How to stop arguing about the heating and keep your home warm this winter

At around this time every year homes up and down the nation are embroiled in a battle of the thermostat as couples fight out the decision about when to switch on the heating.

While the balance in every home is different, stats show that typically women feel the cold more meaning men are perhaps more content to hold out until the mercury falls to freezing before firing up the boiler.

Proof there's a battle of the sexes when it comes to cosy Vs chilly came in a previous study, which found that one in three couples argue over the heating in their home.

Furthermore, the same poll, by Corgi Homeplan, found four in 10 freezing females covertly crank the temperature up behind their partner’s back.

Additional research revealed half of us have had a disagreement with their other half over the house being too hot or too cold, with around three disputes blowing up in households every week.

For one in five couples the issue is so extreme they have even considered breaking up with their partner in favour of someone who enjoys having the house at the same temperature.

Read more: Woman says floorboard hack helps keep house warm: 'It's the small changes that count'

This year's radiator wars are expected to be even more hotly contested than usual thanks to the cost of living and energy crisis, which has left many fearing the financial fallout of soaring heating bills.

Turns out there's some sort of science to explain the well-recognised disparity when it comes to who's blowing hot and cold.

Researchers from Israel's Tel Aviv University studied bird and bat species to see if there was a difference in response to temperature.

They discovered that male animals preferred lower temperatures, and suggested that their findings showed a variation in the heat-sensing mechanisms of the sexes.

“Our study has shown that the phenomenon is not unique to humans; among many species of birds and mammals, females prefer a warmer environment than males, and at certain times these preferences cause segregation between the two species," said Dr Eran Levin, co-author of the study.

A further study, by Dutch scientists, found that women are comfortable between 24-25°C, a temperature 2.5°C warmer than men.

More recently, research revealed that women’s brains actually work better in warmer temperatures, while yet more research found that the average temperature of women’s hands when exposed to cold was nearly 3°C degrees lower than that for men.

How do we solve the heating gap and live in temperature-balanced harmony?

For a start we can listen to the experts, who have revealed there's still a few weeks to go before we should officially be sticking on the heating.

It seems Sunday 30 October isn't just the day before Halloween, but also the date the bods-in-the-know suggest we click the boiler on.

Read more: Frugal mum shares savvy tips for slashing bills during cost of living crisis

While there's no single temperature at which you should turn on your heating because it depends on how well insulated your home is and your own comfort thresholds, Jordan Chance, heating expert from PlumbNation, says many aim for the time when the clocks go back, which this year falls on October 30.

Watch: Martin Lewis puts head in hands as Edwina Currie shares 'tip' to save on heating bills

Secondly, you can try to set your thermostat to a temperature that keeps everyone happy.

While we've seen that everyone has a different idea of how hot or cold their home should feel, experts have revealed there is one perfect setting to suit all.

Research by PlumbNation uncovered the temperatures that men, women, babies, plants and pets all thrive in, to reveal the optimal room temperature of a home.

While women are more comfortable at a room temperature of 25°C and men at 22.2°C, as the average temperature for UK homes 23.5°C is the sweet spot when it comes to heating.

Of course another way to resolve the radiator rows is to keep your house hotter, without the heating.

"Using a draught excluder is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to keep your home warm, preventing cold air from entering and warm air from leaving under your doors," Chance explains.

Closing your curtains is another simple home heating hack.

"Keeping your curtains closed, or investing in a thermal curtain lining can likewise help to prevent warm air from escaping – this trick alone can reduce heat loss by up to 25%," Chance adds.

The heating experts even recommend listening to your mum, or other half's, dished out advice to stick on a jumper.

"This old argument can certainly keep you warmer for longer, and save the big switch on for a later date," Chance continues.

While some will no doubt be tempted to leave the heating on low all day to keep the chill off, experts say this won't actually save any money on your heating bills.

In fact they best way to save energy is to have the heating on as and when you need it.

"Using a thermostat with a timer offers a simple and speedy solution to controlling your heating effectively," Chance adds.

Read more: Is it normal to feel cold ALL OF THE TIME?

And there are some new methods of cranking up the cosy in your home, without going near the boiler or turning to bulky extra heaters.

Heater plugs are a small, yet efficient way to top up the toasty, zero extra heating required.

Simply plug it in and heat up your space.

Not only will it help maintain a comfortable temperature all winter long, it could just save your relationship, that is until next year's argument about when to switch the heating off.