Is your heating ON or OFF?

Dreamscometrue

Living room temperature is showing at 17.4 right now. So far I haven't had the heating on at all. The electric blanket is a godsend but only needs to be on for a short while. Might need heating soon as it's taking forever to dry the washing. Once it goes on it becomes a struggle to turn it off come spring so will try not to turn it on for as long as possible. Having said that I won't suffer so if it gets very cold it will be going on.

Toonie

We've had the heating on for a couple half hours in the last week as it's felt cool inside (first we made sure that we were wearing layers, had hot drinks, and had the dehumidifier on in case it was moisture rather than coolness). I've found that a half hour boost is enough to keep things comfortable for now. I struggle a bit with mobility problems and joint issues, so the cold is definitely something I have to be careful with.

Rosa_Damascena

It does feel cold now but I am wrapped up like the Michelin man and under my sleeping back and another 2 thick throws so the heating isn't necessary.

this however is worrying: https://apple.news/AHkLcYWJiRHWj7qcysEpvLQ

catz4m8z

Currently showing 14.5C in my living room but it doesnt feel too bad TBH. Im still managing with lots of layers and an electric blanket in the evenings (also def need the dehumidifier to dry the washing!).
Might have to cave with the storage heater in the bathroom soon....its freezing and the towels just wont dry.

Nelliegrace

Cold damp towels in the bathroom, that is what I hate about an unheated house. The big bath sheets have been put away and the thin swimming towels brought out for winter. I bought vintage linen huckaback towels on eBay, even some old linen tablecloths to use as towels, for £2-£3. They dry quickly.  I have a small hand towel so my bigger towel is not wetted repeatedly.

SuzeQStan

Our GCH has been coming on for an hour in the morning for the last 2x weeks. We use lounge multiburner in evenings since beginning of October.

Looking at weather forecast for this week it appears lower range temps will be getting down to 3-4 degrees over night so will be putting on heating for an additional hour middays this week.

At this rate our usage of GCH + DHW & cooking should be approx £80 per month pre VAT/ SC.

with current energy balance saved over summer we should be ok if temps don’t drop too drastically but a dd increase could be on the cards otherwise. 

PrincessMellie

We have had the heating on a lot recently because we do not currently have a wood burner that works (insurance have been slow walking getting the repair done for the last fifteen months!!) but I have been trying to cut back since we were advised we were using far more than normal. 

I have now put on two pairs of socks, a vest, t-shirt, and a hoodie, and I'm using a hot water bottle. The central heating (gas) is on at 20 degrees, and I'm still shivering. 

How can I make it feel not absolutely baltic while still keeping the heating low?

Florenceem

PrincessMellie - have plenty of hot drinks and move about if possible. Our heating is on at 18 - we are wearing layers - both in our 70s. We feel okay at that temperature.

SuzeQStan

PrincessMellie said:

We have had the heating on a lot recently because we do not currently have a wood burner that works (insurance have been slow walking getting the repair done for the last fifteen months!!) but I have been trying to cut back since we were advised we were using far more than normal. 

I have now put on two pairs of socks, a vest, t-shirt, and a hoodie, and I'm using a hot water bottle. The central heating (gas) is on at 20 degrees, and I'm still shivering. 

How can I make it feel not absolutely baltic while still keeping the heating low?

What happened to your wood burner? I can sympathise as we would be a bit lost without ours.

have you checked for any draft proofing you can do? Stuff old socks in old tights to make free draft excluders for doors. 

& draft insulation tape is a good investment on all doors, windows, loft hatches (and check it’s not perished if you already have it) to make these as draft proof as they can be.  Usually runs about £1 per meter.

Hang curtains over doors bought for cheap in charity shops or online auction sites with blanket pinned to the back can really help heat losses for leaky doors.  We have a curtain over our front door, another in the hallway and one over the back door.  our thermostat recorded an average 2 degree improvement when we put the curtains in.

Free curtain rods can easily be found on the free sharing apps - FB mkt place, Ol!o, fr@eagle trash nothing etc - bear in mind curtain rails will have to be strong if you have heavy blankets pinned to the back of the curtains.

electric blankets/ throws are really cost effective to run although there is of course outlay in buying one. I’ve seen a heated throw circa £30 at h@me b@rgains.  We also have an electric underblanket on the bed which comfort wise is the very best thing we’ve ever bought.

I dont mind heating the human instead of heating the space - if we ran the GCH all day our gas bill would conservatively be £300 per month for gas alone.  I know this because we had family visit last winter and they needed the heating on set at 20 degrees from 6am-11pm.  

Others on here will have much better tips than me - I’ll stop writing a novel 🤣

PrincessMellie

SuzeQStan - our chimney blew down last year and the insurance company have been fannying and parping around since July 2023 to get it repaired. It has made drying clothes a pain in the rear. 

I think I will have to amend the curtains - someone in the house (not me!) likes delicate lacy curtains that barely qualify but I will be changing them for something much more heatable. I also think we will be closing doors to the front room since we spend all the time in the back room, instead, as that room has a massive window which isn't the most reliable. 

Will report back on the hot drinks situation and the moving thing  Florenceem - I work from home and am married to the computer so I do not know how well that second part will work. But I do think perhaps a heat pad will be better and definitely a heating pad for my bed.