Is your heating ON or OFF?

euronorris

Still OFF here. It's been too hot since the weekend. A little bit of warmth, and sunshine, and our apartment seems to become an oven! We keep the windows open as long as possible, but as the sun falls, we have to close them as the mossies all come in and eat us alive otherwise (they got me on Sunday night, and feasted on OH on Monday night).

Still, at least the office keeps us cool with it's overuse of the air co system! Too hot at home, but have to wear extra layers to stay warm at work!

Experiencing extremes in temps either way, isn't particularly nice. If we could just even ourselves out, that'd be great!

I do love the apartment for other reasons, but it's a nightmare in the summer and I don't think there is anything that could be done, other than installing a proper air co unit. We have a small 'portable' one, but it only cools one room at a time.

lostinrates

euronorris wrote: »

Still OFF here. It's been too hot since the weekend. A little bit of warmth, and sunshine, and our apartment seems to become an oven! We keep the windows open as long as possible, but as the sun falls, we have to close them as the mossies all come in and eat us alive otherwise (they got me on Sunday night, and feasted on OH on Monday night).

Still, at least the office keeps us cool with it's overuse of the air co system! Too hot at home, but have to wear extra layers to stay warm at work!

Experiencing extremes in temps either way, isn't particularly nice. If we could just even ourselves out, that'd be great!

I do love the apartment for other reasons, but it's a nightmare in the summer and I don't think there is anything that could be done, other than installing a proper air co unit. We have a small 'portable' one, but it only cools one room at a time.

could you get some cheap net/sheer fabric and pin over the windows as a mosquito netting? It might not be funky but better than being eaten! As a child I was used to screen doors, and frankly, feel like getting them in UK now. Too many flying nasties.

euronorris

lostinrates wrote: »

could you get some cheap net/sheer fabric and pin over the windows as a mosquito netting? It might not be funky but better than being eaten! As a child I was used to screen doors, and frankly, feel like getting them in UK now. Too many flying nasties.

I think that is well worth looking into. We have sprays and stuff, that do work, but we don't particularly want to cover ourselves in the chemicals all the time. Especially when they come with warnings about too much skin contact! :eek:

Anything to avoid being bitten, and the reaction I get to the bites. I could stop relying on the antihistamines then!

After seeing some 'vampires' in Minnesota, on the Dog Whisperer this week, I have decided I am never going there!

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

Agreeing with the posters who are still cold. Here it was 14c at the warmest part of the day yesterday and 10c the day before that. We had slight frost this morning. I'm in the south of Scotland but I'm high up. Temps vary wildly throughout the country - so please dont think that people who have their heating on are all wimps

Would I say your a wimp mardather!!:eek:......We know how your weather is up north my girl, If it were me id have to have that heating on if it dropped to anything under 15.................I love my fresh air, but if im watching tv of a night I refuse to sit cold...........

Its been 24.5 degrees today with brilliant sunshine today , said to hit 28 Fri Sat and Sun.....................:D

oldtractor

still off here.

Glitzer

I can't remember the last time we had the heating on for the purposes of heat, we have had to turn on a few times to dry clothes as we live in a small flat, no TD and on the dull days washing doesn't dry on the line.

Our flat must be very well insulated, last year I don't think it went on until November.

On the subject of GCH, is it better to set the thermostat at a fixed temperature (say 18) or turn if OFF then blast it up for 20 minutes or so when you get cold, then off and repeat. This is something DH and I argue about every year.

Keith

Heating on? I came home in shorts and a t-shirt tonight!

euronorris

Glitzer wrote: »

I can't remember the last time we had the heating on for the purposes of heat, we have had to turn on a few times to dry clothes as we live in a small flat, no TD and on the dull days washing doesn't dry on the line.

Our flat must be very well insulated, last year I don't think it went on until November.

On the subject of GCH, is it better to set the thermostat at a fixed temperature (say 18) or turn if OFF then blast it up for 20 minutes or so when you get cold, then off and repeat. This is something DH and I argue about every year.

Better from what perspective? In being warm, or saving money/energy?

If it's the latter, then it is better to just turn it on for 20 minutes or so when cold (unless there is a risk of the pipes freezing). It is a myth that keeping the heating on a low heat continually uses less energy than just popping it on for an hour or so when required.

Justamum

euronorris wrote: »

It is a myth that keeping the heating on a low heat continually uses less energy than just popping it on for an hour or so when required.

As I and others on this thread have actually monitored this, I would beg to differ.

Sunnyday

The leaving the heating on low or switching on and off as needed is hugely dependant on many factors.

The type & construction of the house, how insulated it is, the type of boiler, the direction that the house faces as well as the area are just a few things that spring to mind.

Some old stone houses with no cavity walls take ages to warm up and keep that way. Mine is one that gets the heating switched on in winter and the thermostat turned to a comfy level and then just left alone until spring.

Far cheaper for us, it did take us a while to work out when we moved in and our gas usage is low, it rocketed when we switched it on and off.

Just work out what uses less fuel for you by monitoring it but it will probably take a while.

HTH

SD