The study also found that 75 per cent of young adults have no idea how to check the pressure on their boiler.
Similarly, 81 per cent have no clue how to deal with a frozen pipe according to the research by British Gas.
Chris Jansen, of British Gas, said: "Climate data shows Britain experienced a run of mild winters between the late 1970s and early 2000s.
"This means many British people under the age of 40 have grown up without experiencing severe cold weather and, through no fault of their own, now find themselves unprepared for it."
Researchers have dubbed this the 'Born-to-be-Mild' generation.
Weather forecaster Michael Fish said: "Evidence suggests winters have been getting colder, although global warming is increasing temperatures in general.
"While it has been unseasonably warm in recent weeks, the natural variability in our weather means we should be prepared for a repeat of recent very cold winters."