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?

@Mossyeyes the teens need electric blankets! In seriousness I would find 15 so cold (that would give me a great excuse not to do my homework). One of my parents runs hot and would turn the heating down, a relief when the other one was there say “it’s freezing in here!” and turn it back up.
I don’t want to derail the thread, but any recommendations for electric (sofa suitable) blankets welcome!

As a small experiment since I have been more interested in the temperature at home the question I’ve had for ages might finally be answered - butter in a butter dish is best when it’s 19.4

My heating is set to 18 I may put it up to 19 when it’s is very cold outside but it’s a well insulated house with gas central heating that seems to heat up very quickly and hold its heat well. I am going to invest in a heated throw to try and mitigate costs this year though

@RampantIvy I think you are right, sometimes no amount of clothes can feel warm, unless you are active. While it’s generally great to reduce energy consumption, there can be a lack of compassion verging on cold virtue signalling from some.
I had an interesting discussion about sleep bags once(!) women apparently generally run much colder and it’s hormonal. Health issues on top (like OP) don’t help.

@MinervaTerrathorn : a suit jacket would be considered overkill/pretentious day to day in my industry

I usually wear a Uniqlo extra warm thermal long sleeve as a base layer, with a thin knit on top (merino or similar). Sometimes a blouse on top with a long line cardigan

I have a fleece hoodie jacket which I will be wearing off camera!

Mine is at 19. I'm cuddled up in a blanket and still cold. I'm a cold person

@Blueink : I have the monhouse heated throw (it’s Sherpa on 1 side, fleece on the other) single bed size - this is perfect for me on the sofa. I was given a double size by family but found that too big so passed on to another relative. That was Cosi home and they seem like a good brand

I’m looking at my old orders on Amazon & those 2 were about £40 last year, £65 to £70 now : keep looking for a good price. Also look in ALDI, Lidl if they have them

Old fashion thermometer (with the red liquid) says it's 14° In the lounge (right by the back door in the kitchen, through the doorway) smart meter monitor in the kitchen says 17° It's blue skies & sunny, but chilly Met office Says its 16° locally (though doubt it's representative of my street/immediate area.

💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️ I'm in thin leggings socks & t shirt, not cold at all, yet they could all read the same on other days and I'd be 'freezing'

its all variable & weird. I'm just intending on putting on layers, wearing warm socks and these little fabric boots.

once it's too wet/cold/miserable to have the back door open I'll just make sure the windows are open for at least an hour a day, I can't cope without fresh air circulating!

eventually i'll put the heating on, but that's more about the house not getting damp.

I'll put the heating on 'for me' if my joints hurt much more than usual or if my cough starts up indoors (it's usually outside with the change in temperature & drives me nutty!!

Possibly if I just want to feel 'cosy'! I'm very fortunate to be on a fix until Dec 2023, so it should still be affordable to use it as I wish, I just don't want 'to waste' it.

As I said on another thread, what I'd really like is a heated toilet seat.

While it’s generally great to reduce energy consumption, there can be a lack of compassion verging on cold virtue signalling from some.

Spot on @Blueink. There is always a "Four Yorkshiremen" element on threads about putting the heating on. It is well known that most mumsnetters don't feel the cold and hate summer.

I love summer and hate the cold.

16 degrees outside temperature.
windows open in every room for circulation.
no heating needed in such mild temperatures.
god save the king

I love summer and hate the cold.

I love summer. Mid 30s is my ideal temperature, but it’s 16.4 in here according to the Hive and I’m not cold.

I live in the north of Scotland. When we had the bad storms last November and all our power was cut off, our (modern, insulated) house dropped to 6c in less than 24 hours. In 48 hours it was like an ice block and we were staying elsewhere!

I love summer but I'm comfortable in a range of temperatures. House is heated to 16 once the CH is on but I don't own a fan and I've worked outside in 35 degrees overseas. I don't like the winter dark.

DH is uncomfortable with the temp over 18 and fortunately we moved to a new build with the best insulation we’ve ever had. So, with the thermostat at 18 the house is 20/22 during the day. He and the dog don’t like it. I always wrap up, either dressing gown or long cardigan over my clothes and a scarf. When I sit down in the evening I add thick socks and a fleece blanket.

Without that I would be comfortable.

18 here. I wear layers of cold. Hate an overly warm room. Bedroom is even cooler but thick duvet.

*if cold

Ours is set at 16 at them moment but we still have windows open each morning & it doesn’t kick in.
I have 2 pairs of socks on and a throw to wrap up in if sitting watching TV. In really freezing cold weather we have it around 18 in the day, with the occasional crank up to 20, and put it down to 15/16 at night.

I do feel the cold but DH & DC don’t.

ours is on 18, however when DH is home it’s turned up to 20 or 22 … As he complains he’s cold while sitting around in shorts and a thin t shirt🤨 …
When he’s at work I’m happy to wear my oodie and have the central heating on 18, I also don’t see the point of it being on if I’m in bed under a thick feather duvet…

it really isn’t that bad, and I’m someone who feels the cold. I think the trick is to dress in warm cosy clothing like an oodie or use an electric throw whilst sitting still on the couch.

Ours was on 17, timer clicked it off an hour ago, currently dropped to 15 but I will go read in bed soon and DS is in pyjama shorts and t-shirt so clearly not cold.

I am a very cold person but have the heating set to 18 degrees. I am wearing thermal underwear, a real wool jumper, with a real wool cardigan over the top, a scarf and am snuggled up under my electric throw so am comfy.

Ours is currently 15 degrees and I'm utterly frozen. I hate winter

I was a bit chilly but just back from a dog walk and now hot.

Ours has been at 17.5 for a few weeks but I have succumbed and put it up to 18 and 18.5. I have found it cold. 18 when i got home from the school run this evening and definitely felt cold.

13.5 here. No heating on yet. Have vest top, long sleeve thermal vest, hoodie, oudie and thermal leggings. I'm OK 👍 so far .....

Put more clothes on!