Care home heating: comfort, safety and per-room control
In a care home, heating is a duty-of-care question before it is an energy question. The system needs individual room control, surfaces that cannot burn, and no stagnant hot water sitting in low-use circuits.
What temperature should a care home be?
UK guidance points to a minimum of 21°C in living areas for older residents, higher than a typical home, which is why responsive per-room control matters so much.
The problem with care home heating
Residents feel the cold differently, rooms are occupied around the clock, and hot surfaces and wet systems both bring regulatory risk.
Zoning strategy: Per-room thermostats for residents' rooms, with separate zoning for communal areas.
Options compared
| System | Verdict | Upfront | Running |
|---|---|---|---|
Infrared / radiant panels Low-surface-temperature or ceiling panels give per-room control with no hot pipework in reach. | Best fit | Low | Medium |
Gas central heating Familiar and cheap to run, but shared circuits limit per-room control and carry legionella management duties. | Viable | Medium | Low fuel cost |
Air-source heat pump Cheapest per kWh delivered (COP ~3.2) but needs good insulation and capital budget. | Viable | High | Lowest |
Old electric storage heaters No responsive control — warm at breakfast, cold by evening, which is the wrong way round for residents. | Poor fit | Low | High |
Indicative annual heating cost — 16 m², average / part-insulated
Degree-day method at UK average 2000 HDD, Ofgem price cap (indicative, 2026). Whole-space figures — zoning typically cuts these substantially.
- Infrared panels£250/yr
- Air-source heat pump£100/yr
- Gas central heating£90/yr
- Old electric / storage heaters£320/yr
What care home heating costs to install
- Per resident room£350 – £900
Panel plus thermostat and installation.
- Communal lounge or dining room£1,200 – £4,000
Zoned panels with central time control.
- Whole-home retrofit (30 rooms)£15,000 – £35,000
Phased room by room with no residents displaced.
Care home heating: FAQs
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust