Is your heating ON or OFF?

Wednesday2000

It was icy this morning, but it is lovely sunshine now. I went for a short walk and didn't need a coat yet.

I think we were spending £5 a day last winter when we had the heating on. Now my husband is retired it seems much easier to make sure we are keeping warm. As he had to do shift work before I had to heat the house at odd times of the day and I did feel cold quite often. The past few days I have been airing out the house with the windows for an hour after we get up and then putting on the heating for usually an hour until the house is at 18. Then we usually keep it off until it gets dark and then maybe have it on for an hour in the evening.

When it gets properly cold I will probably need the heating on for longer, but I will use our two portable halogen heaters and close the internal doors more.

Nelliegrace

A design fault with combi boilers. We have been out in icy weather, up a ladder, pouring hot water on the frozen, insulated plastic outlet pipe because the heating has gone off. 

catz4m8z

Def feeling the cold here. My little desk clock says its 12C in here (I only have electric heaters but they have been on for a couple of hours).
My front door opens directly onto the street which is annoying for trying to keep heat in. Situation made worse by very elderly dogs who have to go out for walks several times a day and take an age to actually get out the door!
But I dug my hot water bottle and Oodie out today so Im ok. Also have my electric blanket for telly watching tonight so we should be ok.
(TBH Im more worried about my poor house plants....they didnt sign up for this!!LOL).

Rosa_Damascena

Nelliegrace said:

A design fault with combi boilers. We have been out in icy weather, up a ladder, pouring hot water on the frozen, insulated plastic outlet pipe because the heating has gone off. 

  I'm shocked!

@Auntycaz - I appreciate the advice. My difficulty is that even though its now a well-insulated home, it is actually far too large for me so the resentment is about heating rooms that I cannot use. Anticipating this, I got the place zoned - but the underfloor heating is a killer. I'm not usually too bothered about money, but this feels like shredding notes.

This was the kitchen when I got home at 6pm this evening. Luckily, the place heats up fast!!

 

Nelliegrace

I thought it felt cold today. 11°C indoors. The batteries had gone on the timer/thermostat. DH used to remember to change them regularly. 

Rosa_Damascena

Freezing today - max 1degC although the sun has made an attempt to show its face. It was too cold to stick the clothes on the line to dry so I confined myself to heating the kitchen only to get them dry and keep me warm whilst working from home. Its not yet 4pm and the meter says £7.45 (dual fuel). 

Am hoping that days this chilly are few and far between this winter!

MikeJXE

Mine is now on 24/7 set at 18 

I have enough in credit to get me through the winter without increasing my direct debit even if my usage doubles 

I’m 84 not rich but I won’t be cold 

Wednesday2000

Rosa_Damascena said:

Freezing today - max 1degC although the sun has made an attempt to show its face. 

It was very cold here today! 🥶 

SuzeQStan

@MikeJXE - good to hear you won’t let yourself go cold sounds like you have a decent reserve of balance.

@Rosa_Damascena - is there a smaller room you could WFH in - possibly cheaper to heat as a result?  My desk lives in a weird little dog leg space with a door on it in the winter - it’s probablu 6x8foot max and 2 minutes of GCH blast is enough to keep me for hours plus leccy blanket, fingerless gloves & layers.

sposed to get up to 14 degrees here on Saturday!  Get the bikini out LOL

MikeJXE

SuzeQStan said:

@MikeJXE - good to hear you won’t let yourself go cold sounds like you have a decent reserve of balance.

@Rosa_Damascena - is there a smaller room you could WFH in - possibly cheaper to heat as a result?  My desk lives in a weird little dog leg space with a door on it in the winter - it’s probablu 6x8foot max and 2 minutes of GCH blast is enough to keep me for hours plus leccy blanket, fingerless gloves & layers.

sposed to get up to 14 degrees here on Saturday!  Get the bikini out LOL

I live in a 1 bed ground floor flat no door is ever closed windows rarely opened 

You have no doubt heard of the phrase “cut the cloth according to the purse” Thats what I have done since my wife died and I retired 

I have learned over many years having lived in old/new 3/4 bed houses and bungalows what is important to me 

I am a pensioner living on £14,000 per year with a small amount of savings interest 

My usual practice of controlling my heating is turn it up when I’m not warm, 16 night 19/20 day

Since it has been very cold over the last few days it is now on 24 hours at 18 and according to my Hive,  the boiler is sometimes on less than before and I have not needed to turn it up

My dual fuel DD is £50 a month and at £230 credit so I am happy with my situation