Best way to run the heating/keep warm this winter?

davemorton

ka7e said:

One of the reasons I moved out of a Victorian semi was the fact that we were heating 5' of air above our heads! I wonder if a ceiling fan would recirculate hot air down from the ceiling to the usable living space? I only wash clothes on days when they can have a spell of line-drying, then have a large airer in front of a south-facing window which has a radiator in front of it - I keep a window open a little to avoid condensation. Maybe you have room for an old-fashioned pulley ceiling airer? I too, have bought heated throws and warm slippers for this winter and an electric blanket on the bed means bedrooms need little heating.

Just been looking at these.  Got a shock at how expensive they were. 

Alderbank

Ant555 said:

Although not strictly an answer to your question on how to keep the house warm, im definitely going to be using some of my winter running gear when in the house - I have several base layers similar to this link here (£6 at decathlon) - they are remarkably effective at keeping you warm as I used them last winter when working from home.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-ski-base-layer-top-bl-100/_/R-p-302821?mc=8510029&c=GREY

Ive no idea what we will do if its really cold apart from wear more clothes to compensate for using the heating less or use throws when sat watching TV  - in all likelihood during the working week, I will probably just go to bed a lot earlier.

I'm sure Ant555 will agree that going for a run itself also warms you up massively. A short run (10-15 min) raises your body metabolism for several hours.

My local Council leisure centre is expensive for single visits but great value as a monthly contract. I will be there more often on cold days next winter for a swim, warm workout and a long hot shower.

plumb1_2

Ant555 said:

Although not strictly an answer to your question on how to keep the house warm, im definitely going to be using some of my winter running gear when in the house - I have several base layers similar to this link here (£6 at decathlon) - they are remarkably effective at keeping you warm as I used them last winter when working from home.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-ski-base-layer-top-bl-100/_/R-p-302821?mc=8510029&c=GREY

Ive no idea what we will do if its really cold apart from wear more clothes to compensate for using the heating less or use throws when sat watching TV  - in all likelihood during the working week, I will probably just go to bed a lot earlier.

I’ll still be wearing my shorts.

Eldi_Dos

Alderbank said:

Ant555 said:

Although not strictly an answer to your question on how to keep the house warm, im definitely going to be using some of my winter running gear when in the house - I have several base layers similar to this link here (£6 at decathlon) - they are remarkably effective at keeping you warm as I used them last winter when working from home.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-ski-base-layer-top-bl-100/_/R-p-302821?mc=8510029&c=GREY

Ive no idea what we will do if its really cold apart from wear more clothes to compensate for using the heating less or use throws when sat watching TV  - in all likelihood during the working week, I will probably just go to bed a lot earlier.

I'm sure Ant555 will agree that going for a run itself also warms you up massively. A short run (10-15 min) raises your body metabolism for several hours.

My local Council leisure centre is expensive for single visits but great value as a monthly contract. I will be there more often on cold days next winter for a swim, warm workout and a long hot shower.

Got a feeling a lot of centres will be on restricted hours over the winter.

Bigphil1474

There's 2 of us in our house (both adults). In the winter, we run our heating for 1 hour in the morning around getting up time, and for 1 hour in the evening. We turn all the radiators in the unused room down to the minimum. We have blinds on the living room window with secondary curtains across the bay. The curtains make a huge difference.

When we're settling down in the living room after dinner, we'll have a blanket each, be dressed appropriately, and stay warm until bed time. The bedroom is often cold when getting into bed, but we soon warm up once we're in. We can't really reduce heating use much more than that.

Obviously different with kids, but for me the main thing is to wear winter clothes in winter. If someone is walking round in a t-shirt and complaining it's cold in the middle of winter in our house, they get no sympathy.
We also eat in the kitchen, which is good in the winter as the heat from cooking usually warms up the kitchen quite well. 

Heating is usually turned off altogether from 1st April until 30th September, weather depending.

kdotdotdotdot

Alderbank said:

Ant555 said:

Although not strictly an answer to your question on how to keep the house warm, im definitely going to be using some of my winter running gear when in the house - I have several base layers similar to this link here (£6 at decathlon) - they are remarkably effective at keeping you warm as I used them last winter when working from home.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-ski-base-layer-top-bl-100/_/R-p-302821?mc=8510029&c=GREY

Ive no idea what we will do if its really cold apart from wear more clothes to compensate for using the heating less or use throws when sat watching TV  - in all likelihood during the working week, I will probably just go to bed a lot earlier.

 I will be there more often on cold days next winter for a swim, warm workout and a long hot shower.

I've also been trying to do the calculations, whether the £30 a month comes to more than what I would pay if I were to shower and wash my hair at home three or four times a week.  Although I came to the conclusion that I'm probably not saving money, what I couldn't come up with a number for, was the value of the exercise I was getting.

Bendy_House

SameOldRoundabout said:

As we all know, we’re heading into a huge energy crisis. The cost of energy this winter is horrifying. 

This couldn’t have come at a worse time for me, I’ve been off work with a critical illness since June and although I will be back soon it will be on a very part time basis for the rest of the year and the pay will be low. 

I have been trying to think of ways to keep us warm (2 adults 4 children) in a “warm the body not the room” way so have a few heated throws, warm pyjamas, hot water bottles etc. But I will have to also use the heating! Our house is a 3 storey solid stone Victorian end of terrace. 

