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AIBU?

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Original poster

It's a heating one I'm afraid!

33 replies

zingally · 21/11/2024 10:41

We've recently moved to a new house. A late 60s, dormer style, 3-bed semi. It's lovely, we love it. But we've come from a more modern mid-floor flat.

In the flat, even with the heating off, I never knew it fall below 15C inside, even in the most bitter of winters.

But in this short cold snap, we've been coming home from work about 4pm, the house is 12-13C and feels absolutely baltic. I turned the heating on as soon as I got in yesterday, and it was almost 9pm before it hit 18.5C.

This morning I suggested leaving the heating on while we're out all day, at maybe 15C, just to keep the edge off, then we can give it a boost once home? But DH told me I was mad! I'd be just throwing money down the drain, heating a house with no one in it!

I confess, having lived in a flat for donkeys years, I'm not that well-versed in how to run the heating, but I thought that was a reasonable suggestion...? But DH looked at me like I'd genuinely gone mad!

Some days I'm home by 4pm, other days it's closer to 6pm. DH usually gets in just after 6.

Who is right? Me who thinks keep it ticking over low, or DH who thinks completely off and then turn it on once home?

OP posts:
Minikievs · 21/11/2024 10:57

My house sounds very similar to yours. Early 70s 3 bed semi.
My old house was a relatively new build, and small, with the hot water tank in the airing cupboard and it was always toasty.
Current house is bloody freezing. I tried last Xmas while we were all off school/work, to do what you were suggesting, and keep it on low. It cost me an absolute bloody fortune!
So now we are back to timed (6-8.30am and 6.30-9.30pm)
It's set to 19 but literally never reaches it. 18.5 is the highest it'll go in that time.

longapple · 21/11/2024 10:56

The reason it didn't get as cold in your flat was probably because the people above and below you had their heating on.
Most boilers have a timer, get one added if yours doesn't and set it to come on for an hour before you get in, then at least the radiators will be throwing heat out when you get in even if the house isn't up to temperature.

DogInATent · 21/11/2024 10:56

Use your central heating timer.
When we moved in there was a basic one where every day was the same programme. We changed that to a weekly programme so that midweek we can have different on/off times to warm the house up before we get up, and again before we get home if we're out, but allows it to run all weekend.

But you seriously need to look at your insulation, glazing and draughtproofing to reduce the amount of heat you're losing and make it faster to warm up. If it's a radiator system check that all the radiators are bled, and give them a feel all over to make sure that they're evenly warm after the system has been running a while.

What was the EPC rating when you bought it?

Dawevi · 21/11/2024 10:55

Do you have a timer? Set it to come on an hour before you come home.

gamerchick · 21/11/2024 10:54

Timer?

It was 12 when I got up this morning. Bit nippy like, popped the heating on while I was at work. It's 17 in the living room and 13 in the kitchen and I've turned it off now. We're ok at the temp sitting at 16. We've got the layers in the house nailed.

I tested the theory of leaving it on low Vs turning it on from cold, it cost more to keep it on low all of the time.

pilates · 21/11/2024 10:48

Agree with prisonpillow set it to come on an hour before you get home

Prisonpillow · 21/11/2024 10:45

Can’t you put it on a timer to come on at 3pm or something?

TickingAlongNicely · 21/11/2024 10:44

Look at your insulation. It shouldn't be getting that cold.

But having the thermostat at 14/15, then upping it to 17 half an hour before you are due home will probably be better.