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Three in ten Brits bicker or get irritated with their loved ones over heating and over 40 per cent of Brits would put a jumper on before turning up the heat.

Three in ten Brits turn on their loved ones over the heating, according to research from moneysupermarket.com.

As autumn approaches, one in nine (11 per cent) Brits bicker about when to flick the heating on, while another 18 per cent admit to being irritated when their partner turns on the heating before they think it should go on.

Twenty-two per cent of men have given a frosty reception to a partner who has cranked up the temperature, while another 15 per cent of women have wanted to turn on the heat, but ended up having an argument.

Paul Schofield, head of utilities at moneysupermarket.com, said: "The heating wars have officially begun for winter 2007 and it is causing friction in homes throughout the nation. With many families clashing over when to turn the heating on or being annoyed when it goes on too soon, it is clear high bills are a driving concern. It is a worry if people – particularly the old and vulnerable – are deterred from turning their heating on because of price."

More than four in ten (42 per cent) Brits surveyed prefer to put a jumper on to keep warm. Younger people are the most jumper-friendly with over half of the 18 to 24-year-olds favouring an extra layer rather than a whopping energy bill.

Schofield added: "With the Met Office predicting this winter will be 'noticeably colder than last year, and approaching the most expensive time of the year for fuel bills, everyone should ensure they are on the best tariff.

No matter what your consumption, online tariffs such as British Gas Click Energy 4, Scottish & Southern Price Fix 2008 and npower SOL 8 are consistently the cheapest on the market.

Standard tariffs are always more expensive than online ones. For example, average homes in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle would pay £1132 less on British Gas Click Energy 4 than on British Gas Standard.