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Original poster

What temperature do you set your thermostat to?

163 replies

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 29/10/2018 18:13

As the colder weather kicks in, I'm wondering if I should go wild and set the thermostat to 20 (when we're home and awake), or stick to a conservative 18.

This has got me wondering whether people in the north set a lower home temperature, and how much depends on your childhood heating situation (chilly in my case).

What is everyone else going for this winter?

OP posts:
TheWickedWitchofWestYorkshire · 29/10/2018 19:41

Ours is only on to dry clothes and for getting out of the shower. It's on at around 16-18°C depending on the background temp. We're v skint so can't afford to put it on for the kinds of temps mentioned on here.

TheCag · 29/10/2018 19:45

Ours is set to 18, never higher. Anything higher is too hot! We are in the south west.

EdWinchester · 29/10/2018 19:46

I have just turned ours down from 22 to 20 as the woodburner is lit and it's toasty. Dh puts the thermostat in the utility room where it's colder.

We don't have it on overnight as we hate sleeping in a heated room. We keep the bedroom windows open all year round.

ItWasntMeItWasIm · 29/10/2018 19:48

16 for a couple of hours in the morning. 16 again from 4pm up to 18 in the evening. Off overnight.

It has been snowing and was -6 last night.

ginghamstarfish · 29/10/2018 19:48

It's at 15-16 all the time, then up to 17-18 in the evening. We're in Scotland, old house but thick walls. PILS have theirs at 24 and I cannot bear it, makes me feel sweaty, headachey and anxious (but a good excuse to go less often!).

FantasticHarryPotter · 29/10/2018 19:50

12ish overnight.
18 during the day, boost to 20 when very cold.

bumblebee39 · 29/10/2018 19:51

If I'm on a fixed rate 20-22 degrees during the day, 15-17 at night (or off as warm from the day and kicks in in the morning on timer)

If I was paying on a meter less probably...

3WildOnes · 29/10/2018 19:51

21 early morning and evening, 18 daytime and 15 overnight. I don’t think it has ever come on overnight though as I don’t think it ever drops lower than 15.

Original poster
Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 29/10/2018 19:52

The thing is, I would gladly turn it up to 20 if it was free and not...wantonly spendthrift. But having been raised at a time when oil was short and heating was to ward off hypothermia rather than to achieve a comfortable temperature, I struggle.

OP posts:
MrsLettuce · 29/10/2018 19:52

Ours is pretty average by the sounds of it. 15 overnight and in the daytime, which means it's effectively switched off really, it needs to be really cold out before it kicks in on that temperature setting. 18 in the evenings/if we're all at home. DP sometimes wants it on at 19/20. We do put it on higher for elderly visitors mind

FantasticHarryPotter · 29/10/2018 19:52

14 not 12.

bumblebee39 · 29/10/2018 19:58

No wonder people always comment that my house is so warm 😂 literally had my friend say "OMG you're not going to turn the heating up are you?!"

I get cold really easy and desperately need to buy a new dressing gown...

MrsLettuce · 29/10/2018 20:00

Years ago I was told by someone that it uses more energy if you consistently let the house drop under 15 degrees, I've a vauge idea that that was based on having the heating on at 20 when it is on. It was the sort of person you'd believe on such matters IYSWIM (maybe a plumber, I wish I could remember).

Anyone know if there's a formula for what's most economical in terms of differential between 'day' and 'night' temperatures?

MrsLettuce · 29/10/2018 20:01

Not that those with the most need to be economical have the luxury of actually putting the heating on much/at allAngrySad

Ridingthegravytrain · 29/10/2018 20:08

20 degrees but im not sure I believe it as our house feels pretty cold. It’s not particularly well insulated

butterfly56 · 29/10/2018 20:11

Instead I have a vicious draft from behind the bath panel...

There's a cheap and easy fix for this^^^

Buy a roll of loft insulation(recycled plastic is the best £20 at B&Q)
A can of expanding foam(for any major holes under or around bath, or around pipes to outside etc)

  1. Remove bath panel
  2. Fill any major holes with expanding foam
  3. wrap loft insulation all the way around the bath and lay insulation under the bath.
  4. Replace bath panel

This not only warms up the bathroom considerably it also keeps the bath water warm for ages!! Smile

Getoffthetableplease · 29/10/2018 20:15

Usually 19, a degree or so lower overnight and will occasionally turn it higher in the evening for a bit. Even at that we're still in jumpers, slippers etc and the dogs both have freezing cold ears!

bumblebee39 · 29/10/2018 20:15

Was that aimed at me?

If so I am on a fixed rate because I have a disabling condition that is exacerbated by the cold and therefore have to heat my house for therapeutic reasons

Believe me it would cost more to have me in poor health than fix my heating bills 

Dontfeellikeaskeleton · 29/10/2018 20:17

I can't believe how cold some people have it!

Shock
LBOCS2 · 29/10/2018 20:18

15 when it's on, but it's only on for 2hrs in the morning and 4 in the evening. The rest of the time it's just switched off.

DH and I grew up in cold places - he had no heating and I had a draughty Victorian house. I run warm now - and walk around telling my family to shut doors and put jumpers on!

SilentBob · 29/10/2018 20:20

24 glorious degrees.

I stick it on manually when I get up at 4:45 then off when I leave the house at 5:45 and turn it back on again when I get home at around 4pm and turn it off usually when my partner arrives home at around 5.30. We sometimes put it back on for an hour or so when we're sitting if it's particularly cold.

I'm not going to say "in my defence" because I don't need to defend it but, seeing as I seem to be among the colder of the species, I'll expand:

  1. no fire in living room
  2. no heating at work (6am-3pm)
  3. partner works outdoors (6am-whenever he's done)
  4. I haven't worked out how to set the timer on the damn thing as yet
  5. I'm usually cooooooooold

I don't ever have the heating on overnight though. And I sleep with the window open. And sometimes have to put the fan on. I'm not peri-menopausal, just seem to save up all my body heat for overnights.

bumblebee39 · 29/10/2018 20:22

My house was always cold as a kid. It was damp too. I was ill often. (Big draughty Victorian house with original sash Windows I believe...)

I remember when my mum went back to work FT and the heating went back on properly... And the loft got insulated.

I could get out the bath without shivering. It was bliss.

I still can't stand the cold. I would have it on 25 but the kids would moan...

At 20 I still need a thick cardigan, scarf, and house blanket to get comfy.

sadkoala · 29/10/2018 20:24

19 usually.
But we live in an all stone cottage which is usually cold in the summer unless there's a heatwave like this year.

I'd turn it down at night but DC's room gets ridiculously cold no matter what we try so have to keep it on unless I want him to turn into a little icicle overnight.
Can't keep the thermostat in his room or the house would turn into a sauna so have to find a happy medium.

bumblebee39 · 29/10/2018 20:24

I know @Dontfeellikeaskeleton I would be shivering at 15 degrees and not under a duvet literally blue in the mouth and shivering

ocelot41 · 29/10/2018 20:26

18 here, off overnight. Might boost to 20 if freezing. Scotland here.