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Original poster

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

413 replies

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 08/10/2022 20:16

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?Grin

OP posts:
ALongHardWinter · 08/10/2022 23:38

It's strange because if it's 18 degrees outside,I probably wouldn't wear a coat,but would be warm enough with a cardigan or a light jacket. And I feel perfectly comfortable. But,when I set my heating to 18 degrees,I feel positively chilly. I find 21 is the minimum that I feel comfortable with.

sellthesizzle · 08/10/2022 23:46

hangryorhungry · 08/10/2022 20:21

Same.. ours is set at 21 & still feels a bit chilly. The rooms are big, we have UF heating so wonder if that makes a difference?! 18 is what we set temp at for overnight..?! How much extra on a bill does a degree or two add I wonder..

You have the heating on overnight? 😲

Catflapping · 08/10/2022 23:57

We haven’t had the heating on yet. Thermostat has occasionally said the temp is 16 but generally around the 18 mark. I’m on maternity leave and at home with the babe all day, she has vest and cosy sleep suits on and is always nice and toasty, hand still warm and rosy cheeks. I find my feet are the first thing that gets to me but have ugg boots as slippers on all day. We are still on a fixed tariff from august 2021 it will end in august 2023 so DH keeps saying I should just put it on but while I can take reasonable steps to keep warm and the wee one is happy I don’t see the point!

Catflapping · 08/10/2022 23:58

Is it possible you have a draught coming through from windows or doors? Our back living room is much colder as it has patio doors and a fireplace in there but luckily have a second family room at the front that is nice and air tight!

Elphame · 08/10/2022 23:58

I would definitely be wearing something warm if it was 18 degrees outside. That is not a comfortable temperature for me.

Inside my house is always much colder than outside. A blessing during the heatwave but not so much during the winter

TomBradysLeftKneecap · 08/10/2022 23:59

21 deg C is just over 69 degrees F which is what I have my ac set at all summer as otherwise I feel boiling! Bizarrely, I have the heating set at 72 as otherwise I feel cold. Either weather or me are weird!

Cameleongirl · 09/10/2022 00:02

We don't have the heating on yet. It's currently 11 outside here and our thermostat says it's 22 in the house. I'm wearing a sweatshirt with a big cardigan on top and I'm comfortable sitting on the sofa.

conkercollector · 09/10/2022 00:02

Ours is 18. I would like it higher and DH (doesn't feel the cold) would rather have it lower. I do find it a bit too chilly so have blankets if sitting around and thick, longline cardies for walking around house, or sometimes I wear a dressing gown over my clothes.

TescoCustomerService · 09/10/2022 00:09

Ours is set to 16°c and even that's a bit warm for me

Vegay · 09/10/2022 00:11

Anyone looking forward to next years 38+? I bloody am not 🤣. I literally laid on my bed naked, with the blinds and curtains closed and the fan blowing. I couldn't even go outside. I happened to be on holiday from work thankfully.

I'd love it to never go above 28 and not go below 16 outside. I don't mind rain, but fuck snow, that can be reserved for Christmas cards only.

Rosehugger · 09/10/2022 00:18

Get thermometers for different rooms.Our thermostat is set at 17C, but most of the rooms are 20/21C currently without the heating being on.

PeloFondo · 09/10/2022 00:19

Think it depends on the day too. I've had days where I've felt really cold and it's said 19c, and days when I've felt hot and yet it's 17c
I am allergic to heat though so I'm used to keeping everything really cool as heating brings up a flare as do layers/sweating

starfishmummy · 09/10/2022 00:35

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 08/10/2022 20:16

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?Grin

If you are a wuss then I am too. Not today, I've been fine, but usually I am a cold person.

Mykono · 09/10/2022 01:28

We've been making an effort to get used to cooler temps this year. Last year I'd have been freezing at 18 too, but this year I think we are adjusting quite well. We are just not heating it to 20 at all. I think if we did, 18 would soon start to feel cold again.

Sn0tnose · 09/10/2022 01:32

Should we all freeze because of climate emergency?

Well...... yeah. I mean, there are alternatives to freezing but assuming you’re quite partial to having a planet to reside on, that’s kind of exactly what climate emergency means.

Mykono · 09/10/2022 01:59

oh and vests! Much underrated. I've just stocked up on Primark vest tops at £1.80.

