First time brewing - Temperature Problems

[darlobrumexile]

I am a first-time home brewer using the basic Youngs BrewBuddy bitter kit. It says on instructions that fermentation should take place in a warm area at between 18 - 21 C. The stick-on thermometer I got for the bucket is showing the temperature at around 16 C and it only rarely touches 18 C. Is my brew going to be damaged or more likely to just take longer to ferment? So far am 4 days into the process and doing my best to increase temperature - currently got a sleeping bag wrapped around bucket.

 

[Archtronics]

It should be ok, it might just take a little longer to ferment out. Keep the blanket round it, maybe add a water bottle under the blanket with warm water in it.

Make sure it doesn't go above 22 tho!