Electric blanket

lostinrates

vervin wrote: »

Put a duvet under your bottom sheet ,that keeps lots and lots of heat in . A cheep one from Asda will do the job

I did that last year UNDER the electric blanket

Duvet, electric blanket sheet (sometime fleece directly above and below if it were really cold) top sheet, two cellular blankets, two, sometimes three duvets,:o. All very light (heaviness is the enemy, as it squashes out pockets of insulating warmed up air)

Dh says its so e princess and the pea type thing going on.

I know it's milder than I think it is this year as I still only have the cellular blankets and one duvet on the bed, and a lighter one to pull up if chilly.:D

Ms_Chocaholic

Hope this helps

How do electric blankets work?

Electric blankets are fitted with a series of thin electrical wires that heat up your bed when they're plugged into your mains electricity supply - either before you retire to bed, or throughout the night while you're sleeping.

How hot do electric blankets get?

All electric blankets we’ve tested have at least two different heat settings, while a few blankets have as many as nine. Their minimum temperatures tend to be around 25°C (the lowest is 18°C) while the average maximum temperature is around 48°C (the highest is 56°C).

Are electric blankets expensive to run?

No. Using the most energy-efficient blanket in our test for two hours a day, every day for half a year at its maximum setting would cost just £2.19. The least efficient blanket would cost almost three times as much to run for that amount of time, but is still very cheap at £5.93.

Would I be better off with a hot water bottle?

Using an electric blanket for one hour, on maximum heat, takes the same energy as boiling one litre of water in a kettle. So using an electric blanket for two hours is as energy-efficient as using a two litre hot water bottle.

How often should I replace my electric blanket?

According to the Electrical Safety Council, you should think about replacing your electric blanket at least every 10 years. It’s important to get your blanket checked to make sure it’s still safe to use – ideally this should be done once a year.

Can I use an electric blanket if I have a memory foam mattress?

Yes - there are no known safety issues with using the two together. Some mattress manufacturers say that electric blankets should not be used with memory foam as the memory foam won't be able to mould to your body in the same way, because the blanket will act as a 'barrier' between your body and the memory foam - it will likely make the memory foam much less comfortable.

Other manufacturers say that it's fine to use the two together, as long as the electric blanket is always be put on top of the foam with a sheet or cover in between the foam and the blanket, and is not be left on all night (though we wouldn't advise this in any circumstances). Several manufacturers do warn that over time, the heat from the blanket does have the potential to damage the memory foam.

bluebag

I was given a fabulous super fast heating one as a gift. It warms the bed in 10 mins but the cost of buying it made me nearly faint.

I don't have dual control as on our last EB the OH always said he's warm enough and doesn't want it on, then scoots over to the warm side and I have to try and sleep in a mere 4 inches of the bed, clinging on for dear life. I just heat the whole bed now!

quintwins

bluebag wrote: »

I was given a fabulous super fast heating one as a gift. It warms the bed in 10 mins but the cost of buying it made me nearly faint.

I don't have dual control as on our last EB the OH always said he's warm enough and doesn't want it on, then scoots over to the warm side and I have to try and sleep in a mere 4 inches of the bed, clinging on for dear life. I just heat the whole bed now!

See we need ual controls because i like to sleep in jammies and oh doesn't so he has his on longer than me and even sometimes puts it on if he gets out of bed at night, where as if i was asleep and he put the whole bed on i'd wake if i was too hot and couldn't get back to sleep

jessie15

Which is the best an under or over blanket? I have never had an overblanket before.

quintwins

jessie15 wrote: »

Which is the best an under or over blanket? I have never had an overblanket before.

i prefer and underblanket, my granny has both, she uses her overblanket all night on low and her underblanket to waem her be, she has arthritis tho.

zippychick

As this has dropped down the OS board, and is electricity related, I've moved it to the utilities board for you

Zip

Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

rogerblack

I would exercise extreme caution when purchasing on ebay and similar.

Most sellers will be selling reliable product.
However, finding which aren't could be an illuminating experience.
(in a sort of orangy red and flickery sort of way.)

Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/ELECTRIC+BLANKET.htm have a number of inexpensive blankets, as do other high-street vendors that are likely to have actually had someone look at the design to see it's safe. Even if only in a cursory manner, and offer a warranty if it dies in 6 months.

I'm using one similar to http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4500489.htm - which works very well for me.

I sleep with it on '2' most of the night, which uses only 30W (.24kWh, 3pish). Then when alarm goes off, click it up to '3' - and go back to sleep.
Soon wake up a bit hot, which makes getting out of bed into the underheated room very pleasant, and not a horror.

schrodie

Hardupandfedup wrote: »

I hate getting in to a cold bed, how much does a electric under blanket cost to use?

Just see what the Wattage of the blanket is then do the maths.

WestonDave

I would second the comments about buying second hand and getting them regularly checked. Every year our council does a free safety testing service with the local fire brigade - the number which fail (even allowing for them being extra cautious) is alarming!