Is your heating ON or OFF?

jet77

I'm cold :rolleyes: so thought I'd pop by and say hi :beer:

I have central heating - the boiler has been serviced and the radiators bled but it still won't work upstairs. In the kitchen I find that I'm moving about and cooking so I don't get cold anyway and in the living room we've all got blankets, wear dressing gowns/jumpers, put on extra socks and have a hot water bottle. The living room does have a radiator and a very old gas fire but I can't see the point in putting either on when the heat get sucked straight back out through a silly vent (am going to block it up) but I don't want to waste money just on heating a living room anway.

At the moment I can't afford to spend any money fixing the upstairs radiators. I have asked work if I can job share... but they need to find someone to fill the other half of my role. They haven't advertised but if they find someone I will have a wage cut and then be entitled to a grant to help with my ch and the moment I earn about £900 pa gross to much to be able to receive any help.

We warm the bed up with the hot water bottles while cleaning teeth and wear socks and dressing gowns to bed.

PasturesNew

troo wrote: »

When I last worked in a workplace (I've worked from home for ages now), health and safety rules had an upper limit of 100 degrees F, but didn't mention a lower limit

As I understand it there has never been an upper limit.

For a lower limit, by law an office must reach 60degrees (15.5 degrees) within one hour of the office opening. But I was never sure what would happen next. Having a law implies that you can just go home if it isn't, but that's not the real world is it

I've been in many offices where it hasn't been the minimum temperature within an hour, even all day on really cold days, but if you walk out you don't get paid and might be sacked at some future point if you're seen as a troublemaker.

fizzel81

well done to all still holding out, mine has been on a few weeks now, since iv been ill what started as a simple cold is now a chest infection for which im on antibiotics

yes its nice to be having no heating on but please dont mke yourself ill over it

sorry not a preechy post meant

[Deleted User]

I look at indoor and outdoor temperature every day but out of interest. I don`t need to know the indoor temperature because you can feel chilled at 18 or 14, it depends on the body`s inner warmth, humidity and state of health.

Not everyone can exercise but it does make a big difference to metabolism. I hate exercise so never visit a gym but discovered cycling last july. I go out and get the shopping and come back with roses in my cheeks and it seems to crank up my system for a few days

Layers count too, very much, as trapped air is a very good insulator. Starting with a thin jumper, then adding a slip or light vest or camisole as the temperature cools. A v neck jumper or cardi on top of that and then a warm vest with long sleeves instead of the light vest. There are lots of options but layers work fantastically well, adding and taking off as needed

The base of the back should be kept warm and also the back of the neck and the kidney area. Very os, I know. Tuck the lower layers into panties or bloomers and dig out old tights

I find that the very worst days are dark damp days and that is when it is good to get out, if you can. I use my bus pass and get into town or go to the library

[Deleted User]

jet77, please don`t use the gas fire without the vent. Gas needs air to produce safe heat and without air will produce dangerous `invisible` carbon monoxide. The first signs will be a yellowish flame and feeling sleepy and dopey

lynzpower

Im in .

We live in accomodation without central heating and no gas.

Its a split level 3 bed upper flat with 2 outside spaces. Were in London though so its not that cold. Im here with the windopw open as I type in a vest top, so we are not too bad just yet.

We have one oil filled radiator which we sometimes put on for an hour or so. Doglette drags her blanket to lie next to it when its on ( well cute)

We have a big throw/ blanket for tv & film watching on the sofa. We have a v thick duvet plus the camping cupbaord of sleeping bags spare blankets and the summer duvets should we need them. OH only allowed us to change to the winter duvet last week so we would "feel the benefit"!!

One tip is for those who have draughty windows ( we dont lucky we have secondary glazing) is to get a roll of bubble wrap and tape it over the windows you wont need to open, keeps the draughts out & the light in.

I quite like being cold & snuggly

PasturesNew

I live in a studio bedsit. It has double glazing and one storage heater. I have never used the storage heater (don't know how to/it scares me). There is a wall mounted electric fan heater in the kitchen and in the shower room - I have never turned on either of them (they scare me and I am not in those rooms enough to need them on).