LynetteScavo · 09/10/2022 06:35

I can totally sympathise with people who feel the cold. I used to really feel the cold but seem to have improved with age (I've always put it down to genetics as my ancestors are from a much warmer place) I've always been happy to whack up the heating and not spend elsewhere, but DH does not feel the cold and has never wanted the heating over 18'C. I've coped by wearing thermal layers, always wearing heat holder socks in the house, having a thick blanket for when I watch TV and consuming lots of ginger (ginger tea, and juiced fresh ginger in apple or orange juice.)

At work I cope with thermals and roll neck jumpers, while my colleague floats around looking glamorous in a thin shirt.

Shinyhappyperson22 · 09/10/2022 06:51

Layers! When i moved from a flat to a house I was sooo cold. 5 winters later it’s fine you do adapt. We heat to 19/20 just a few hours a day. 30s semi. When you get dressed and are staying home layer up, I’m not talking coats and gloves.

Have a warm shower then Bra/vest top, t shirt, jumper. Warm joggers and fluffy socks, slippers. Straight away. Keep your core warm. Thick blankets and heat packs/hot water bottles. Candles can make us feel more cosy too.

Go out for a walk. Just a short one. The house feels warmer because your body is warmer/outside cooler. Same with moving around the house. We can be very sedentary beings when at home because we think that’s time for chilling out.

People in general do need think and to take some responsibility for energy use, not just for cost but climate change is happening now and we should be aiming to reduce our use. Not heat our houses to high temps many hours of the day and even night when it’s not even that cold.

MeanderingGently · 09/10/2022 07:00

18 degrees? I'm boiling at 18 degrees, that's what I call a summer's day. I'm enjoying the Autumn because the temperatures are slowly going down (hate the hot weather).

Indoors, I can now open the windows overnight, get the fans on and bring in the lovely cool air. My indoor thermostat is currently saying 14 degrees and I'm happy, the place will warm up if the sun comes out during the day, so I need the place cooler to counteract that. I have no heating on yet, I call 15-16 a happy indoor working temperature.

Faultymain5 · 09/10/2022 07:41

If it makes you feel any better before the cost of living crisis our heating was on auto all year long, set to 24 degrees. The bricks and insulation mean it holds the heat in for the longest time. It only really kicked in very early before I woke up to exercise. Now although we can afford our rises, we’ve turned down the water temperature and the heating. Initially 1 degree, but last night we went down to 22.

ive got to say if my husband did the whole “put on a jumper” in one breath and bought rounds of drinks with the other Id be peeved.

DottyLittleRainbow · 09/10/2022 07:45

We have ours on 18 anyway, and 15 at night. When I was a single mum with not a lot of money it was 16 daytime. If I’m cold I put on a jumper and blanket and make a hot water bottle. And I am someone who is always cold. So we have a lot of blankets 😂

RampantIvy · 09/10/2022 07:49

I call 15-16 a happy indoor working temperature

I call that a happy working in the garden temperature but far too cold to be sitting still at a desk temperature. 16 degrees is the minimum legal temperature for office working.

My happy temperature is about 24 degrees. However my heating thermostat is set at 20. I had it lower but DH was struggling (ill health)

Faultymain5 · 09/10/2022 07:50

Sn0tnose · 09/10/2022 01:32

Should we all freeze because of climate emergency?

Well...... yeah. I mean, there are alternatives to freezing but assuming you’re quite partial to having a planet to reside on, that’s kind of exactly what climate emergency means.

The world has to end sometime. As humans we’ll go long before it does. Treat the world with respect by all means, I agree with that, but maybe use modern technology to do so comfortably.

These sit in jumpers in a 16 degree house decrees have been happening long before this particular emergency climate change notice. Yet walk onto any populated high street and business lights are on all night. So I will wear my onesies and blankets on the sofa for a couple of hours before bed but there will be a modicum of warmth when I get up at 3.30 to go to the loo and when I wake up at 5.30 to exercise and that warmth will be more than 18 degrees. Sorry not sorry

MinervaTerrathorn · 09/10/2022 07:57

RampantIvy · 09/10/2022 07:49

I call 15-16 a happy indoor working temperature

I call that a happy working in the garden temperature but far too cold to be sitting still at a desk temperature. 16 degrees is the minimum legal temperature for office working.

My happy temperature is about 24 degrees. However my heating thermostat is set at 20. I had it lower but DH was struggling (ill health)

At home, unless you are on a video call, it's much easier to dress for the temperature as no dress code restrictions. Also you can use an electric throw and turn the heating down a couple of degrees.

Colourmeclear · 09/10/2022 08:06

It feels weird but wears a hat indoors helps so much.