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Keeping warm WFH

113 replies

Coldwinterahead1 · 27/08/2020 08:20

I’m just doing a bit of forward planning as I’m pretty sure that I’ll be wfh indefinitely now. It’s just dawned on me that my heating bills are going to go up massively if I’m home all day. I’m thinking of getting an Oodie and heating one room with a small oil rad on low. Does anyone have any tips?

OP posts:
Doccomplaint · 27/08/2020 09:07

Oil filled radiators like my small one use 1 unit per hour. In my case that’s 16p

dementedma · 27/08/2020 09:07

This is going to become an issue for a lot of people as WFH goes on. I was very glad of a heated throw in April. Our kitchen has no heating and our sitting room has one tiny radiator so its always freezing.

wonkylegs · 27/08/2020 09:08

I live in the NE of England and have worked from home for a number of years. Our house is insulated but is also a victorian villa with high ceilings and brick walls, so not the coldest but not the warmest either.
We actually have heating that can go on in each room separately but I don't usually use it when it's just me.
I layer up - lots of thin layers, a blanket over my knees and if it's really cold a hot water bottle behind my back. I have RA so also wear compression gloves when on my computer. I also make sure I get up and move around periodically- to get a cup of tea or go to the loo or just move. It keeps you warmer but also because otherwise my joints seize up.
You get used to being a bit colder - we dropped the ave heating by 1degree in this house and although I hated it at first a month in and I stopped noticing.

wonkylegs · 27/08/2020 09:10

To clarify when I say layers lots of thin layers are better than bundling on the jumpers - I have some fab thermal long sleeve vests from Sainsbury's that are very thin but very warm

CooperLooper · 27/08/2020 09:10

I've got an Oodie and as long as you've got socks on you won't be cold at all!!! The only problem will be trying to stay awake, because as soon as I put mine on it makes me sleepy 😅

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 27/08/2020 09:12

Oil filled radiators are really cheap to run and much better than air-blasters which make me feel a bit hot and bothered. Turtle Dove wrist warmers are ace and eco-friendly, they don't interfere with typing so I prefer them to gloves. Warm slippers are a must, I wear Celtic & Co house boots, they were £££ but they last for years and years.

But the toppest of all top tips - now that DH is also working from home we've moved stuff around and I've lost my laundry drying space, so invested in a Lakeland heated airier. It's 6p an hour to run, dries the laundry so much quicker and it heats the room too.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 27/08/2020 09:13

As you said, you will be saving quite a bit on travel, why can't that be used to pay for the extra gas and electric?

Pugdoglife · 27/08/2020 09:15

There are some electric heaters you can get that consume very little energy, my mum has one, it costs something like 2p an hour to run, it doesn't heat the room as such but stops a room that is already warm from getting cold if that makes sense?

Chose a small room to work in if you can because they tend not to be as cold and keep the door shut, use a blanket or rolled up towel as a draught excluder.

Have a lap blanket covering your legs, could you work in fingerless gloves? A scarf of some sort? A vest top under your usual clothes? Perhaps have a flask ready so you can have regular hot drinks?

I think lots of people will start to have the same problems soon, obviously you can use some of the money you are saving on travel etc, but the less energy you can use the better.

MrsWombat · 27/08/2020 09:24

I've just ordered one of those fake Oodies linked further up. Blush

Lots of fab tips mentioned but I would also recommend doing some youtube exercise videos on your breaks to help warm you up. I like the Leslie Sansone walking videos but there is plenty of choice on there.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 27/08/2020 09:25

This thread is just making me sleepy!! All the warm soft snuggliness!!

BusterTheBulldog · 27/08/2020 09:27

I work from home 80% of the time and my home office is coldest room in house! I have a mini electric oil filled rad which I have on a timer to warm the room before I start work. If you have tiles / wooden floor then get a rug for under your desk, nice fluffy slippers also help. Lots of layers as others have said and try and vigorously move when you do get a break. I keep blind down on particularly cold days which I hate doing but does make a difference too.

Hardbackwriter · 27/08/2020 09:28

I've just googled Oodie, which I've never heard of before, and it looks like it would be lovely for watching TV on the sofa but too bulky and restrictive to work and type in? But then I think I might have a weird thing about it, I hate loads of bulk around my arms - I can't bear the feeling of wearing a coat indoors for the same reason.

