Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

nicki_2

I'm going to be going for November 1st as well, but if it continues to be this damp then I'll have to give in and put it on sooner. We're an end terrace and the house can get quite damp and mouldy in the wet weather, especially in winter :mad:

Magentasue

Um ... 1st Sept?

I always have the heating on before most people. Can't bear to be cold and OH mutters about the granny in Little Red Riding Hood when I sit under a quilt.

I wonder how much it costs to have the heating on for an hour? I know it will depend on what system, how many rads, what temp but does anyone know roughly? I sometimes have the radiators on autumn and spring rainy evenings for an hour to 'warm the air' and dry towels and non-tumble drier washing.

Magentasue

https://www.changeworks.org.uk/uploads/wat/Heating_Comparison.pdf

According to this, it costs about 17p to have the heating on for an hour in mild weather. Cheaper than the tumble drier!

Olliebeak

I'm another one aiming for 1st Nov - and then see what happens from then onwards.

When we DO have to use it, we aim for 2 hours morning (7.00am-9.00am) and 4 hours evening (7.00pm-11.00pm) - I get up just before and don't go to bed until around 1.00am. If we have any grandchildren around during the day - we often have to relent and put heating on while they're here PLUS we've got another one due 'any day now'. I have one of those room temperature guides (colour coded things) but often find that when it says 'temp just right' it actually feels a little chilly - could be something to do with the open plan entrance/living area/staircase/landing - all the flaming heat is heading up the stairs where we NEVER have any heating on at all.

I also want to buy two more clothes airers this winter - that tumble dryer is not getting used if I can help it!

tim_n

I'm fairly fortunate that my heating only goes on once or twice a year - downstairs seems to heat me very well to the point if I put my heating on I have to open the windows or boil.

Next door to my flat on the bedroom side I have a communal drying room, so the heat from that radiator is constantly coming through the walls (which is also handy to dry my clothes in too)

anniewoo

I am also going for 1st November,I have done that for the last 2 years.

Because I live on my own,I don't have to worry about children or OH complaining that it is cold and so I can just put an extra layer of clothes on rather than the heating.I am lucky that I don't feel the cold too much anyway.

Besides,I shall get quite a sense of satisfaction out of NOT putting the heating on and so depriving the power companies out of a bit of money :rotfl:

belfastgirl23

I'm already putting the heat on for 15 mins at night :eek: :eek: - at least our new insulation means it heats up really fast and holds the heat. 15 mins takes the chill off the air...

larmy16

I have a small bathroom with no shower but ages ago I did buy one of the shower rails with a view to drying clothes on it. Never really got round to using it but it has come into its own recently. I put the clothes on hangers and stretch them out - thereby avoiding any ironing. After a couple of days drying thoroughly, they are transferred to the airing cupboard and hung on hooks.

I, like most of you am determined that tumble dryer will not go on.

November at the earliest! Where my partner works they wear these paper suits (CSI) style and I have begged a few of them to wear around the house during the winter!!!
They really make you feel warm.

Snow_White_5

I'm joining in the 1st Nov challenge too - thanks for all the fab ideas on how to keep warm. Can't wait to get shopping for warm fleecy things. Good luck everyone!

Lily-Lu

I'm going to try for the 1st November, too. I'm really worried about using it at all. I capped my gas early July, but it still works out pricey as there's 7% on top of the standard rate at the time. Same with electric. Capped electric on 25th July, but it's high at just under 15p/kwh. Checked the meter and we'd used 12 kwh in 28hrs :eek:

Wouldn't mind, but I'm using energy saving bulbs, turning off pc at the socket when we're watching tv. Turning lights out when leaving rooms etc. If this is my summer use, then goodness knows how we'll manage to get through the winter without getting into debt and having the DDs hiked right up :eek: