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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have the house at 16 degrees?

29 replies

HopLittleFroggiesHopSkipJump · 05/11/2013 16:25

Everywhere seems to suggest 18-22 degrees, but at around 16 it feels a comfortable temperature, DD (14mo) wears long sleeve tops anyway but has been taking cardigans/hoodys off if I put one on inside so also
seems warm enough, her hands and nose are always warm too.

Is there any reason why its suggested to be so warm? (other than for heating bills to make a good profit)?
Surely making it so artificially warm inside makes people more sensitive to the cold?

OP posts:
Monetbyhimself · 05/11/2013 16:27

I don't get this competitive freezing tbh. If you're comfortable why on earth would you worry if that's unreasonable or not ?

RandomMess · 05/11/2013 16:29

Everyone is different if you're comfortable at 16 degrees then that is great - when visitors come around you may need to up the thermostat a bit though, most people would find that chilly for sitting around in.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 05/11/2013 16:29

if it works for you then do it. This year I have set mine at 17 so that it comes on when it gets cold but does not get too hot. so far its working well as I am more likely to put on a thicker cardi than turn it up to 20 which I used to do but then we all got too hot and kept faffing with it up and down. at the moment its enough to take the damp chill out the air and also dry off damp washing off the line so I am happy.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/11/2013 16:30

I set mine at 15 but am convinced that it is actually hotter than that. I think it depends where your thermostat is. Over 20 is sweltering. At work I can set it at 22-25 and it is cool.

Original poster
HopLittleFroggiesHopSkipJump · 05/11/2013 16:33

MrsTerry that's a good point about work feeling colder. Maybe bigger buildings feel colder at the same temperature somehow? (we are in a small flat)

OP posts:
gwenniebee · 05/11/2013 16:39

Whatever works for you. Our thermostat is set to 19 but the house is so bloody difficult to heat it never gets there (14 downstairs and 13 upstairs according to dh's gadgets today). I find that very cold and my dd (15 mo) has been very grumpy today unless wearing a fleece hoody on top of two long sleeved tops. Our house is draughty too, though, so I think the cold really feels cold iyswim.

As regards your dd, I would keep checking her core body temp - mine will take clothes off but it doesn't mean she's too hot, it just means she's being a pickle!

WhataMistakeaToMakea · 05/11/2013 16:41

Mine is 22 and I'm freezing! And it's a very small flat. My dp however would find it sweltering and be complaining above 17if he came over so I think some people just feel the cold more than others.

NorthernLurker · 05/11/2013 16:51

I set that ours to about that for the morning but in the evening I need 22. Terrible wuss I am now. We lived for 9 years in a house without central heating.

Original poster
HopLittleFroggiesHopSkipJump · 05/11/2013 17:38

northern did you have good alternative heating before or just have to wrap up from head to toe?Shock

OP posts:
LoofahVanDross · 05/11/2013 17:42

22 here also. 16 would be bitter in our house.

ShatnersBassoon · 05/11/2013 17:46

Do what you want. If that's the temperature you are most comfortable at, why on earth would you need to ask what people who don't live with you think?

Orangeanddemons · 05/11/2013 17:47

22 here too, and always cold

WorraLiberty · 05/11/2013 17:49

I don't get this competitive freezing tbh. If you're comfortable why on earth would you worry if that's unreasonable or not ?

This ^^ absolutely.

We have ours on 19. Sometimes that's ok and sometimes it isn't.

It doesn't matter as long as we're all happy.

mitchsta · 05/11/2013 17:51

Depends on the house. Some warm up really quickly, others don't.

soontobeburns · 05/11/2013 17:52

I don't know what ours is but I do know my radiator is off and window open. I cant stand a hot room.

Isildur · 05/11/2013 17:53

Perhaps your thermostat is a bit off.

16 isn't freezing, but some houses will feel a bit 'damp' or something at that temperature over winter.

If you're not sitting around turning blue, you're fine whatever the temp. reading is.

TheArticFunky · 05/11/2013 17:59

At 16 I would feel too cold. Ours is currently set at 19 and I'm too cold. About 22 is a comfortable temperature for me but hits the roof if he catches me with it that high. We have it at 20 most of the time.

Dh is in the "put a jumper on" camp but I don't agree, it's my house and I want to be comfortable. Our heating bills are low as it's a small property and I can't get cosy if it's cold.

Mim78 · 05/11/2013 18:00

Nope yanbu.

I usually make ours about 19 but not all day and night. Imagine it is often 16.

Mim78 · 05/11/2013 18:01

I am so in the put a jumper on camp.

Friends of ours whose house is always hot seem to get a lot of bugs.

Abra1d · 05/11/2013 18:05

I think many people would be amazed how much difference a thermal layer makes. A thermal vest, especially a long-sleeved one, really keeps you warm. They are pretty now, too. I have loads of them in different styles and colours.

MinesAPintOfTea · 05/11/2013 19:56

Have you checked with an actual thermometer? Thermostats don't always read the temperature right (just consistently wrong)

Hulababy · 05/11/2013 20:00

My thermostat is set to 16/17 degrees at most. However it is much warmer than that on the top two floors. The thermostat is downstairs - but we dont live down there much - utility room and study only. As heat rises, our living room, kitchen and bedrooms on the upper floors are several degrees above this - definitely into 20s.

People comment on how hot our house is and I really feel the cold. Our house is just well insulated I guess.

LetZygonsbeZygons · 05/11/2013 20:01

I had mine on 15 and house was sweltering! hadto turn it off after 10 mins!

Hulababy · 05/11/2013 20:02

I don't like layering up in the house and hate wearing socks - very fortunate to have such a warm house ut without having the thermostat up.

swampytiggaa · 05/11/2013 20:19

Ours is set to 15 at the moment so it hasn't come on yet lol. Our house is warm and gets heated by the sun on the front most days.

Plus husband works nights. Don't want the house too hot whilst he sleeps then whilst the kids sleep. So it is on low but constant over the winter and we all stick an extra layer on.