Is your heating ON or OFF?

Caterina

We must have spent a fair whack on having it on during the night, but we kept it (at minimum heat) during the night to prevent pipes from freezing and to keep the house minimally heated. It takes more energy to heat a space from freezing cold than to keep it on fairly low regularly.

We increased the heat on demand, manually because we do not have the central controls (antiquated system but while it works we do not want to change it).

Thank you for all your ideas and comments, it will be interesting to see how it goes after 1st March!

kingston_2730

Hi. I'm in N.Ireland and we have over a foot of snow here at the minute and no sign of it melting either. Just one question, how do you all heat your water if you turn the oil off?

Caterina

We have a combi boiler, the hot water is heated on demand, we could have the heating off but the boiler would still switch on when we open the hot water taps (hope it is clear, I am afraid I am not very plumbing-savvy in my explanation!).

closed

Caterina wrote: »

It takes more energy to heat a space from freezing cold than to keep it on fairly low regularly.

That's a myth.

Caterina

closed wrote: »

That's a myth.

OK, thanks for the info, will take it into account .

Edited to say: I consulted with DH who is an environmental architect and he says that it is not always the case - it is correct if the weather is freezing outside but it depends on too many variations to make it as an absolute statement (my apologies for doing so!), for example he pointed out that now (in London weather) it is better to have it switched off in the night, which suits me fine!

I have to add that in my bedroom the thermostat is switched off because I hate central heating where I sleep and I have had very cold (for other people) nights, but with a nice couple of thick quilts and hot water bottle it has never bothered me!

freakyogre

You've just reminded me actually to turn my timer off in the mornings. It's a bit pointless keeping it on as by the time i've leapt out of bed and am in the shower, it doesn't matter how cold it is! I still have it set for an hour and a half in the evenings, but will see how the weather is. I don't put it on during the day at weekends at all as i'm either out, or warm myself up by hoovering

I was pleasantly surprised by my gas bill last month, so i'm not bothered if I need to keep it on for a bit longer. I refuse to sit here shivering.

closed

Caterina wrote: »

Edited to say: I consulted with DH who is an environmental architect and he says that it is not always the case - it is correct if the weather is freezing outside but it depends on too many variations to make it as an absolute statement

Laws of thermodynamics are absolute.

missychrissy

I'm similar to esmerellda in that I switch off on march 1st and turn on again on Nov 1st. However, I switch on when I have visitors as most people find my house cold and when I am babysitting my grandson. I think I am used to the colder temps now.

I work nights and put my heating on for an hour when I get home in the morning and then again in the evening for about 1 to 2 hours before I go to work. I get up usually about 4 in the afternoon and walk the dog. I find that after being outside for approx 45 mins walking the dog that my house feels warm, despite no heating on, and I can delay switching on.

I note the temp in my kitchen when I get home in the mornings - it was 9.4 today, colder than usual, normally between 10 and 12 despite no heating overnight. I wear thermals and extra layers when it's cold and find that cuts down on the need for heating. I can switch off on Mar 1st knowing that things will only get better. I have lots of throws around and can wrap up when necessary. I get a strange kind of pleasure in keeping my gas and electric usage to a minimum and not increasing the utility company's profits. I would love an open fire or wood burning stove and then I could decrease my usage even further as I see lots of 'free' wood when I am walking the dog. I live in a modern house so well insulated.

I grew up in the 50s when there was no central heating and winters were much colder. I can remember waking up in the morning with ice on the inside of the windows, no double glazing in those days. We were very familiar with hot water bottles (I now often use a wheat bag instead) and I remember the luxury of a heated underblanket in the early 60s. I am very tempted to invest in one now but I have managed so far with a 13.5 tog quilt on the bottom of my bed as well as the top.

Glamazon

My heating is only set for 2am-3am and 5.30am - 7.30am - LO's bedroom drops down to about 13 degrees at night and he was waking up because he was cold hence the early hours one. The other is so it's warm when everyone gets up and showered.

The rest of the day the gas fire goes on in the living room as that's where everyone is and the heating goes on if it's cold. It's been going on from 6pm to 10pm but will reduce this as it starts getting warmer.

Last quarters gas bill was £60 cheaper than the same quarter last year so I don't mind it being on so much

boliston

I've always wondered why people bother having the heating come on in the morning as the shower will heat you pretty rapidly and if you blow dry your hair then that will get things warmed up once you are out of the shower. I sometimes put it on for a few minutes while I sit down for breakfast if it's really chilly.