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Original poster

Have you put your heating on yet?

157 replies

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 01/10/2019 11:18

I think this is the first year that I've managed not to have the heating on during the summer at some point. I live in the north west and June is often pretty chilly at times. This last week has been pretty cold but I've been determined to stick it out as is only cold when we first get up and if I'm home alone during the day. I just put my dressing gown and socks on and I'm fine. I live with my 3 dc so no one to argue with over the heating which is great but I'm conscious of the financial and environmental impact of central heating and trying to cut down. Won reduced my payments from £150 a month to £139 and I don't want it to increase again.

Is yours on yet? If so, where abouts in the UK do you live?

OP posts:
LittleCandle · 03/10/2019 11:02

We had our's on for about an hour this morning to take the chill off the air before we showered. Its been pretty cold the last few mornings - not quite freezing but not far off. Its all very well to say put a jumper on - I do, I live in layers as I feel the cold, but I am unable to maintain a body temperature and chill very easily, so just putting on another layer doesn't always help when your body can't generate much heat. Luckily, we have built up a lot of credit with the power company we are with so we don't need to worry about putting the heating on over the winter. We're in central Scotland.

Original poster
DtPeabodysLoosePants · 03/10/2019 11:29

*For those on tight budget, it's more effective to have all rads going constantly at a low heat level than to have a blast once in a day. It takes more energy to bring the house up to temp than it does to maintain it at a temp

" According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, as well as British Gas, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy, and therefore money. "*

I had a gas engineer tell me this when I first rented a house with my bow exH. I'd heard if said before too. Cost me a bloody fortune that first year. Now it's on for 1.5hrs in a morning and about 5 in the evening, though not yet. It seems warmer today.

OP posts:
FuzzyPuffling · 03/10/2019 11:31

For those on a tight budget it is cheaper not to put your heating on at all. That's the reality for so many people.

Windydaysuponus · 03/10/2019 11:40

Plan for the week end is to turn all our mattress toppers over to fleece side, dig out dc's extra blankets for a wash, buy more ddog throws as they feel it too!. And sadly dh doesn't want 16 paws on our bed.
Can't think why...
Meany!!

SnugglySnerd · 03/10/2019 11:43

We put it on for an hour last night as we were washing dcs hair and it was quite cold upstairs. Another hour this morning as it was cold when we got up but we haven't set the timer yet.

Ginfordinner · 03/10/2019 11:47

Yes. Because it has been cold. 3 degrees last night.

I have never been able to understand the MN competitive not putting the heating on threads. It's The Four Yorkshire Men sketch all over again Confused

Ginfordinner · 03/10/2019 11:50

The temperature not the calendar dictates when my heating comes on.

italianfiat · 03/10/2019 11:51

I have never been able to understand the MN competitive not putting the heating on threads.

Agreed!

I know that some people can't afford it, but others talk about wrapping up in jumpers and blankets to save them using their heating for no reason other than to 'win' some imaginary prize for not using a facility in their own home Confused

I put mine on yesterday because it was the first time I felt cold.

Original poster
DtPeabodysLoosePants · 03/10/2019 11:57

No competitiveness here. I was just curious and I'm personally trying to use it less to save money as I'm a sahm on benefits. I definitely base its use on the temperature not the time of year.

OP posts:
ConFusion360 · 03/10/2019 12:51

I have never been able to understand the MN competitive not putting the heating on threads.

I tend to agree. If you can afford it, there's no point in being cold. For the effort of having to pull a jumper on, I'd rather spend less on gas and more on other stuff though.

user1573354 · 03/10/2019 12:53

Yes, I put mine on yesterday. Noone had been home for a few days and I thought that was why the house was unusually cold, but the frost on the school run this morning suggests the temp has dropped dramatically this week.

BlackeyedGruesome · 03/10/2019 15:14

The reason people should wrap up in layers even if they can afford heating, is the environment. To put heating on instead of a jumper or two and a couple of pairs of socks is bloody selfish and not giving a shit about what increased energy use is doing to the planet.

Heismyopendoor · 03/10/2019 15:17

West central Scotland. Had it on today and yesterday. We’ve had to de ice the car. I need the heating on lol

Roomba · 03/10/2019 15:25

Not had our heating on yet. It's been chillier here this week (NW) but nowhere near cold enough for me to give in. I try to hold out til November if possible and even then use it as little as possible as it is so expensive - I've had to choose between food and heat plenty times before and food will usually win. I have put thicker duvets on the kids' beds now (DS moaned he was boiling last night as he's a hot bod) and put my dressing gown on if I feel chilly.

Northernsoullover · 03/10/2019 15:38

I've put the heating on. I'm not actually that cold but I've noticed a lot of condensation so I've put it on to dry the house a bit.

Ginfordinner · 03/10/2019 16:34

"and I'm personally trying to use it less to save money as I'm a sahm on benefits."

That is a perfectly good reason not to out the heating on, so is consideration for the environment. My point about the competitiveness was more about the people who play martyr to the cold.

For the record I wear jumpers and socks when it is cold, but when it gets to the point when the ambient temperature is too cold for me to function properly I put the heating on. Besides we have a damp climate where we live, and need to ensure the house doesn't become damp.

We have solar panels as well so it does mitigate our carbon footprint a little.

Fuzzyspringroll · 03/10/2019 18:13

Ours has been on for about two weeks now. It's still a novelty because we had storage heaters when we moved in last February. Those got disconnected quickly while we waited for gas to be connected. Central heating and gas have been fully functioning for about 4 weeks now.
Besides, it goes down to about 3 or 4 degrees as night and is still only around 7 degrees when I leave the house in the morning. We do live in Germany, though, and have moved to an area where I am expecting to be snowed in during the winter...
We did have a lovely, long and hot summer.

JoObrien7 · 03/10/2019 18:14

Yes it is freezing here in Ireland and I think we are going to have stormy weather this weekend.

Moondancer73 · 03/10/2019 18:16

Not a chance, it's only October! I still have the back food open first thing in the morning to let some fresh air in. Probably November.

Bunnylady53 · 03/10/2019 18:16

Putting mine on tonight but then it’s month since this thread started.

shinynewapple · 03/10/2019 18:17

Yes, just for half an hour last couple of evenings and this morning to take chill off

Her0utdoors · 03/10/2019 18:18

Yes, yesterday morning. It the earliest I've ever done it and it's bloody lovely. The thermostat is set to 18 and it's just clicked on. Did I mention how much I love it!?

Ginfordinner · 03/10/2019 18:22

Not a chance, it's only October!

How lucky you are to live somewhere that is stiill nice and warm. We had 3 degrees last night. Unless you are really struggling to pay for heating bills I don't understand why the name of the month is more relevant than the temperature.

italianfiat · 03/10/2019 18:25

The reason people should wrap up in layers even if they can afford heating, is the environment. To put heating on instead of a jumper or two and a couple of pairs of socks is bloody selfish and not giving a shit about what increased energy use is doing to the planet.

I take it all these people in layers never do anything that impacts the environment?

If I'm cold my heating goes on. Im not about to sit happed up and uncomfortable in my own home to suit someone's bandwagon Hmm

MovinOnUp · 03/10/2019 18:28

Not yet, I am putting it off as long as possible as I have storage heating and once it's on it stays on.
I'm hoping to get to Halloween without the heating on.

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