WITH temperatures falling, the central heating is back on across the country.

And with the firing up of the region’s boilers, come the annual arguments about how hot or cool our homes should be.

Research by CORGI HomePlan has revealed that one in three couples in Northwich are secretly turning up the heating behind their partner’s back - with women the worst offenders.

Forty per cent of women surveyed admitted to adjusting the thermostat in secret, compared to just one in five men.

These heated arguments occur in one third of homes - with most thinking it’s too warm indoors.

Rowing because the temperature is too high (34 per cent) edged out having a similar argument because it’s too cold (32 per cent) among those surveyed. Men are more likely to say the house is too hot, while more women feel their homes are too chilly.

The domestic strife doesn’t end there, however, with 27 per cent of those surveyed having a bust-up over how long the heating stays on for. In Northwich, this is an average of 6.8 hours daily, with a tropical five per cent leaving it on constantly.

The ‘ideal’ temperature in Northwich homes is 20 degrees, this is favoured by more than one in four of those surveyed.

When asked what steps they’d take rather than turn on the heating at home if they felt an autumn chill, 87 per cent of those in the region said they’d put a jumper on.

Peter Southcott, director of CORGI HomePlan, says: “It’s a delicate domestic negotiation setting the perfect temperature for the home and any changes planned by one half or the other should be carried out with a ‘degree’ of caution.

“By ensuring that the household boiler is in full working order, these small changes - up or down depending on who’s in charge - should go through easily. Whether the thermostat is high or low, it’s vital to ensure all central heating is serviced before winter sets in.”