Help! My home is freezing cold

greenbee

First of all, ignore what the thermostat says and get a thermometer. What temperature is each room actually at, and what temperature is it right next to the thermostat? Sometimes they are wrong.

You need to work out what temperature the thermostat needs to be on to get each room to the temperature you want it to be on. For example, because my upstairs thermostat is in a warm spot on the landing where all the pipes run, next to the airing cupboard, it needs to be on 20C to get the bedrooms to 18C. However, the hall is cold, so the hall thermostat is on 17-19 most of the time, depending on what temperature I want the other rooms on. I adjust the radiator valves relative to this one to get the temperatures I need (hall radiator is on low to keep the hall cool, landing one is off because it isn't needed; office rad is on high, bathroom is medium, ensuite is high, loo is low, dining room is high, utility is low, sitting room varies depending whether the stove is being used).

It takes time and quite a bit of effort to get your heating to work effectively. You need the radiators to be sludge and air free, and correctly balanced as well as working out how they work in relation to each other so you get the heat where you need it.

I spent the weekend with a friend who works on historic buildings and she was talking about the fact that there is data that shows that interlined curtains & blinds are about as effective as double glazing (in old buildings), but have to be used properly - raised and lowered to make the most of the sun and cut out the cold. Her blinds are very thick and you can feel the temperature difference as you raise them!

Siebrie

I was going to recommend ankle slippers - they are such a difference! Thick soles and warm ankles - lovely!

How warm is the water in your hot water system? We have our system tested annualy, and the guy has actually lowered the main water temperature, because it was set too high for our needs. Maybe yours can be set to a higher temp?

When I had to live with single glazed windows, I added temporary insulation: doublesided sticky tape on the woodwork around the glass, thin plastic wrap stuck to that. Leave for 24 hours, then heat with a hairdryer so it tightens up. Worked a treat and nearly invisible (until my nieces came and poked holes in it!). You can buy sets; I bought mine at Ald1. I see h0mebas3 also sells kits: Stormguard Conservatory Secondary Glazing Film Draught Excluder (now on sale at b&q for GBP 3.50...). for your doors: Diall Foam & PVC Covering Self Adhesive Draught Excluder, (L)914mm (just GBP 3.61 at b&q. Also in silver for GBP 5.15).


Do you have outside walls? If so, see if you can hang some sort of fabric against that wall. Even if it is just behind the sofa, it will prevent the cold air 'falling' on you.

VfM4meplse

Siebrie wrote: »

How warm is the water in your hot water system? We have our system tested annualy, and the guy has actually lowered the main water temperature, because it was set too high for our needs. Maybe yours can be set to a higher temp

The water is on high - unfortunately it was only by raising this that I realised that one of the power showers wasn't heating properly, but that's a different story!

The windows are double glazed and pass the "Everest test" (I used a 2-ply tissue).

I am a bit confused about allowing anything - including thick curtains - to rest against external walls. Do they not contribute to damp?

suki1964

Your windows may have passed the Everest test, as in no droughts , but not all double glazing is equal. We replaced our not very old DG with A+ pilkington glass and our house does feel warmer then it used to, and I have a lot of Windows plus patio doors

We also upgraded our loft insulation, a very cheap job in the grand scheme of things

Curtains won't cause damp as long as you have an air flow in the room. Opening them and closing them at the right times will help keep the rooms warm, close them at sunset and open as you leave the house in the morning If you have trickle vents on the Windows, open those, if not, on the mornings you are home, open a few Windows for a while, air the house

If you don't get home till after dark, leave the curtains closed , sod the neighbours

Lighting candles in the room you are sitting in in the evening help bring up the room temp believe it or not. Even half a dozen tea lights in a biscuit tin will work

I'm sat here with mr Suki on the sofa and he feels the cold more then me so he's snuggled under a furry throw. When the fire dies, I'll probably snuggle under as well ( I don't put the central heating on in the lounge or bedrooms, always light the stove)

lil_me

Gosh I would be cooked, my heating comes on at about 16, if it’s when we shower etc and it’s very cold we’ll increase for a short while. That’s on an hour morning, tea time and late evening.

Thanks greenbee for all that info I’m going to still have a look at ours

I would definitely be keeping curtains closed more to keep heat in
Rugs if you don’t want to change flooring
Soft throws on the sofas

Siebrie

I think it would be alright for a while; it's just for this winter, right? If you have some light fabric (a nice sheet, or a sari, or something like that) it will stop the draught, but not trap the damp. Then you remove it when the temperature goes up, and sort out the problem over summer

VfM4meplse

I have just had the daftest epiphany: part of the reason the house is so cold is that the doors are ancient and not energy efficient! It makes sense when I think of which areas get warm and which stay freezing.

I'd intended to replace the front and side doors anyway but have found it a mind-numbingly boring task, and also knew it would be costly. The sooner I do it, the better!

[Deleted User]

For a longer term solution I have used insulated wallpaper - this one does the trick applied to exterior walls https://www.gowallpaper.co.uk/saarpor-graphite-insulating-lining-paper-single.html. Its supposed to be like having another layer of concrete blocks on the wall. I've got to say I was very impressed.

You can paint it or wallpaper over it. Made an instant difference to a room that was much much colder than other rooms.

VfM4meplse

deannatrois wrote: »

For a longer term solution I have used insulated wallpaper - this one does the trick applied to exterior walls https://www.gowallpaper.co.uk/saarpor-graphite-insulating-lining-paper-single.html. Its supposed to be like having another layer of concrete blocks on the wall. I've got to say I was very impressed.

You can paint it or wallpaper over it. Made an instant difference to a room that was much much colder than other rooms.

I shall do this. Just as soon as I have the damp fixed, this will be next in line

The rate-limiting step is of course money...

Floss

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I have just had the daftest epiphany: part of the reason the house is so cold is that the doors are ancient and not energy efficient! It makes sense when I think of which areas get warm and which stay freezing.

I'd intended to replace the front and side doors anyway but have found it a mind-numbingly boring task, and also knew it would be costly. The sooner I do it, the better!

Make draught excluders from rolled-up cheap fleecy throws - ike@, asd@, the r@nge all have them for a few quid each. Then when the doors are replaced, use them as throws