How are people warm enough with their houses at 18 degrees?

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

My heating is set at 21, and I'm still cold!! But I keep reading on here that people have their heating set at 18.

I'm already wearing a jumper and fluffy socks. Sitting on the sofa with a blanket. I am OK with it at this temperature but feel that I should be trying to reduce it further.

Am I just a wuss?

Ours used to be set for 19.5 and I was cold, now at 18C. I an get cosy but I do the following. (I feel the cold and get Reynauds normally):
wear layers - not just one or two - strappy vest, then thermal long sleeve like the thick heatgen ones from M&S, next layer is either shirt/thin cardigan/light jumper then top with a chunky grandad cardi, fleece or a big hoodie. Always have long normal socks, a fluffy pair on top, then boot style slippers (having these so my ankles are warm makes a huge difference).
hot water bottle
blankets
cat on my lap
If I’m really cold, I wear a buff round my neck, fingerless gloves and/or 60 denier tights under my jeans/trousers.

My dad really feels the cold, so I grew up in a very warm house. I then lived in a hot country for years, so I guess I'm not really acclimatised to the cold, but I'm going to try and train myself!

I think there definitely is something to it.

Edinburgh is a very touristy city, so much so that there are pretty much visitors here year-round now. What's amusing is being up town in the middle of July, it's 25+ and the locals are walking around near-naked, and you can spot the tourists because a lot of them, especially people from the Med and sub-continent, are wrapped up like they're off on an expedition to the North Pole.

I'm not exaggerating either. I got on a bus out into the Lothians in early August to escape the Festival. I was sweltering in just shorts and a tee, and an entire family gets on a the bus station wearing anoraks, gloves, and wooly hats. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but if they are all finding it so cold that they need to dress like that then it's clearly not a medical issue and simply down to climate.

Crikey that's hot!
Our house usually sits around the 17/18 mark its warm pleasant without being too hot or too cold.
heating kicks in at 15 degrees.

You are too hot at 10 degrees?

We have ours set to 18, but I'd be much happier and more comfortable at 16 😂 I have a nice big dressing gown which I love, and nice bed socks too for when I'm sat watching tv and not moving much.
What is your house like - is it normally very cold or does it keep quite warm? My parents house, even at 18 would be very very draughty (built in 1920s), whereas our house at 18 (built in late 1970s) is very toasty warm

Been 16 here today, up to 17 after the sun on the windows in the afternoon. Heating won't go on until I'm desperate.

I feel the cold badly, some of the things that help: try not to get cold in the first place, and wrap up before you chill. Much easier to stay warm than to try and warm up once you're cold. Sheepskin slipper boots. Pricey, but last well, and they're the only slippers so far where my feet aren't ice blocks all the time. Fleece lined tights are cheap, they go under everything. This year I'm flat out in camping wear: a base layer of wool roll neck, then a light fleece, and a heavy jumper or heavy weight teddy fleece over the top. Camping stuff puffer jackets also cheap, and warm for an extra layer, gilets and fleece vests will probably come into the mix later on. Another family member has been wandering round today in a woolly scarf which they say is making a difference. We will not be spending this winter in the height of fashion, more looking prepared at any moment for a D of E expedition, but at least hope to be comfortable. Its bringing back horrible memories of childhood and being permanently freezing!

This is still very early days, it's going to get harder but hopefully we'll get better at managing it by the time the real cold starts!

I don’t even put the heating on and I’m warm enough. Currently in a vest top, denim jacket, 3/4 leggings and bare feet. I’m in the north east of Scotland though so I’m built for this. Baby thermometer says the room is 15°

Our heating isn’t on but we have a thermometer so I know what temperature it is. Living room is 18 and babies room is 20.
It wasn’t long ago that I would have been very cold in this temperature. I used to live abroad, I think the lowest ever recorded temperature where I lived was 19. My air con was set to 26 to keep cool.

I think you learn to acclimatise. DH would be sweating in t shirt and shorts at much above 20, so I learnt to wear lots of clothes, drink hot drinks, use hot water bottles etc. I have a blanket all year round because I like to snuggle under it. But I change what I wear underneath.
So I guess I’d suggest pushing through the cold because it will feel normal eventually.

Our Thermostat kicks in at minus 5 and I have no need to wear clothes for most of the winter im so warm.

^ me too, maybe warmer!

17 on the thermostat here, an wearing an extra warm thermal vest, hoodie, joggers, slippers … and sitting on 1 blanket under an electric blanket - temperature is perfect !

Have just put winter duvets on the bed and hoping to manage for a couple more weeks without the heat if I can - for both cost & eco reasons

Thermostat was set to 21 degrees last year but I may try for 20 this winter

Well, I think our house is quite chilly, but not sure if others would agree!

It's reasonably well insulated, double glazed etc, but it is open plan downstairs which I think probably makes it harder to heat.

Agree 18 often feels a bit cold if you are sitting around (even in jumper, thick socks etc), but would be fine a couple of degrees higher. Seems like you have a high tolerance for heat and low for cold. Hopefully it will improve a bit as your iron levels come up. Duvet on the sofa?!

My only advise I can give OP is keep going in a few weeks it will be the new norm.

this is the crux of the matter, you're used to a warmer house/building and therefore turning the heating down your body isn't used to it. Just the same as I can't bear to be in a house that is 21 degrees, its unbearable for me and id have to keep going outside or strip of to minimum clothing

@RampantIvy Yes it's true. The default temperature for the heating control is 20 degrees but I'd be passing out with that.
It's a small house with small rooms. It came with a woodburner which we used once and never again 🤣

@BeanStew22 doesn't electric blanket use a lot of energy?

It would be STIFLING in my house if it was set at 21C. 17/18C is more than enough even when it's cold. 14C when it's not cold.

You need better insulation in your home @MrsBennetsPoorNerves if 21C is not warm enough to heat your house!

Whack it up OP, no point being cold in your own home.

We try and keep our heating off as much as possible and so far, it's warm enough to just put it on for an hour in the evening. I refuse to sit in the cold with slippers and a blanket on when it's 19° inside.

I’m honestly not one of these heating off untill it’s 2 degrees types but currently laid on the bed to hot and checked the thermostat it’s 17.6 in here , been to warm for the heating all day here

Get yourself a bodywarmer/padded gilet thing - keeping your 'core' cosy makes a big difference.

We had extra insulation put in a few years ago, so I think it should be reasonably well insulated. I just need to train myself to get used to colder temperatures, maybe.

20-21 is my ideal. 18 degrees and I need socks and a big warm jumper plus a blanket. Someone mentioned anaemia ... I have always had low iron so maybe that could be why I can't stand the cold

Feel too guilty to whack it up, though. We all need to get used to using less, don't we? Just wish it wasn't so miserable being cold, though!

I envy all these people who feel warm at 18 degrees!!

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves Or more layers of clothes and a big blanket or fleece?!

I'm in just a dressing gown and mine is set to 15! I'm toasty.

I'd sit outside in a tshirt at 18! Are you always so nesh?