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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think 14 degrees is too cold for a home?

62 replies

Mrsfrumble · 13/11/2014 15:18

Especially with two small children in it? I'm about to call the property manager and complain that our heating isn't working properly (had it on non-stop for 3 days and the temperature in the house hasn't risen above 15). I'm not just being a wuss am I?

OP posts:

wentshopping · 13/11/2014 16:31

Hi Mrs F, fellow US dweller here (further south from you but we have a cold front at the moment too). Just a few thoughts… (based on own previous experience with rentals over here). Has the thermostat definitely been switched from "cool" to "heat"? Mine was blowing air around yesterday but I hadn't put the heat part on.
Is your furnace gas? Could it need re-starting?
The way I could tell before if there was heat blowing around was to go into the smallest room with a heat vent - e.g. downstairs loo - and see if its warm in there. if not, then you know the furnace isn't doing anything.
Did you get a "fall check" done on furnace? Our local plumbers like to advertise this, along with a spring check for the a/c. Usually about $50-$75, which is taken off any repair they find necessary. maybe ask your property manager to authorize one?
Hope you warm up soon.

drudgetrudy · 13/11/2014 17:59

It is illegal to expect people to work in an office below 16-so too cold for a home.
I would think about 20 would be acceptable for sitting around.

Methe · 13/11/2014 18:10

I've got no central heating at all at the moment and one tiny convector heater in the living room and it's fine. It'd not cold outside at the moment really. I recon the house is about 14° at the moment but much less overnight and it's been fine. We've all got our fleece pyjamas on as soon as we get in.

googoodolly · 13/11/2014 18:18

I'm really surprised people can sit in such warm temperatures. If I'm at home, just sitting on the sofa, I'm roasting hot with the heating on at 18. Ours isn't even switched on at the moment and has only been on once or twice since September.

MrsPiggie · 13/11/2014 18:23

It doesn't really matter if it's too low or not, if you've got the heating on it should heat your house, unless the wind is blowing through the windows or you've got no roof. So you've got to get it sorted now because it's not going to get any warmer outside.

specialsubject · 13/11/2014 18:32

hot air blowers in the CEILING?

design classic there...

PetulaGordino · 13/11/2014 18:32

Googoo that may be you (I don't like it much more than 19 or so and heating has to be off at night) or your thermostat may be dodgy. Ours needs recalibrating as I have to turn it to 25 degrees to get it to come on at all, even when I know the room temp is about 16 degrees (have a thermometer next to thermostat)

PetulaGordino · 13/11/2014 18:33

Specialsubject my school was heated that way... Not conducive to learning anything beyond the fact that hot air rises tbh

BertieBotts · 13/11/2014 18:34

18 is freezing to me. 16 seems to be the lowest acceptable minimum for most people. 14 definitely very low.

googoodolly · 13/11/2014 18:43

Our boiler was only serviced a couple of months ago. If we have the heating on at all, we have the thermostat set to fifteen, but it probably helps that we're surrounded by people on three sides (we live in a flat) and so we don't need it on all that much, because everyone else has theirs on!

The heating is turned off in here now but it's probably about fourteen degrees or so. I'm under a blanket but only wearing a vest top and I'm warm. Maybe I'm just odd!

TooManyMochas · 13/11/2014 19:13

That is faaaar too cold my MIL would disagree however

Wishtoremainunknown · 13/11/2014 19:26

People have their heating on ?

Original poster

Mrsfrumble · 13/11/2014 19:39

I think the heating system is secondary to the air conditioning system so it uses the same vents. It seems to be common in American houses; I don't think I've seen a radiator since I've been here. My brother's house in Australia was the same.

As I said, it's below freezing outside so I don't think having the heating in is unreasonable Wishtoremain .

Wentshopping our thermostat is fairly new and idiot-proof, so I don't think it's human error. I've left a message on the property managers phone but he's a massive flake so it will probably take many attempts to get hold of him.

Fortunately it's due to warm up next week after snow storms this weekend. Weather here in the southern Midwest seems fairly random; it was 24 degrees at the start of the week!

OP posts:

RaisingMen · 13/11/2014 19:53

WHO recommends 21 degrees for main living area and 18 degrees for all other rooms so yep, too cold!

Bonbonbonbon · 13/11/2014 19:54

I would say that is unreasonably cold for a house, especially if you live somewhere where it is likely to go below freezing. I would set it at 18, maybe 16 minimum. The Midwest is due another Arctic Vortex this week, with temps around -10C, so you better get onto your landlord.

I do think it odd that your furnace is in the attic though. Heat rises, everyone I know has their furnace in the basement. Maybe all the heat is going out the roof and those single panes windows. Have you hung any thick drapes?

Bonbonbonbon · 13/11/2014 19:56

Sorry, just saw you are in the Midwest. We're in Wisconsin and I would definitely not accept such unreliable heating. Ours is forced air as well and we set it to 20 since we have a baby. You don't want a repeat of last year's temps with no heat.

Wishtoremainunknown · 13/11/2014 20:01

Wait sorry I missed that ! Where do you live ? It's not is it ?

Original poster

Mrsfrumble · 13/11/2014 20:01

I've spoken to the property manager and he sounded pretty shocked, and promised to send someone over to look at it.

The house doesn't have a basement, just a crawl space where the water and waste pipes are (which means they're prone to freezing if we don't keep the taps dripping and try and keep the house warm). The house was built in 1920 so I guess they just squeezed the furnace in wherever at a later date. It's a shame the fireplaces have all been bricked up! DH and I both grew up in homes with proper coal fires and are pretty handy at lighting them.

OP posts:

Wishtoremainunknown · 13/11/2014 20:03

Yes so you did. I can see where you said where you live. Sorry.

Mini05 · 13/11/2014 20:19

That's freezing! I'd tell them to send somebody round there's obviously something wrong there! Re not working to the standard it should maybe in need of a service also blowers/vents May to blocked ?? Dust

Original poster

Mrsfrumble · 13/11/2014 20:22

It's now warmed up to 17 degrees in here and it feels so luxurious. I can feel my fingertips again!

OP posts:

PetulaGordino · 13/11/2014 20:47

How cold is acceptable to you for people to turn the heating on wishtoremain?

Original poster

Mrsfrumble · 13/11/2014 21:06

It's early afternoon here so the "warmest" part of the day. I expect when the sun goes down we may be able to see our breath indoors. Hurry up and call, heating repair person!

OP posts:

blackeyedsusie · 13/11/2014 21:06

I found that down to fifteen was bearable if one was wrapped up in twenty layers, wearing a hat and sitting under a duvet. below that and fingers started freezing.

we have yet to put the heating on, however, the man downstairs has his on and physics means we are staying warm. it has also been quite warm here for the time of year, or sunny which heats the place up nicely.

ACheesePuff · 13/11/2014 21:12

You have your house at 9 degrees inside dido ?? It is that temperature outside right now. Weird.

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