Plussizejumpsuit · 27/08/2020 09:28

I think you need to focus on heating one room. Also raise it with your employer.

UnfinishedSymphon · 27/08/2020 09:30

[quote Hardbackwriter]@UnfinishedSymphon your direct debit hasn't changed because your usage hasn't. If OP's usage goes up significantly then her bills will too! Not having the heating on in summer isn't going to magically balance out the winter if she's now using twice as much in the winter as she was last year.

If you've always worked from home and always had the heating on in the day in winter then you've just got used to higher bills than most people pay.[/quote]
I don't think my gas/electricity bills are high - I pay £40.95 for electricity and £38.53 for gas per month - that's just under £80 for a 3 bed house with 4 of us living here. I thought that was pretty reasonable

WisestIsShe · 27/08/2020 09:31

As pp have said, a heated throw/blanket is a thing of joy. Got mine from Aldi last October for £30. Kept me snuggly and warm reading my book, even in the garden!

BashfulClam · 27/08/2020 09:31

@fartyface

Heated throw. Game changer :)
I agree I put a heated throw over me. I did that when we first went home in March as it was still cold at the start of Lockdown. It’s getting colder in Scotland so I have my snuggy blanket(blanket with arms) on and big heat holder socks.
yeOldeTrout · 27/08/2020 09:32

I've had issues with my hands being too cold in past so this is a worry for me. In fact, my hands are too cold NOW in the kitchen at (?) 18 degrees. Irk.

mogtheexcellent · 27/08/2020 09:36

We dont put the heating on at all (useless night storage and too expensive). We have a log burner for super cold days. I wear a throw and some turtle doves wrist warmers. I pop a small convector heater on if still cold.

blackteaplease · 27/08/2020 09:38

OMG heated throws! I need one of these. I've been wfh at least 2 days a week for 2 years in a freezing house. That's going on my birthday list.

TinnedPearsForPudding · 27/08/2020 09:39

We have a small oil filled radiator. It can heat a small space surprisingly cheaply. Not great for bigger rooms - I guess you'd need more of them for that!

lotusbell · 27/08/2020 09:42

This is one of the main reasons I've put forward for not wanting to wfh long term. I have been doing throughout the pandemic but have had little to do at home, and while wfh would be beneficial occasionally, the bulk of my job needs to be in my place of work and I'm back in full time next week after easing back in part time.
There have been the odd day here and there I've been sat at my dining room table with my laptop and yep, it's been bloody chilly. Don't fancy a winter of being wrapped in layers and blankets because I can't justify having the heating on at home during the day for just me!

Reallybadidea · 27/08/2020 09:43

If you're saving £80 a month on commuting then this should more than cover increased energy costs. I would turn down all the radiators in the rest of the house when everyone else goes out and just heat the rooms you'll be using.

TheFaerieQueene · 27/08/2020 09:45

Electric oil filled radiators are expensive to run. Keeping your central heating on low and wearing more clothes is probably the most cost efficient way to manage. That said menopause is wonderful for keeping heating costs down. 😫

JustCallMeGriffin · 27/08/2020 09:48

@UnfinishedSymphon

We pay for gas/electric on monthly direct debit, the amount doesn't go up or down dependant on what season it is, not having the heating on in the summer months balances out the winter months - is that not how it is for you?
You're either... a. joking b. widely misinformed about how gas/electricity direct debits work c. someone who has their heating on all day through the winter anyway so wouldn't notice a difference in usage

In the real world people understand that using more at any point in the year than normal increases your direct debit and that most people cannot afford to heat their homes all day.

@Coldwinterahead1 I have a non-heated foot muff that combined with socks is great for warmer feet and wear my fleecy PJ bottoms or rather than normal trousers. It really does make a difference. We also run the dehumidifier through the winter, whilst it doesn't heat the room it does remove the moisture from the air which helps with the ambient temperature.

At least you won't need to commute in dangerous weather. That's a very decent positive to WFH through winter months.

middleager · 27/08/2020 09:49

Just ordered the fake Oodie upthread off Amazon
Also got my electric throw off there last week on offer.