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Original poster

How cold is your house without the heating on?

131 replies

Notcontent · 04/12/2022 20:46

I am in a small Victorian terrace. Had new windows, new boiler and some insulation put in recently ( limited by nature of property). I am a bit disappointed by results. Downstairs area has an extension and is better insulated (some new walls) so if I heat that area it seems to retain heat for longer. Upstairs is pretty chilly. I put heating on at bedtime yesterday for a couple of hours and it was about 16.5. No heating on since then and it’s 14 degrees upstairs. I am in London by the way and outside it’s 5 degrees.

is that to be expected in an older house?

OP posts:
WinterLobelia · 04/12/2022 20:48

We are in the south. Mid terrace, Victorian.

We put the heating on with a thermostat set at 18 degrees but only once or twice a day, and off by 7 pm. This morning we woke up to 14.5 degrees.

We were out until 4 pm today and so the heating had been on until 9 am then off and we came home to 15.5 degrees.

It is feeling really cold. I went to bed this afternoon with the electric blanket on.

ohsheglows · 04/12/2022 20:49

To be expected to be honest. We live in a Victorian Terrace with double glazing, our thermostat was measuring 13.5 degrees in the house today without any heating on at all. I find in our house that it's freezing in winter and boiling in the summer!

WordtoYoMumma · 04/12/2022 20:50

DH accidentally turned our heating off yesterday - it's usually on a timer to turn on for an hour in the morning but this morning it didn't. By lunch time I was confused as to why I felt so cold! Thermostat said it was 16 degrees.

we generally have the heating on an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening but I've a feeling I'll be turning it on a little more this coming week especially as I work from home! Brrr!

Thingamebobwotsit · 04/12/2022 20:50

To be honest that is what we are getting in a 1980's house. Our extension stays warmer but if the heating goes off it will drop quite quickly elsewhere.

We tend to put our heating on for a few hours before getting up, and a couple in the evening. Not much point heating the house when we are all tucked up under warm duvets and blankets.

Anonforthis122 · 04/12/2022 20:50

I'm in a new build also in London. I have not had heating on at all its 16.5 in my house

SeenAndNot · 04/12/2022 20:50

80’s build. Last year couldn’t get the kitchen above 12 degrees with the heating on for 4 hours a day.

MooBaggage · 04/12/2022 20:51

1930s 3 bed semi here in the North West of England and it goes down to 14 at the moment if the heating isn't on.

I can't believe I used to have heating on 21 in the winter until this year Sad. Am now going for 17.5 and an electric heated throw if I'm WFH...

LT2 · 04/12/2022 20:52

In our 70s built mid terrace it's ranging 14-17 with heating off (most of the time it's 16). East of England.

AudTheDeepMinded · 04/12/2022 20:53

1920s 4-bed semi here. Stupid stable style side door that we are waiting to have replaced and some single glazed aluminium windows in two of the bedrooms, also to be replaced. The hallway by the back door has gotten down to 10.5 this morning. The rooms themselves are warmer and I try to keep the doors closed. The heating does warm things up but it dissipates so quickly once turned off. It's a bit of a shock having left a modern three bed mid-terrace. Brrrr.

Luana1 · 04/12/2022 20:53

We're in a 1930s semi and it's 16 without heating so seems that's normal OP. Managing with the wood burning stove and a halogen heater in the DC's room but we will put the heating on for sure next week if the predicted cold weather materialises.

Baconand · 04/12/2022 20:56

I think you’d be hard pushed to get it any warmer without regular heating tbh.
Ours is around 14/15 unheated, colder in the bathroom as it’s currently uninsulated. We are in a thatched cottage. But previous house was modern with all the insulation etc and never got above 15 unheated in winter either.

MotherofPearl · 04/12/2022 20:56

Ours drops down to about 15 overnight (never have heating on overnight). I'm trying to toughen up myself and everyone else a bit and acclimatise to a cooler house. We used to have the thermostat set to 20, but now have it on 18 (during the day). I would be willing to drop down to 17 but the rest of my family will stage an uprising I think.

MyChristmasName · 04/12/2022 20:59

Your house will get cold without the heating on regardless of glazing, insulation etc.
I'm in a newbuild, just a few years old, great energy rating, but when I went away over last winter and turned the heating off it did eventually reach the frost setting I had it on, ie 4 degrees.

When it's cold it drops about 2 degrees overnight as a rule also (I set my thermostat not to come on overnight).

C102 · 04/12/2022 21:01

Blimey my house is about 12 - 14 degrees in the morning (we don't have heating on overnight). Currently heating only the radiators we really have to have on and the thermostat is set to 17 at the maximum. We're in a 4 bed 30s semi.

KitBumbleB · 04/12/2022 21:01

4 storey 1600s house, absolutely baltic in here no matter what.

Spendonsend · 04/12/2022 21:04

If we dont heat the house its around 12 degrees if its cold outside. It drops slowly over a week or so. If we heat it up in the day to 18 it drops to 16 overnight.

gogohmm · 04/12/2022 21:05

2007 townhouse, heating on for an hour in the morning, 2.5 hours evening, set at 19 degrees, maintaining 18 degrees throughout the day without need to boost today, turned itself off after an hour as house was above 19.

Modern insulation is very good (and neighbours one side seem very keen on heating, that wall is very warm!

LionessesRules · 04/12/2022 21:06

We've got an empty house right now.
I was there this morning. TVRs all set to frost protect. It was just under 10C inside this morning. 4C outside.
10 year old "new" build.
Gas bill about £25/month right now - zero over the summer.

PicaNewName · 04/12/2022 21:06

I came down to 17 this morning and the heating's been on overnight. Our bedroom is even colder. I cranked the heating up. I can't function in the cold.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 04/12/2022 21:07

@AudTheDeepMinded we had 10.5 in our hall today as well! It’s not a living area so I’m not too worried but it does make a draught that creeps into the house.

DogInATent · 04/12/2022 21:09

Don't know. I'm not playing that game. The coal fire is on downstairs and the heating is coming on for a few hours morning and evening. I'd guess it drops to maybe 17-18 in the coolest rooms overnight. I don't plan on letting it drop cold enough for condensation and damp to become a problem.

AudTheDeepMinded · 04/12/2022 21:10

thenewaveragebear1983 · 04/12/2022 21:07

@AudTheDeepMinded we had 10.5 in our hall today as well! It’s not a living area so I’m not too worried but it does make a draught that creeps into the house.

I find it a ridiculous place for the thermostat to be put! (another thing to add to the list, resite it!). The side door is so drafty and has a single glazed coloured glass panel above it. Looks pretty but bugger all use at keeping heat in. Cannot wait to get a new door! The other thing which really doesn't help is the children leaving doors open all the time. I treat the house like a submarine with air locked compartments!

Original poster
Notcontent · 04/12/2022 21:12

Thanks to everyone for replying. I am sorry that all our houses are so cold but I feel a bit better knowing that it’s not just my house…

OP posts:
kessiebird · 04/12/2022 21:13

The one winter there was noone living in this house (we live here now) it dropped to 9° during the day, likely lower at night. That was without heating apart from occasionally to stop the pipes freezing up.

It was 14° when I woke up this morning, heating is on a few times a day.

afuckinggoat · 04/12/2022 21:14

Our boiler has been broken for 5 days now and it is 8 degrees in our house during the day (we've moved out until the new one is installed!). House is 1995 detached.

Your houses are all being very efficient at retaining their heat!