Is your heating ON or OFF?

Olliebeak

Mine is still off up to now. It's been a nice day here although a little bit chilly. The Northerly winds that were forecast for us this week just haven't happened - phew! At the moment the sky is really clouding over, as though we're in for a really heavy downpour this evening.

I'm going to urge everybody to please remember that this isn't a competition to see who can last out the longest (or be the meanest about the heating) - it's about living in a practical way and minimising 'unnecessary heating'.

There's a vast difference for those who live in northern regions (arctic ) as opposed to those who live in the south (almost sub-tropical :rolleyes:);
differences in our homes - c/h, d/g, well insulated, north/south facing;
family circumstances - at home all day, young children, elderly relatives;
health issues - poor/restricted mobility, poor circulation, diabetic, illnesses;
lifestyles - out at work all day, shift workers, active/inactive and
then there's finances - able to afford to put the heating on a bit, struggling to cope and :eek::eek::eek: let's just hibernate!

Let's all maintain a realistic sense of balance about the heating. IF we really need to have the heating on, then we must use it; IF we run up a bill then we'll just have to spread the cost out over the next few months and maybe cut back on a few nights out or another favourite luxury.

Next time my energy supplier tells me that they're going to reduce my monthly DD, I'm going to tell them to leave it as it is so that I build up a decent credit during the summer month - when I feel uncomfortably cold, I'm going to put it ON.

NualaBuala

Well said Olliebeak:T

It's got nice and warm here now but I think by nature I like to hibernate under a rug whether I'm cold or not.

Mags_cat

Olliebeak wrote: »

when I feel uncomfortably cold, I'm going to put it ON.

Well said, Olliebeak.

I've said before on this thread that I'm not going to make myself miserable with cold so the heating went on this afternoon. I'm lucky, I can afford to pay for it, but I was quite happy up until now with extra layers and a throw on the sofa. Today, I was properly cold for the first time, so I've been round and bled all the radiators and put the CH on.

It's blissfully cosy in here now

I can always turn it back off if it warms up, it's not like it's stuck on 'til the spring now.

Mrs_Thrify

I lit the coal fire this afternoon as it is a little chilly but have not put the CH on as that costs a lot more.

laurel7172

It was so cold this morning that when we went out I switched on the electric blanket (for our elderly and not-very-well cat).

The gas fire is on now. I'll be bleeding the radiators this weekend so we're ready to push a button when it's needed.

Muddles

Brilliant post Olliebeak :T

I have been poorly today with sore throat and shivering etc but I still worried about putting my heating on even though I was so cold. You do have to strike a balance as I am sure there will be coming days when I will not need it on. I have eaten a nice warm Chilli and feel cosy now but will not hesitate to put it on later if I feel its needed

steerpike

Put the CH on for the first time this autumn - just for an hour tonight to take the chill off as cold and wet in North Lincs tonight

Olliebeak

laurel7172 wrote: »

It was so cold this morning that when we went out I switched on the electric blanket (for our elderly and not-very-well cat).........

awwwwww a woman after my own heart! My dear departed (since April) Tiggy-tiger would, by now, have been lying by the cold radiators beseeching me to switch the heating on with that pathetic miaow that only very spoilt cats can do .

ktpie

Well said Olliebeak!

Switching the heating on to warm the place up a bit doesn't mean that you then have to have it on from then on. On ours we can put it on for an hour but so far the house has pretty much always warmed up before the hour is up so I switch it off again.
Personally I go for 15-16 degrees as getting on the chilly side and I'll think about switching it on or lighting the fire, I do have a toddler running about barefoot (as he keeps taking his socks off!) but that is what suits me.
The temperature here seems to have dropped suddenly so I've put the heating on twice and had the fire going all day, nice and toasty in our sitting room!

I was worried last winter as I was at home with a baby and thought our fuel bills would go through the roof, I used the central heating and gas fire when I needed them and actually the bills weren't much more, I think it helped that the house wasn't cooling down too much plus the thermostatic radiator valves probably helped.

missychrissy

I came in wet and miserable at 7pm tonight and switched on the heating cos I just could not get warm. I have 4 layers of clothes on so will turn it off as soon as I warm up. I've been for a pedicure so had to come home in sandals. I think the lack of footwear was probably what tipped me over the edge. I agree with you all, if the cold is making you miserable then WARM YOURSELF UP.