When do you turn your heating on?

Peter333

The_Green_Hornet wrote: »

Central heating system is on 24/7/365.

Front room thermostat is set to 20c from 07:00 to 23:00 and to 10c outside those hours, and when on vacation. All other rooms (except bathroom) have thermostatic radiator valves to maintain a slightly lower temperature.

I'm all for money saving but see no need to sit in a cold house.

This ^^^

we have had the heating on in June before if it's been cold, and then can go the whole of September without having it on. Then it can be on for a whole week in early November, then off til early December. There's no actual rule in our house. If it's cold the heating is on, if it's warm it's off; no matter what time of year it is.

We don't smoke, we rarely buy booze, we don't have Sky TV, we rarely buy clothes, and we have worked hard all our lives, and if we want to spoil ourselves with a bit of heat, we will. Similarly with food; we spend about £70 a week, (2 adults,) where some people claim they only spend £20 a week. But as we don't squander on anything else, we will splash out on food we like!

stan5001

Cardew wrote: »

Where is the thermostat situated that is set to 19C?

Surely 19c is not warm enough for most people to sit and read or watch TV?

However a thermostat in, say, the hall set to 19C might well produce 21C or more in the living room.

Living room, comfortable enough for us. I love the heat if it's hot outside in the 30s but central heating is too stuffy if it's on high. But then we wear jumpers rather than tshirts.

newuser78

I live in a flat in central London so no heating turned on yet. I am typing this as I wear a t-shirt. Although a bit chilly outside after work!

Lots of hot home cooked soup ahead just in case!

bobstheboy

Very interesting reading the comments.

I can remember in the 50's 60's and 70's being cold in the morning having to get up for work before the fire was lit, no central heating and being ***** cold !!

When central heating was available I swore I would never be cold again in my house. I made the mistake one winter of switching off the heating whilst we were on holiday. We returned on a January evening to a freezing house which took two days recover ! Never again, when we go away now the heating is left on with the thermostat set at 16c for the days we will not be returning on and the day we are returning on is set for 20c, works great.

st999

Surely 19c is not warm enough for most people to sit and read or watch TV?

I have a thermostat that displays the temperature and is set at 20.5 deg C, I also have a digital thermometer that sits on top of the thermostat that reads 22 deg C.

I also have another thermometer in the room that shows 19 deg C.

What is the temperature of my room?

I just set the thermostat to the temperature that I am comfortable with regardless of the reading.

lisa110rry

24C - top range of comfort
21C - recommended living room temperature
Less than 20C - death risk begins
18C - recommended bedroom temperature
16C - resistance to respiratory diseases weakened
12C - more than two hours at this temperature raises blood pressure and increases heart attack and stroke risk
5C - Significant risk of hypothermia

Source: West Midlands Public Health Observatory

The foregoing was posted as part of a previous post. My husband would love to have the house heated to 24 degrees and would not be uncomfortable in the slightest, whereas I would find it difficult to breathe. Whilst I was away I put the heating on 20 from 06.30 to 22.00 daily, but he still had the gas fire on.

The gas fire, by the way, is simply beautiful and people have been known to throw things into it, thinking it is a real fire. The gas engineer says it costs an arm and a leg, but it is truly a thing of beauty. Will try to post a picture.

lisa110rry

Gizmo247

I find a 20c still too warm and have my thermostat set to 19c in the main living area and 17c in bedrooms at night.

To go back to the original question, I have a Honeywell Evohome so every room is a separate zone with a 24/7 set point profile, so any room can decide to trigger the heating. However to avoid using the heating in marginal weather, in true MSE fashion I set the "Economy" mode on in the Spring (decreases all set points by 2c) and then wait for my body to go "oh - it's a bit cold" before turn the "Economy" mode off when approaching winter.

The_Green_Hornet

Far be it for me to disagree with the West Midlands Public Health Observatory but the NHS has the following advice for keeping your home warm:

• If you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition such as heart or lung disease, you should heat your home to at least 18C. It's a good idea to keep your bedroom at this temperature all night if you can. During the day you may prefer your living room to be slightly warmer. Make sure you wear enough clothes to stay warm.
• If you're under 65 and healthy and active, you can safely have your house cooler than 18C, if you're comfortable.
• You can also use a hot water bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same time) to keep warm while you're in bed.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx

wilsysir

Not put the heating on yet we have been using candles and just cosying in under a duvet in the living room.
We like to be cold at night when were sleeping so it makes sense to only heat one room in the evening and a cheap easy and even romantic way is just to light plenty of candles and cosy up on the sofa.
meant to say were in very chilly central Scotland where its always cold