Have you put the heating on yet?

MobadderS

We just moved into a rented first floor flat. According to Eon the price is quite low(yeah right). We don't have gas so everything is electric. We are however lucky as there is an old couple downstairs who seem to constantly have their heating on so the majority of the time our flat is boiling. In fact after we moved in we were speaking to the landlord who said that when he lived here he often needed a fan on in the middle of winter - we just keep the windows open as we like the fresh air! If we get a little chilly on the sofa we often just pull the blanket over.

I'm a total newbie with household bills (was in a shared house) and my husband only just moved to the country so not sure about usage etc... the flat currently has a pre-pay meter. Any advice? I'm off ill with the flu atm and hubby's away so I had to drag myself to the shops to buy electric (such a hassle and made me worse)!!!

j26

We've been managing in the lounge on the past cool evenings with a small halogen heater,initially 800watts (2 bar)for a short time, then 1 bar (400 watts) and have been quite cosy. When we get chilly with this method the heating goes on.

I'm careful with the programme settings. We're retired and I set a couple of hours in the morning from about half an hour before getting up, the other setting is from about 10pm for a couple of hours which is when we would be home after an evening out. The thermostat is set really low (around 16 degrees) when we go to bed so it comes on as background heat for the morning time and is adequate as we are moving around the house and not sitting around.

Outside these set programmed periods we have to physically override the system so it makes you assess whether it's needed or not.

We have a digital programmer which I find more tricky to adjust than the old one which had sliding 'grommets' and I could adjust it quickly.

maggiemay1949

No I havent and im not going to untill it gets real cold ,I have even started cooking with Electric to save my gas for heating

Mags_cat

Honestly haven't felt the need for it yet. I admit I've used the tumble drier a few times recently - for towels and stuff I've needed in a hurry, but the rest of the washing is on the airer as usual.

I've just spent two days staying with a work colleague and actually found her (heated) house way too warm - I was wandering about in shorts and t shirt! Maybe I've convinced myself I have superheated blood or summat...? :rotfl:

1jeannie

No no heating on yet weather is very mild!
I must be saving a fortune this year as I have not used the heating since April...:beer:

INSPIRED

It was 0 yesterday morning!

I have to agee with ajd3

ajd3 wrote: »

Does not putting your heating on not cause condensation problems?
A few years ago I only put my heating on for an hour in the morning and a few hours in the evening all winter and got really bad condensation on windows, wooden window sills & surrounds and walls - in the corners behind a bookcase was the worst, it was really black and I tried everything to clean it off but there were still stains (until I decorated this summer and covered it with Polycell base coat complete). Since then I have kept the heating on continual from about Nov - Feb/Mar and adjusting it with the radiator valves - I barely have them above 2 and that's in central Scotland which can be as much as 10 deg colder than the south of England.
I think it may be a false economy because to repair problems with damp could be a lot more costly than turning the heating on when it's needed. Anyway, I'd rather be warm and save money elsewhere if I need to.

Over the years, in many homes in England and Scotland, I was able to prove that it was cheaper to keep the heating on constantly with the radiators set low. Much more expensive to let the whole system cool down and then heat up again. It is a bit more difficult where we are now because we have oil heating and no way to measure daily usage.
Our house is Victorian and if we allowed it to get cold the damp and condensation would cause expensive damage so the heating is on day and night and the radiators are set to 2. The windows (not double glazed) have wooden shutters and we use thick velvet curtains. In rooms that are not used during the day, I keep the shutters and curtains closed. Pre central heating, all the rooms had coal fires burning away and this would have prevented the damp and condensation which we notice as soon as the temperature begins to fall in September.

I do envy you "southerners" but we are not in a position to change our circumstances at present so will continue to care for this lovely old house as best we can and attempt to make savings in other areas.

koolezt

MobadderS wrote: »

... the flat currently has a pre-pay meter. Any advice?...

See if you can ditch the pre-pay meter ASAP. They charge you ~£2.00 per week just for having it, plus a premium on every unit you use. Have the person with the best credit-rating apply.

klairbear

i have had the heating on for a while.

i live with my mum who is disabled, and chronically ill so it is important that she is warm (i would normaly wear a thick jumper)

it really worries me, because we already owe them for gas and it isn't that cold yet, but the heating has to be constant

poorandindenial

I have been too warm still of late and have had windows open in the evening. I think my downstairs neighbours must have put their heating on though as a couple of weeks ago I was thinking I might have to buckle and (not these last few days) there have been colder days outside since I thought that but I have been toasty.

Hurrah for probably living above someone that feels the cold

Skint_Catt

I had 1st Oct in mind as the earliest I would put the heating on.

Then I thought well 1 Oct is only next Wednesday so I think we can go a bit longer - maybe 1st Nov.

Then I thought but the temperatures going to sink 5/6 degrees next week so I'll have to wait and see how I cope!

Managed to pick up two cream fleece throws from Asda today for £1.77 each - they're lovely and big (122cmx152cm) so one will join me on the sofa with my hot water bottle and the other will go underneath our bottom sheet on the bed for toastiness! Must also put the other half of the duvet in the duvet case as its getting rather cool in the mornings now! :rolleyes: