is the ideal moment to check your boiler and heating system to ensure everything is in working order.
"Doing so can help keep you warmer, improve energy efficiency, and potentially save money on your energy bills."
Average dates around the country. Despite the suggested national average, specialists noted that regional variations across the UK are "stark" regarding when heating gets turned on.
In Bradford, for instance, households typically activate their heating by September 24, representing the earliest average switch-on date in the most recent data. In Sheffield, residents also tend to act quickly.
The average heating switch-on date is around September 29, closely matching the national average of October 3.
Nearby cities like Nottingham and Birmingham are not far behind, with average dates of September 29 and 30, respectively.
This shows that "households in the Midlands begin to feel the seasonal drop in temperature by the final week of September".
Meanwhile, in cities like Liverpool and Manchester, the data shows a similar trend, specialists said.
Homes in the latter city tend to switch the heating on by September 26, while, in Liverpool, the average date is slightly later, on October 2.
Glasgow and Newcastle also hover around September 25 and 26, showing a consistent pattern across northern cities where the chill sets in earlier.
However, at the other end of the spectrum, London and Southampton stand out as "clear outliers".
People in the capital typically delay switching the heating on until October 23, and, in Southampton, the average turn-on date is even later - October 26.
This ensures that the city has the latest heating switch-on in the dataset.
"These later dates are likely influenced by milder southern climates, as well as possibly higher energy costs influencing behaviour," experts said.