Why does 17° in my house feel cold, when in spring 17° outside feels warm?

[Hungry625f]

It baffles me, and I'm convinced I'm being thick about it and there's a really obvious answer, so please do tell me.

The temp in my house right now is 17°. I've got multiple layers on and it still feels chilly. Apparently it is 9° outside. The heating goes on in a bit before the kids come home from school, but even then only to 18-19° max, which feels fine.

But if it was 17-18° outside it would feel warm!

Why??

Perhaps because if you were outside, you’d be walking about, and might have the sun on you occasionally, but indoors you’re a lot less active? It always feels colder if you’re just sitting or not moving around much.

I ponder this all the time. I have know idea so I'm gona follow in case someone pops up with an answer

I'm not convinced thermostats actually register the temperature that rooms feel. Mine is now set at 21 and I still feel chilly, despite a cardigan. I'm sure it can't really be 21'in here. I just tend to use it as a guide - once I know what temp I feel ok at, then I set it there. I do still feel guilty about wanting to turn it up more though, especially when other people say 19 is fine at their house (or less!).

Thee are all good points. Glad I'm not the only one pondering this.

I have multiple thermometers across the house mad scientist testing my hypothesis that it cant actually be 17°, including an old school Mercury one, and infuriatinglythey are pretty consistent.

I wonder this too. I think movement is part of it. The other is its 17 degrees in the shade isnt it, which probably means in the sun it feels warmer.

I also dont get why 15 degrees in early spring feels really hot outside, but 15 degrees mid summer feels chilly.

Moisture will make some difference. A dry 17 degrees feels warmer than a slightly damp one. I think it's about the temperature of things as well - in summer furniture is warm to the touch but not so much in winter? I making things up now though :-)

I had this exact conversation tbis week. My house was 19 and I was freezing vs like you say it being warm at this temp in summer. It’s definitely a different kind of heat I reckon as I don’t sit around at home doing nothing.

There are quite a few factors, the sun as mentioned above but also its 20 deg in my house at the moment with the heating on but I'm sat in a room above the garage and the floor surface is colder and therefore making my feet cold. This will also happen at external walls.

Completely agree. Same as 20 feels cool when you're in Spain or Portugal or somewhere like that, whereas in the UK that would be a decent day and you'd seriously consider eating outside !

I talked about this very same thing yesterday!

I'll like to know this too. I don't think it's about movement - perhaps heating source? I don't know.

This is a really good question! I live in a victorian maisonette, basement, very high ceilings, draughty single glazed sash windows and my thermostat is saying its 19 degrees but im frozen solid and my nose is running, despite numerous cups of tea, leggings tucked into fleece socks, long sleeved tshirt and massive oodie! the heating doesnt click on below 22 degrees

I think it's to do with radiant heat (which the sun imparts), but I don't really understand it! Something to do waves coming from radiant heat sources heat the solid body that they interact with (e.g. you) , whilst central heating heats the air around you.

Would love to know the answer to this too.

Cannot work out how I can wear a summer dress at 19 but at 19 in the house I need 2 jumpers and a blanket...

It's a very good question. The gym studio air con is set to 19 which feels cold so why in Summer would 19 be a warm day🤔

Just checking... Are you measuring the outside temperature with a thermometer, or just going on what the weather forecast or reporting says it was? Forecasts and reports usually tell you temperatures in the shade, so if it says it was 17drgrees in Manchester yesterday, it would have been much hotter in the sun.
If you are using the same thermometer though and you still feel a difference between inside and outside I'm stumped. Maybe humidity?

DH has said this recently too. We have the heating set at 21 and the house still feels cold sometimes yet if it were 21 degrees outside, it would practically be a heatwave. No idea.

I think because of the following

1. It’s relative, you are going from winter to spring, whereas a drop in temp from summer to autumn to 17 degrees might start to feel chilly. It’s like in canada when temp rises to 0 degrees people start to wear shorts outside
2. The sun outside probably has an additional effect in warming you up. Plus outside you are more active whereas less active in the house.

It’s like in canada when temp rises to 0 degrees people start to wear shorts outside

they do?!

www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg24532721-400-hot-and-cold-why-do-you-feel-cold-at-the-same-temperature-in-winter/

Some good explanations in this article - some physical, some psychological!