Does anyone here not have central heating and what do you use/how do you cope?

BitterAndTwisted

There's no poll-option for "I have central-heating but use it sparingly".

I had to endure the last few winters with the heating on for only one hour a day and it wasn't through choice. It was difficult but I had to see it as a personal challenge to keep warm just to stay sane. My choice was "heat or eat, or get into debt" and I chose the former.

I'm now more fortunate: I finally have a decently-paid job and my landlord has very recently installed double-glazing and I'm now counting my blessings every single day, believe me.

[Deleted User]

we have a wood pellet stove in the centre of the house and we have a heat retaining stone floor and a heat sink wall behind the stove. The stove heats the hot water and a large radiator in the utility room and puts heat into the open plan area in which it sits and that is it. The stove comes on at 6 am and off at 8 am, the house retains the heat all day as it has the most insulation you can get. The stove will be on more if it gets to freezing outside but so far so good. The only other regular heat source is a lakeland 60w towel rail which is on from 5am to 10pm, this is situated in the hall and the warmth keeps the core warm

The house hasn`t been below 20.4 since last winter as the sun is also our heat source

thriftymanc

Am I the only person that really doesn't like central heating?

When I'm in my own home in autumn/winter, I'll usually have a t-shirt or a long-sleeved top on with something over the top like a hoodie or a cardigan, and a thick pair of socks. That's usually enough. If it's particularly cold out I'll stick the electric portable heater on for a bit until it feels warm enough then turn it back off. Maybe my home is particularly well insulated, but having the heating on for about 15 minutes at a time is more than enough.

When I go round to visit people who have central heating like some of my family, I feel like I'm suffocating! It just feels stuffy and uncomfortable to me, and I hate that feeling of only wearing light clothes like a t-shirt and pyjama bottoms and not being able to take off a layer to cool down. Maybe it's a tolerance thing, people who live with the heating on constantly need more heat to feel warm - I just think it feels like a sauna, whereas to me my own relatively non-heated home doesn't feel cold, it just feels normal.

barbarawright

Me too, Thriftymanc, I can't bear waking up in a room that has been heated all night. I love the feeling of being toasty under a think duvet in a slightly chilly room. I'd never bother with heating in the morning (I'm not really around for very long) and manage fine with electric heaters in the evening. I know this isn't for everyone but surely few of us had central heating in our bedrooms as kids? And I would *never* have heating on unless I was wearing a jumper

MarilynMonroe_2

I didnt have central heating for the first 30 odd years of my life and coped fine. It's a luxury really.
I'll be honest my skin was better without it too, I find my skin goes dry with heating on.

MarilynMonroe_2

Just to add aslo my parents are in their mid 70's and have NEVER had central heating. They don't have double glazing either.

shegar

Ive got GCH in a well insulated bungalow with a real good boiler , DG.......I have it on if its cold and off if it get too warm.......

Also have a open fire in the sitting room which I light every night and then dont use the CH for the evenings.........................

I have no heating on in my bedroom and sleep with my small and big window open 24/7 365 , cant sleep shut up without fresh air, as long as the bed is warm and not damp its the best way to sleep, plus you dont get "bedroom smells" and no condensation..............

I agree with a lot of posters its dangerous to have days on end in the winter with health problems and very low inside temperature , but I also appreciate some people cant afford to have the heating on.............................I will do without so much that so that I can have my heating on.......................

pineapple

I have gas central heating and a solid fuel stove but I prefer the heat that the stove gives off. Maybe it's just that the heat is from a focal point. Anyway I try not to use the central heating much. They're quick enough to put the direct debits up - not so quick to put them down and I feel more in control buying a load of solid fuel as and when I can afford it/need it.
The lounge gets up to around 20 degrees on an evening and is 15-17 during the day.
It's cooler upstairs.