Is your heating ON or OFF?

lillylei

I've only just put mine on, ive only recently felt cold enough to do it, and the fact my baby's feet were getting really cold (unsealed wood floors)

Butterfly_Brain

jackieb wrote: »

I wasn't here when the meter man came - dh was. When the meter man took the reading he put it into his handheld gizmo and it wouldn't accept it. He did it again and it wouldn't accept it again. He asked dh if we'd changed the meter (we haven't, but we have had the fusebox upgraded since we moved in). He said the only way it would do this (ie not accept it) is if the readings were way lower or higher than estimated. Dh told him the house had been empty since February due to the previous owner dying - but we started off with a clean slate when we changed over suppliers in July. We were up to date with the previous supplier (we had to stay with the previous householder's supplier for a month after we moved in).

There's no immersion switch. We had the electrician in to do some work and he couldn't find one. I'm pretty sure it's not on all the time as the water gets used up and I have to put the boiler on to heat it up (there's up to 6 of us, 4 when my son and husband are away working, so we use quite a bit of hot water - no baths though, just showers). Also, we've got the fusebox changed and the fuse for the hot water tank is off, so it must be solely heated from the boiler.

I get my bill online and it said it was a reading, not an estimate. My dh left to go overseas last night. He's not due home until the 28th of November - he'll just fret if I tell him about it now. I'll not tell him until he comes home.

I've got the kids together to tell them they can't leave things switched on. I'm used to have electricity bills of £300+ a quarter but never almost £500!

:eek:
Oh my Gosh! I wouldn't wait for him to get back ring your supplier and ask them to come and check that the meter is working properly, or if as my friend found out when she moved into her house she was paying for the previous owners debt - some of the suppliers charge you for the previous tenants debt and add it to your bill!
Phone them and have it out with them!

Steel_2

We still haven't turned on the CH, but do have an open fire in the evening every couple of days now. What was a moneysaving exercise to use as little gas as possible before 1st November is now curiosity to see how long we can go without turning on the CH.

I haven't yet felt cold. My father gave me some very long thermal socks he never wears and these under jeans or a long skirt are fab. They're real hiking/mountaineering jobs. Very cosy.

*Paris*

I wanted to wait until the 1st November, but I'm afraid I caved in this week and switched the CH on!

EssexHebridean

Ours is still off. Nothing to do with not being able to afford the bills - just sheer b****y mindedness now!!

Actually we need to work out how to change our economy 7 timeswitch as it's going to cost us a lot more for hot water unless we can work it out - usually the water goes on when we get up, and stays on for an hour on night rate. Need to give that some thought.

As for the heating, at the current time the original Nov 1st deadline looks easily achievable. although a lot will depend on how cold it turns in the next week whether we can better it by much. The electrician is coming on Friday to give us a quote for repair / replacement of the large heater in the front room anyway - that should make a massive difference to the flat over the winter.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

bestpud wrote: »

Why do some people on here find it so difficult to accept there are some of us genuinely worried about paying our bills and so we choose to leave the heating off?

As far as I am aware, we all respect those who choose to put theirs on - nobody has been asked to justify it as far as I am aware?

For me, personally, it helps to know we are not the only ones having to face these tough decisions this year - more about solidarity than one up man ship imo...

Money saving is what this site is about after all and comfort is subjective...

You said it all in one word SOLIDARITY,that's what's been keeping me going,knowing that I can come on here and chat with you ladies who all have the same interest.I could'nt have held out otherwise.
Thanks everyone.

sb44

Caterina wrote: »

I keep taking my readings on imeasure.org.uk and I am using a regular 2 units of gas per week (an average of £0.77 according to their calculations

I have been using that site too.

We have our gas central heating on every morning from 4.30am until 7am then on for about one hour in the afternoon.

We don't have a gas cooker.

It estimated that we used £12 last week in gas!

Blimey if that is the case I am not surprised people can't afford to put their heating on.

la_farfallina

Still no heating on but am sitting here wearing my ethel austin mens thermal long johns and thermal top. Also have my hot water bottle with fleece cover that I got from PDSA charity shop (£2.49) tucked behind my back.
Warm as toast, but dunno how much longer I can last.
Am on a debt management plan so trying to keep heating bills down.

Farf x

Unity

Caterina wrote: »

Still no CH but wood stove on from the time it gets dark. It warms up the chill in the air and makes for a really lovely and homely atmosphere, on top of saving us a fortune in gas!

I keep taking my readings on imeasure.org.uk and I am using a regular 2 units of gas per week (an average of £0.77 according to their calculations), but my electricity is increasing, perhaps because of the nights getting in earlier and the need for more light - or perhaps because I spend my life in front of the computer? hehe

Caterina

Same here Caterina, I've had to take my fleece off because the heat from the multi-fuel burner is so lovely and free. When we put the stove in some years ago DH thought it was just going to be for decorative effect and for a while I suppose it was - but it has come into it's own now! I can already see frost outside so I think we may put some coal on to keep it on over night.

I am going to look on that site you mentioned to work out my gas consumption - I didn't know it existed so thanks for that:T. I got one of those free energy sensors from Eon when we switched so I can keep a check on the electricity. I managed to get my washing dry outside yesterday and now that there's just the two of us I am not having to use the washing machine or dishwasher quite so much.

Glad to say the other problem you advised me on has cleared up without the need for dreaded hormones :j.

sb44

loaner wrote: »

what time do you get up?

My husband gets up at 5.30am and we only have one of those showers that you have plumbed into your taps so we need the hot water on for his shower.

Plus he doesn't like to be in a cold bathroom at that time in the morning or come downstairs to cold rooms.