Electric underblankets vs using radiators in bedrooms

RelievedSheff

We currently live in a (4 year old) "new build". Even in the depths of winter on the coldest days with no heating on the house struggles to drop below 16-17 degrees.

We heat the whole house rather than some rooms and not others, if the heating is on it may as well be heating the whole property. The house is zoned and has separate timers and thermostats in each zone so that different rooms can be heated to differing degrees.

Our bedroom and en-suite are heated to 20 degrees for an hour or so in the evening while we get showered but then we turn the heating off in there to let it cool down overnight and provide a more comfortable sleeping temperature.

Fortunately this house (3 bed detached) really doesn't take much heating. Last year we used 5500kWh of gas and we are not stingy with the heating.

Chrysalis

Swipe said:

Chrysalis said:

With a proper quilt I dont see how an electric under blanket is needed, even when it was really cold last December and without heating, the one place I was never cold was under my quilt, sure if hands sticking out, but those would be same with electric blanket also.

When your bedroom stays below 13C for days on end the mattress can feel very cold when you first get in. An electric blanket on full whack for 10 mins while you are getting ready makes it feel very welcoming.

My room was under 7C for reference absolutely freezing.  Yes it isnt warm the moment you get it in, but is warm enough within 15 minutes.  I suppose if its only 10 minutes its not too bad, some people keep it on all night though.

ArbitraryRandom

I had a short period last winter when the boiler didn't work, so I used various other options including an electric over blanket at night on the bed (on top of a blanket, but under the duvet).

I'd say it worked well, but the only downside I'd highlight is a completely unheated house means you're breathing (at times very) cold air - I had a quite bad infection that I'd say was made worse (if not caused by) my throat/sinuses being dried out and getting irritated overnight. 

As soon as the boiler was fixed I returned to having the heating on all the time (as per others, ducking it lower overnight rather than off)

pseudodox

My electric underblanket has a very low setting opiion which means it can be left on whilst the bed is occupied.  I only ever used this on one occasion when I was ill & confined to bed in the daytime.  

From other beds I have slept in (friends, accomodation etc) I find many do not have much bedding between the mattress & the occupants.  Often just a sheet.  Back when I used to go camping it was always much warmer if you had more bedding underneath you than over.  So under me I have a fitted mattress cover, then an electric blanket, then a thick wool blanket & finally the pure cotton top sheet - on the coldest nights I pre-warm the bed for about 15-20 minutes (an initial cold bed gives me leg cramps) & with a down duvet am never cold.  I never have any heating on anywhere in the house overnight & could not sleep in a heated bedroom for sure.  My mother had heating on 24/7 in her later years even in the spare room where I stayed & the first thing I did on arrival was turn off that radiator.