Preparing for winter II

Justamum

Bikerchicken wrote: »

My question is : when it properly turns cold, do you leave your heating on all the time set on a thermostat or have it come on just in the day on thermostat or just bob it on when you feel cold.

Last winter we had our heating on 24/7 but on a low setting. It didn't use any more oil than having it come on for a couple of hours morning and night, and the house was far more cosy! I'm going to do the same this year - but I haven't succumbed to actually putting the heating on yet. I was planning on trying to leave it until November, but DH is back from South Africa this Saturday so he might feel the cold though!

pukkamum

Can i ask for the poeple who keep their heating on low to stay unchilled what temp do you consider low?
My other problem is that my thermostat is at the top of the stairs and i like to air the bedrooms during the day so is this going to massively affect how the thermostat works?
Also would you keep all the radiators on or just the living room?

Alisonpennypincher

This is something that i am really interested in too. My heating is controled by my boiler only, i.e i can set that to minimum or setting 1, 2, 3...etc. There are no thermostats in a room or on the radiators (i can turn the radiator up and down but thats all)

I often wonder if it would be better to leave the heating on minimum for most of the day, or to put it on at number 1 or 2 when needed (normally a few hours at a time). I guess it's best in this situation to use it as and when needed, but i have never been confident in that assumption.

Justamum

We don't have any thermostats in the house, and there are no numbers on the boiler, just a dial. It took a few days of adjustment so that the heating was on at a comfortable setting, so I don't know what the temperature is. I'm going to have to make a mark on the boiler though because it's having its annual service next week and I don't want the settings to be moved.

Cat72

Argos have their electric underblankets reduced. Start at £9.99 .
HTH

anguk

Alisonpennypincher wrote: »

This is something that i am really interested in too. My heating is controled by my boiler only, i.e i can set that to minimum or setting 1, 2, 3...etc. There are no thermostats in a room or on the radiators (i can turn the radiator up and down but thats all)

I often wonder if it would be better to leave the heating on minimum for most of the day, or to put it on at number 1 or 2 when needed (normally a few hours at a time). I guess it's best in this situation to use it as and when needed, but i have never been confident in that assumption.

My heating is controlled by the boiler too with no thermostats anywhere else. I think the settings I have on the boiler are 1-6. I've always had the boiler on about 3 or 4 and just put the heating on as and when we've needed it (plus timed for an hour in the morning and early evening)

But we live in an old thick brick terrace, no cavity walls, high ceilings and open staircase so it does cool down quite quickly. I think this year I'm going to try having it on all day on a low setting, I'll switch it off at night because I can't bear being hot when I'm trying to sleep. It may take a bit of tinkering to see which setting is best for a comfortable temperature, I'll start at 1 and work my way up!

We've got a prepayment gas meter so I'll be able to monitor how much money I'm using and compare with last year.

ASC

Hello organised people.
Thanks for this thread, I’ve had a quick skim but I really need to go back properly now and make some notes, we really need to spend less on heating this year…

A couple of comments to be going on with:
Re daffodils – just this morning, I noticed that my lavender has come back into flower. Not good from a seasonal/weather point of view but at least I can add some lavender bags to a “homemade and foraged” Christmas hamper I’m considering for DH grandmother!

I missed out on the Plumbs fabric at £1 so I was in Ikea last week looking for cheap curtains as well as a couple of rugs and noticed an undyed cotton bedspread 2.2m x 2.5m for £3.99 I’m thinking it could be used to line existing curtains or even dyed and made into curtains.

When I’m on my own in the house during the day (I work from home about half the week) I try to avoid putting the heating on. Last winter I used to wear thermals and normal clothes topped off with my dressing gown. Works a treat (just remember to take it off if the doorbell goes…)

Right, I’m off to make a proper list. Number 1 is a curtain for the front door. I remember last year there was quite a draft and DH seems to be incapable of closing the living room door to keep that room snug.


A x

mustrum_ridcully

Bikerchicken wrote: »

For those of you with Central Heating. We have a wood burner that we keep lighting at the mo:) as I'm trying to keep the heating off as long as possible.

My question is : when it properly turns cold, do you leave your heating on all the time set on a thermostat or have it come on just in the day on thermostat or just bob it on when you feel cold.

I've had different opinions regarding this. Some say leave it on all the time for that constant temp others say why heat the house when your in bed.
So i'm interested in views on here:)

Leave it on at a low level, I think it takes a fair old bit of energy to heat-up a room from cold. I guess it could be more effective if you've got thermostats and thermostatically controlled radiator valves

I think there have been almost endless debates about this over in the utilities forum.

NualaBuala

Thanks for the feedback on insoles, I will definitely get some tomorrow in Aldi.

I got candles yesterday but will get some more. I asked in Ikea why my tea lights were burning with such a small flame and leaving wax behind - they said that there is some kind of retardant included so the metal cups don't overheat. But I want a nice big flame so won't be buying those again. I did get a box of their dinner candles as they were reduced and they burnt beautifully - I had 3 lit and they raised the room temperature by 1C after a couple of hours.

My most pressing need at the moment is a hot water bottle or similar. More for aches and pains than to warm my bed but it would be useful for that too. The only hot water bottles I've found in shops are expensive - €9.99 in B00ts and it was small too. Maybe I will have a go at making a rice bag - I am just a bit nervous after reading that they can combust! :eek: Has anyone got a homemade one they have used successfully?

Frugal_Dreamer

bajangal wrote: »

Thanks for recipe which I will try, but how much butter should I use?

About 1/3 to 1/2 a packet...sorry I dont usually weigh stuff:rotfl: