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Original poster

What do you set your heating at?

215 replies

amibeingaknob · 13/10/2025 15:16

Please settle an argument with me and my mother.

What do you set your heating at? Is it different in the day and the night?

Just trying to gauge what the 'norm' is here. We are South East (not that that makes any difference - temp is temp).

For me - 20 in the day, 17 at night. My boyfriend (who lives with me) is 22 day, 19 night so its gone up - I wouldn't want him feeling the cold.

My mother thinks a house that is 14 is perfectly reasonable, and not on at all at night. She rarely puts in on. This worries me desperately as father has had pneumonia and they are in their mid 70s. She is convinced I, and 'my generation' are wussies, and heating is bad for you, and they are normal and I 'feel the cold more than most'.

I guess I want to prove to her that that last line is inaccurate, and she puts her bloody heating on this winter, as I am super anxious about their health (particularly my dad). On a selfish note, I loathe going round there as I sit shivering, whilst being given a blanket and told 'oh dear, you do feel the cold don't you'. Like Im some sort of alien. The offer of heating is never there, and when it is put on, it is with much complaint, and mum performance huffing and fanning of brow. Ugh. Drives me nuts.

OP posts:
Zippedydodah · 13/10/2025 16:20

Sharptonguedwoman · 13/10/2025 15:22

About 17- 19 deg. Currently for an hour in the mornings and 3 hrs in the evenings.

Mine too. It’s not on at night unless the frost protection kicks in.

ladyofshertonabbas · 13/10/2025 16:19

On at 18 degrees 16.30-22.00, off other times. If I'm cold I will put it on for a bit. I like to air the house out a lot so it doesn't smell of our food, and also like not having huge bills.

ViciousCurrentBun · 13/10/2025 16:19

19.5 day
10 overnight which is a frost setting.

It’s come on overnight maybe half a dozen times in the 25 years we have lived in this house. The coldest it’s ever been outside was minus 17, it came on then. I’m 59 and did not live in a house with central heating till I was in my late twenties. I do think you get a bit more used to it if raised like that.

Original poster
amibeingaknob · 13/10/2025 16:16

GasPanic · 13/10/2025 16:08

Not really no.

I worry about stuff I can do things about.

Either you believe they are capable of looking after themselves, in which case you leave them alone to get on with it. Or you don't in which case you have to get the authorities involved.

I'm pretty sure you would be unhappy if they marched into your house and insisted the heating should be turned down.

Show quote history

I do think they are capable of looking after themselves usually - except for this issue. And I think its a biggie. No way authorities would get involved in this (Im a social worker).

I would be unhappy if they insisted my heating should be turned down, because mine is healthy. If it wasn't I would expect them to reason with me, and if they were sending me links and articles saying what I was doing was dangerous to my health I would listen. I think mum is being very selfish and stubborn tbh - and a bit thick. She is usually very measured and intelligent. And dad just agrees with whatever mum says.

Essentially though, I do agree with you. I can't do anything about it. Won't stop me worrying, but I wish it would. I have zero power in this.

OP posts:
LazyLaurel · 13/10/2025 16:11

We used to have ours on 14C most of the time and then 18C for an hour in the morning and a few hours in the evening (gas boiler).

Now have an air source heat pump and at the moment it is 19.5 round the clock. It has barely run yet, since turning it on this month, but keep nudging it down slowly, as we have been too hot at times. Energy bills have been so much lower with that and the house constantly toasty (really noticed the difference in Dec-Feb).

GasPanic · 13/10/2025 16:08

amibeingaknob · 13/10/2025 15:44

Hi Mum!

Seriously, just because someone is a grown up you wouldn't worry about a loved one who had a medical condition and clearly was ignoring medical advice? Last year dad had pneumonia for weeks and weeks and it still didn't go on. Apparently 'fresh air' was good for him. She convinced herself that heating was 'bad'. I mean its nonsense, and its dangerous.

Yes they are grown ups but they are vulnerable (due to age and health) and I love them.

Show quote history

Not really no.

I worry about stuff I can do things about.

Either you believe they are capable of looking after themselves, in which case you leave them alone to get on with it. Or you don't in which case you have to get the authorities involved.

I'm pretty sure you would be unhappy if they marched into your house and insisted the heating should be turned down.

zazazaaar · 13/10/2025 16:08

Your Mum is riskjng your Dad's health and your boyfriend is a big wuss.

We have 18 in the day and off at night. Will I get cold as I prefer it at 19 but dh doesn't I either use an electric blanket, put on more layers or do some house work.

noworklifebalance · 13/10/2025 16:04

I don’t believe our thermostat- 22 degrees in one area feels very different to 22deg in another.
But the heating is off overnight even in the winter.

Vaxtable · 13/10/2025 16:02

Mines set to come on when it drops to 17, it’s on from 6am until 10pm and controlled by the thermostat. If I feel cold it goes up a bit to 18 or 19.

My mother has her house at a steady 24/25.

Personally I would not be going to your mums house it’s to cold for me

Catinabeanbag · 13/10/2025 16:01

19 during the day ( morning and evening for about 5 hours total). Never on overnight, even in the depths of winter.

Original poster
amibeingaknob · 13/10/2025 16:00

RedRiverShore5 · 13/10/2025 15:53

It's not that cold though, are you on the coast if it's 14 or are you talking about last year.

Will they get their WFA this year.

Yes on the coast. Their thermostat said 14 yesterday morning.

I sent them links from Age Concern, NHS, links about pneumonia etc. They got very angry and said it was nonsense and they know what they are doing. I offered to get that thermometer but, again, they dispute the advised temp.

I can't really do anything can I?

The only thing I can do is not go round there when its cold. I don't see why I should be subjected to it.

OP posts:
IAmThePrettiestManOnMyIsland · 13/10/2025 15:59

20 - 22 during the day. 18 at bedtime.

Growlybear83 · 13/10/2025 15:58

We only have fairly basic controls on our heating. It’s set at either 22 or 23 degrees irrespective of time of day. I’m often still chilly in the evenings, and the house gets cold after midnight. In the colder months I often have a convector heater in the living room when I’m working during the day and late at night. The heating is set to be on between6-10 am, midday-2pm, and then 4-11 pm. If the temperature is forecast to drop below about -3, then we leave it on overnight at about 16 degrees to protect the pipes from freezing.

My husband is 71 and I’m 67, and we live in London.

Devilsmommy · 13/10/2025 15:57

Mine is 22. . haven't needed it daytime yet but have put it on at night a few times

Talipesmum · 13/10/2025 15:56

Ours is about 18 during the day, and 15 at night (which means it very very rarely comes on at night). It’s 19.5 for a couple of hours in the morning when we’re getting up, and for a few hours in the evening too.

In reality with the heating in winter going off at eg 10.30pm, it takes quite a few hours to drop back down as the house is well insulated.

So far this year I’ve noticed it popping on for maybe an hour in the morning if it’s been cold overnight. But the house is a terrace and well insulated so it’s not kicked in much more than that yet this year.

steamingin · 13/10/2025 15:56

18 - it hardly ever comes on as next door heat theirs like a sauna in the day and off at night. It hasn't been on yet this autumn. Living room currently 20.5° no heating upstairs anyway.

Algen · 13/10/2025 15:54

I keep mine on at 15 unless I feel cold. Hasn’t come on at all this year yet and currently 20.2 according to the thermostat app.

RedRiverShore5 · 13/10/2025 15:53

It's not that cold though, are you on the coast if it's 14 or are you talking about last year.

Will they get their WFA this year.

HansHolbein · 13/10/2025 15:50

It doesn’t go below 22. I hate being cold.

strawgoh · 13/10/2025 15:50

Show her the NHS page where it says 18 degrees as a minimum.

RedRiverShore5 · 13/10/2025 15:49

20 in the day, off at night unless its very cold, like about 14

didgeridid · 13/10/2025 15:49

You said you are south East but then saying it's like an ice box? We are the same area as you and the coldest our house has been in 18 and that's overnight/first thing. We've not put the heating on yet as we aren't cold enough but no doubt will be soon.
Normally we are 20ish during the day and off at night.

ETA even when it's on, it's normally an hour in the morning and 2 hours in the evening

MoreThanRubies · 13/10/2025 15:49

The Health and Safety Executive gives a minimum of 16 degrees for workplaces for sedentary jobs. Your home should be at least as comfortable as work.

FuzzyPuffling · 13/10/2025 15:48

amibeingaknob · 13/10/2025 15:30

For those who don't put it on much, or its low - would it make a difference if you were elderly and were susceptible to pneumonia with weak lungs?

No. ( And I'm in my 60s)

And if my children tried to bully me into putting the heating on I wouldn't be at all happy.

Roaminginthegloaming · 13/10/2025 15:47

@amibeingaknob

For just £4.99 on Amazon you can order a

’ Twin pack eco room thermometer card (white and blue) Liquid Crystal Display’ by brand TSAI

which has a colour code showing if a room is Cold/Cool/Comfortable/Warm/Too Hot

You could give them to your parents.

www.ageuk.org.uk

(formerly Age Concern) states that a minimum temperature for older people is 18C

Inactive people need more warmth than people moving around.