We have replaced the double glazing throughout but there is no further interior or exterior insulation other than in the attic. Last winter when the heating broke the house dipped down to about 13° which was bitterly cold. We don’t have the cash to add any more insulation this year. 

Any top tips for a way to use the heating to keep the house bearable but not over-use? We currently have a Nest set to not let it dip below 17° but this averaged about 3/4 hours a day of heating time last year which seems unaffordable this year! 

All of us will be in a similar position I suppose, so even just general energy saving tips to keep warm! 

Hi SOR.

4 children? Do they need - want - their own rooms in the evening?! If so, you are stuffed. If they can be persuaded to share the main living area(s) with you, for the sake of the family's financial health - and social cohesion - then that will help a lot. Consider some family 'parlour' games as a routine for part of the evenings. Tippit! is a hoot. Werewolf ditto.

Cheap - or little cost - things folk can do:

1) Cut down draughts. If your windows are old and draughty, then you can fit temp poly sheet to the insides. Doors - place a draught-excluder along the bottom edge at least. Try and keep that main living area as easy to heat as possible.

2) If you set the main living area temp to, say, 18oC, it'll feel cool, but no-one should freeze. It's then up to each individual to clothe themselves appropriately. I like the previous link to that ski gear - very affordable, presumably effective, and not constraining - so no-one should complain. Feet! Don't let them get cold! Get some fleecy blankets, and snuggle under them when watching tele.

2) More draughts - if, with the door to the room closed, it still feels draughty, then you may need to seal around the floor perimeter under the skirting (if you have a suspended floor with a void underneath). Cheap frame sealant will do this, but it'll be a pain to get to - eg pulling away carpets and stuff.

3) Any room that is not absolutely required at all over winter, then shut the radiator off fully (or to 'frost'), open the windows to 'vent' setting, and close the doors. They'll be fine. They won't go musty or mouldy as they'll be ventilated - that's the important part. But don't leave them open to the rest of the house, or moist air will go in there and then possibly cause problems. 'Cold and draughty' is ideal for them.

4) Bedrooms. If you can manage fully without heating, then great - turn the rads down to 'frost'. Just fit decent quality elec blankets, and these can be even left on overnight (on a low setting) if really needed. Ideally, the duvets/blankets should be enough once they are snuggled under. Modern leccy blankets warm up in a half-hour, so that's all they need before retiring. If folk moan too much, then have the bedroom rads come on a half-hour before they wake up, and then off once they should be up - they can do star-jumps as they brush their teeth (and so can you :-)  As before, if you don't heat the bedrooms, have the windows on vent setting overnight, and for an hour or so after being vacated, so that you don't have 'sweaty' window panes. It might seem counter-intuitive having the bedroom 'colder' by having the windows cracked open, but this will keep them DRY, which is VERY important.

5) Drying clothes. If you do have an 'unused' room as mentioned before, then you can set up your clothes horse in there, open the windows as wide a possible, and shut the door. Obviously, with rads off. A day should have them largely dry, and then finish them off in a warmer place. Keep the windows in that room on 'vent' afterwards, as they should be when left unused anyway. Clothes do not have to be warmed to dry - they just need fresh moving air, as if they were outside. You also shouldn't have any damp problems as a result (unless, I guess, you do a shed-load each day...)

Apodemus

Bendy, I was with you up until that last one!  I'm not sure where you live, but there is no way clothes would dry in our house in a day in an unheated room in winter, with the windows open!  They wouldn't dry outdoors in a day under these conditions either! 

Over the last couple of weeks our outdoor humidity levels have been in the 90% range over night, dropping to mid 60's during the day and with a light breeze. Most times, laundry hasn't been quite dry by evening and we tend to bring it in to hang up in the house overnight. Left outside, it would be damper in the morning and need a second day to finally dry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of air-drying clothes - we've not used a tumble drier in the last 20 years!  I just wish that properties in UK had covered drying areas outside, to keep light rain and dew off the clothes so that they could be left out for the required length of time!

Bendy_House

Apodemus said:

Bendy, I was with you up until that last one!  I'm not sure where you live, but there is no way clothes would dry in our house in a day in an unheated room in winter, with the windows open!  They wouldn't dry outdoors in a day under these conditions either! 

Over the last couple of weeks our outdoor humidity levels have been in the 90% range over night, dropping to mid 60's during the day and with a light breeze. Most times, laundry hasn't been quite dry by evening and we tend to bring it in to hang up in the house overnight. Left outside, it would be damper in the morning and need a second day to finally dry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of air-drying clothes - we've not used a tumble drier in the last 20 years!  I just wish that properties in UK had covered drying areas outside, to keep light rain and dew off the clothes so that they could be left out for the required length of time!

Yes, it won't always work effectively, but I just mean it should at least shift the majority of the dampness, at literally zero cost, and - more importantly - at no risk of harm to the fabric of the house (unlike folk who drape wet clothes on their rads in their unaeriated living areas - who'll end up with dewy windows, and worse).

An unheated room with the windows wide open is, effectively, a covered 'outside' drying area.

Once the bulk has been removed, then finish them off in a TD or in a warm area.

knightstyle

The best, most economical way to save money is to insulate, double what insulation you have and do something about draughts.  Use a smoking incense stick to find draughts and hang a thick curtain inside the front and back doors.
We once had an old window on the stairs and no money to replace it so I put a piece of insulated plaster board on it, cut out the light but made a big difference.
Always remember a perfectly insulated house will need no heating.