Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

When do you put your central heating on?

131 replies

daytripper28 · 30/09/2021 12:33

If you have it that is. I'm curious whether people wait for a certain date or just see how cold it gets?

It was 5 degrees here yesterday - and we lit a fire, but didn't put central heating on. I don't think it's been on since March.

OP posts:
MrsRetreiver · 30/09/2021 12:35

I feel a bit uncomfortable and profligate putting it on before October, but ours is just on a thermostat so it comes on when the house is cool enough. We’re well insulated but the main living areas and one of the bedrooms are north-east facing, so it can cool quite rapidly sometimes.

Justforphoto · 30/09/2021 12:36

Couple of days ago, it's cold and damp outside and we didn't have a decent enough summer here to warm the house up properly. It's going to be a long winter.

LucyGrey · 30/09/2021 12:38

Yesterday. DH is working away. He said don't put the heating on, the radiators need bleeding etc but it's bloody freezing and he's in a cosy hotel so sod that.

Northernsoullover · 30/09/2021 12:40

When it's cold! I don't go by a calendar. I'm pleased to have got to almost October and not had to use it (bar 90 mins) but it has gone on early September in past years. It was still on in May this year albeit not continuously.

Justmuddlingalong · 30/09/2021 12:40

Our heating goes on when it's needed. It's decided by comfort. We don't have a fire to take the chill off so if an extra layer of clothing isn't cutting it, the heating go's on.

SickAndTiredAgain · 30/09/2021 12:43

We also don’t have a set date to put it on. But we are in the camp of putting on jumpers rather than the heating so we haven’t needed it yet.

Meloncurse · 30/09/2021 12:46

Our central heating stays on all year, the thermostat will switch it on if it drops below a certain temp whether it's August or December

Original poster
daytripper28 · 30/09/2021 12:47

Hmmm - I was thinking of going hardcore and waiting until November 1st

Not sure the rest of the household will be on board. Grin

However the little 'office' where my DH works is always warm because there's a ton of computers in there - even the cat hangs out by the door there. It's at the top of the house.

OP posts:
rocklamp · 30/09/2021 12:49

We have a multi fuel stove which we light, but we don't use the central heating ever. We're in a small new build which is well insulated.

Stilltalkstotrees · 30/09/2021 12:55

Same as @Meloncurse

thesugarbumfairy · 30/09/2021 12:57

Its always 'on'. Its just on a thermostat. So boiler doesn't kick in until the temperature drops to a certain level. The radiators have been on in the morning for the last few days.

Question is - do I change the settings as we are working from home now and I sat here with a thick cardi on thinking its a bit too cold for my liking...?

grapewine · 30/09/2021 12:58

1 November to 1 March.

RaininSummer · 30/09/2021 12:59

Wait til end of October in theory but 'tested' it last night for 1 hour as was freezing in the house

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 30/09/2021 12:59

Mine’s on.

But I do know people who will sit in their houses with their coats on like a Dickens character rather than put the heating on.

I need to be cosy.

Generallystruggling · 30/09/2021 13:00

It came on by itself a few days ago, it’s set to 21 I think.

PaperMonster · 30/09/2021 13:01

Not cold enough here yet. I’ve two bedroom windows and I’ve closed one this week, but the other is still open. I’m at home in bed poorly. The temperature in this room is 21 degrees. So I’m just right!

We have no central heating, just electric heaters - they’re supposed to be energy efficient but they cost a fortune. So will hold off as long as possible.

Aposterhasnoname · 30/09/2021 13:02

We just leave it set at 18 degrees when we’re up, and 12 after we’ve gone to bed. If 17 degrees is too cold in November, then it’s too cold in July.

LagneyandCasey · 30/09/2021 13:02

As and when needed. Sometimes just having it on for 10 minutes here and there is enough.

thesugarbumfairy same here. I'm thinking of wearing my thick dressing gown and using a hot water bottle. I might get a little fan heater if it gets too unbearable, it's cheaper than having the central heating on all day.

VanCleefArpels · 30/09/2021 13:04

15 minutes ago 🤣

idontlikealdi · 30/09/2021 13:04

When I'm cold. Our system is old so can't set temp, it's on a timer in winter and as needed the rest of the time. I'm not going to sit in the cold because it's September and not November.

NovemberWitch · 30/09/2021 13:05

I put it on if I’m wearing indoor clothes and socks, and I’m still chilly.
Likewise with the other adults in the house. It’s not on a timer for that reason, and sticking to a random date seems odd.

NovemberWitch · 30/09/2021 13:06

@LucyGrey

Yesterday. DH is working away. He said don't put the heating on, the radiators need bleeding etc but it's bloody freezing and he's in a cosy hotel so sod that.
Can’t you bleed the radiators?
bloodywhitecat · 30/09/2021 13:06

I'd usually wait for a while yet but this year I have a 4 month old, an 18 month old and a DH who has been on chemo so it has been cranked up to 20° and has come on the last couple of mornings.

Stellaris22 · 30/09/2021 13:10

When wearing jumpers isn't warm enough. We have a duvet on the sofa and I absolutely love being under it, much nicer than putting the heating on. We try to be environmentally friendly and only use the heating when we need to, we have thermals and warm fleeces as we camp a lot. Only put the heating on to protect the pipes last year and we are WFH.

TuftyMarmoset · 30/09/2021 13:10

Ours is set to click on when it gets to 15 in the living room. It was 14 in the bathroom this morning because DP stupidly left the door closed overnight but quickly warmed up without putting the heating on once I opened it.