have you got heating on and if so, for how long?

[novemberlights]

my husband wants the heating to come on only when it drops to 18 degrees in the house. It's 19 currently and feels cold!
Are you all keeping heat off unless essential?
The bill is already rising steeply and we're not even in the really cold months yet. Our teenagers think that other families are just putting the heating on as normal. Is this true? Are you all putting the heating on as you normally would?

Mines on. Much lower temp. Radiators down on only on at all in living room and kids room. Relying a lot on electric blankets which are bloody amazing. That and a hot slow cooker meal is making it really bareable. Im not having a bath, just showers they are getting a bit cold but not unbareable. Im doing 2/3 hours in eve. But have had it on most of today as both children off with covid and ive had to work from home. Loads of tea 🍵 👌

It's on for two hours after work at 16. Only change is I've stopped putting it on for an hour in the morning as we were then leaving a warm house to go to work and school, pointless. Teen DS is usually in shorts and t-shirt, barefoot, occasionally with a jumper or oodie on top.

Yeah, have it on for about 3 hours when I get back from work.

I had my heating on for most of Sunday and my smart meter said it only cost £2 which is much better than I thought it would be.

@QuicheandMustard thanks.

I was thinking about DH and Xmas and workmanship from home...

Yes I am! My hive is set to:
14 degrees overnight
20 degrees 6-8am (I sometimes turn it off as I go out to work if it’s quite mild)
16 degrees during the day if I’m out, 18 if im WFH
20 degrees 6-8pm
i live “up north” and in a flat so have to dry washing indoors.

@novemberlights I would find 19 oppressively hot. However, I've been at home all day today and it has been 11 degrees inside. I have felt very, very cold but can't afford to put the heating on. As a special treat, I put it on for a couple of hours in the evening as it goes down to about 9 if I don't. The smart meter says this costs about £2.50. I got dressed in bed this morning. I had my clothes at the side of me so could bring them into bed to warm them up a bit first. It was like being a student again, but with none of the fun bits. If I could afford it, I'd have the heating on at 15-16 to be comfortable. That said, my house is so craply insulated that it never gets that high anyway.

BTW, I've got an open fire, but logs are no cheaper than the heating.

I don't but have never had it on in the morning. After that initial brr getting up we are all moving too fast to need it.

In the evening I have it on currently from 5-8 at 19. Once dinners finished and we are watching TV, we have electric throws until bedtime. The kids have Primark oodies, as do all their friends according to Insta.

Yes set at 18 day drop it to 15 at night but if feel really cold will boost it
As its alright just layering up etc but i don't want damp and mould as well
And i stick the £66 goverment money in my account to help cover some if additional costs

We use thermostat so hearing goes on if temp falls and fas , newish build so keeps heat well so doesn't really come on loads and this week worst time been on as it hasn't been cold but I had to use my tumble dryer as clothes were not drying

I hate having to worry about it. 😔
Today ive had it on for 1 hour morning and 2 x 30 minutes, £4.50 gas used. I have no idea how we are going to cope tbh but have a young child so just going to have to suck it up and pay out a lot this winter!
Roll on summer!

Ours is coming on as normal at 21 degrees morning and evening. I’ve tried telling husband we need to cut down but he’s not having it. Will show him the bill at the end of this month and then he may come to his senses.

Our tumble dryer has been relegated to the shed, never to be used. We have a heated airer, but it takes sooooo long that washing is more of a chore now.
I've always thought that the UK must have been a really miserable place to live before central heating was invented. I don't want to go back there
And it's only November...

In IL case a truly massive amount of storage - very long thin old style garden.

They used to have access to free logs- occasionally still do - and FIL was more than able to process trees into logs and now neighbour will often help as they did a lot of free work for them prior to illness. At one point FIL estimated he had over 2 years worth stored away.

FIL since got much more fail and and I do remember then complaining about price of logs but they were buying much earlier in the year - as they can store - when woods gone they'll put central heating on.

Set at 18 from 7am until 5 pm, then 19-20 until 10pm

@TheFormidableMrsC

this may be teaching granny to duck eggs (sorry if so), but hopefully useful to someone?!?!

The first hour is the most expensive because it's getting the temperature up to what you've set it at, the next few hours are just top up now & then so if you're putting it on for one hour, you will probably find it's not that much more t have it on for 4 hours. I keep meaning to note down my smart meter costings to show people.

Do you have a smart meter? If not you can use the meter readings (remembering to convert them so you don't have a heart attack!!)

I hope you find it's not as expensive to have it on for longer as you think you is.