winter fuel allowance

[Deleted User]

part of ours has gone to dec.org. So heartbreaking seeing the phillipinos in so much distress

tesuhoha

We usually get £100 between us. Haven't received it yet. This year it will go towards the digital thermostat we have bought to switch the heating off at night and on in the mornings and keep the temperature down. The boiler is outside in the detached garage and the heating tends to get left on at night but we can't afford it.

The year before last we put it towards a gas fire in the living room so we could cut down on central heating and last year it was spent on insulation.

SallyG

"to switch the heating off at night and on in the mornings" - always a family discussion at this time of year - cheaper/uses less energy to keep the heat at a constant minimum level rather than let the house get clap cold overnight and start again next day?
Never found an answer.

margaretclare

SallyG wrote: »

"to switch the heating off at night and on in the mornings" - always a family discussion at this time of year - cheaper/uses less energy to keep the heat at a constant minimum level rather than let the house get clap cold overnight and start again next day?
Never found an answer.

Set the overnight temperature to 17 degrees C overnight and then to come on at a higher temperature at 6 am. That means the house never gets completely cold and it's warm by the time you want to get up, go into the bathroom etc. Remember that it's very very bad for older people to breathe in cold air during the night, especially if you have any sort of heart/circulation/chest/breathing problems. Same with babies.

penrhyn

17 overnight, good grief, 15 is plenty over night in case it gets very cold outside, 17 during the day an 19 in the evening.
Wear a fleece if you feel chilly.

ariba10

SallyG wrote: »

"to switch the heating off at night and on in the mornings" - always a family discussion at this time of year - cheaper/uses less energy to keep the heat at a constant minimum level rather than let the house get clap cold overnight and start again next day?
Never found an answer.

And is it cheaper to do that if you are away for a day, a week or even a month?

margaretclare

penrhyn wrote: »

17 overnight, good grief, 15 is plenty over night in case it gets very cold outside, 17 during the day an 19 in the evening.
Wear a fleece if you feel chilly.

As I explained, it's the cold air that you're breathing in that can cause problems/exacerbate pre-existing problems. It's the air indoors, not outdoors, that we're talking about. Even under our goose-down duvet we don't like cold air in the bedroom.

margaretclare

ariba10 wrote: »

And is it cheaper to do that if you are away for a day, a week or even a month?

Our system has a 'holiday' setting which means the heating just ticks over while we're away.

[Deleted User]

There is a chart with recommended temperatures for comfort and health

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5372296.stm

I grew up having adapted well to cold but things change as we get older and we do not have the ability to adapt to ambient temperatures as well as young adults. I make absolutely sure that the living area is at 21 degrees and the bedroom is at 18. You only need an episode of bronchitis to see the error of having a lower bedroom temperature. No excuse for any pensioner to have too low a temperature, that is what the winter fuel payment is for. Far too late to be regretful after a heart attack or stroke and there will be no warning

seven-day-weekend

Oh heck! We very rarely heat our bedrooms (except for the one that is used as a study/music room). The ones we sleep in are hardly ever heated. Occasionally if it is very cold outside I will heat them.

Surely it's not bad for healthy people, even if they are pensioners?