When I moved in, the LL supplied a simple electric fan heater. This has two settings. I tried it on number 1 last year and it was fine, but when I tried it on number 2 it smelt of burning dust and the fire alarm went off ... so this scares me. It is my plan to work out how to clean out the fan heater later today and to test it works in daylight (has to be done in daylight as it would scare me too much if it set the fire alarm off after dark, it's easier to deal with potential emergencies in daylight).

Mainly, I don't use heating because I am scared that any heating systems will set fire to wherever I am living. I am scared by electrical items/things that heat up/anything that has the potential to start a fire.

I spend most of my time under a duvet wearing socks.

MrsE_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Please dont go freezing your !!! off. I read the comment from a poster on the other thread about 18-21C being regarded as the indoor temperature in Britain. I seem to have acclimatised a bit - but have now got a thermometer in the sitting room - so I can tell exactly what temperature the house is. I've discovered from that I can usually manage (with plenty of clothes on) down to 18C. Beneath 18C is put some heat on territory. I am wondering what the minimum temperature is from a a health and safety viewpoint - as opposed to whether one feels warm viewpoint. I would think - for a basically fit person - the temperature probably shouldnt drop beneath 16C. I would imagine if one is ill and/or old then it would need to be at least the 18C. Wondering if anyone knows what the position is on this?

I have a thermometer in my living room, I don't feel comfortable in the evening unless its about 22:o
But during the day I don't mind it being a little lower (20 ish).
BUT I hate the heating on while I'm in bed.

lynzpower

PasturesNew wrote: »

I live in a studio bedsit. It has double glazing and one storage heater. I have never used the storage heater (don't know how to/it scares me). There is a wall mounted electric fan heater in the kitchen and in the shower room - I have never turned on either of them (they scare me and I am not in those rooms enough to need them on).

When I moved in, the LL supplied a simple electric fan heater. This has two settings. I tried it on number 1 last year and it was fine, but when I tried it on number 2 it smelt of burning dust and the fire alarm went off ... so this scares me. It is my plan to work out how to clean out the fan heater later today and to test it works in daylight (has to be done in daylight as it would scare me too much if it set the fire alarm off after dark, it's easier to deal with potential emergencies in daylight).

Mainly, I don't use heating because I am scared that any heating systems will set fire to wherever I am living. I am scared by electrical items/things that heat up/anything that has the potential to start a fire.

I spend most of my time under a duvet wearing socks.

Hey PN

Fan heaters are a bit notorious for catching so be as utterly careful as you can.

Personally I would recommend getting an oil filled for safety, although they are not quite as "nifty" to get to heat as fan heaters.

One way of preventing it catching fire is to hoover out dust, whicyh is what generally seems to ignite.

I would not recommend trying to use one that has already caught light though- safety first. get your LL to give you the manual of the storage heater - this is your right! - however if they dont have it then get LL to buy you a new OF radiator.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

We have no form of heating at all in our home either.It's a big old Victorian place too so we have the added draughtiness as I have to have the windows open from dusk till dawn to keep any dampness away.Luckily that and the moisture crystals are winning with that.
I'm fine with the cold,I just layer up,my OH was the problem but now after a bit of brainwashing his attitude has changed and he's as stoic as I am now.He says we'll keep it off till whenever,adding we've been through this before it's not like it's going to hurt us.
The thing is it's not and I'm actually realising that we realy don't need the heating and we were getting very soft over the years.I may seem odd but I'm actually starting to enjoy the challenge.
When I was getting undressed for bed last night it was cold and I thought realy I should 'nt be complaining as when this dear old house was built it would of been like this all the time,cold and draughty in the winter and warm and sunny in the spring and summer.Living naturally I suppose.I know one thing I'm sleeping better than I ever do as I feel so cosy under the duvet I'm alseep in no time and I actually look forward to bedtime and it's not hot and stuffy.My husband who suffers seasonal rhinitis has stopped sneezing all the time too,the heating always makes this come on worse.
So it's not that bad and It's actually become an experience rather than an ordeal,and I so look forward to cooking our evening meal as it makes the kitchen all warm and cosy.So no heating has it's benefits too.
I think this may change some peoples attitudes in the long run realy,I know it has our's.