AIBU - heating for guests

[ifonly4]

Went to BIL's for Boxing Day and the house was freezing. They asked if we were warm enough, DH said he was a bit cold so they said they'd put the heating on low. We had our lunch in conservatory and in afternoon we noticed that we could see everyone's breath in the lounge. I then spotted a temperature gauge, 14c. AIBU, but this was far too cold for guests? Have to admit we tend to have temperature around 19c when we have guests.

I don't think it's got anything to do with money. We invited them here but BIL's wife loves entertaining and insisted we go to them. Food was lovely two choices, veggies, salad, bread and two pudds to choose from (better than what I'd have offered in all fairness), so it's not as if they'd invited us under pressure.

mumsy most people (who can afford it obviously) have their house warmer than the outside in much of autumn, early Spring and winter

I have my heating on in August if it's cold. Hell yes in May.

Those of you with your gas and electric paid up to date and on direct debit are presumably aware that it is MUCH more expensive to buy gas and electric on a pre paid meter as people on lower incomes have to? Just another way being poor costs more.

I honestly didn’t know that....
Thanks for the info.

Too cold for me ! My MIL house can be cold and they don't do heating really. She had lots of scatter cushions and throws so I just start wrapping myself in them

Yesterday our house was rather fristy frosty having had no heating for four days (and some snow etc). We had about six layers and were luckily able to crank the heating up. Today we are back to 18 degrees and it's perfectly fine.
I never get a hot flush when I need one!
Anything over 20 - how do you cope (even before the "hot" days)? Wear some clothes!
Less than 14, yes, I would be keeping my coat on. I don't think it's rude (inasmuch if that's your "normal"), but you must be aware that you find other people's houses stifling... so just want people to bring a layer (or 3, 4, 5)

And again, what’s with people beating their houses to over 20c? Do you really have your heating on in May and September because that’s higher than the average temperature for nearly the whole year.

Absolutely! We'll have it on any time of the year if it's cold. If it's lovely and warm in May or Sept then no we won't. Generally however it's not, so the heating is on to make the house warmer than the outside. We are lucky enough to be able to afford to heat the house as warm as we prefer - understand that many aren't so lucky. But as we have the luxury of not worrying about our gas bill, damn right we're not going to sit huddled under blankets with multiple layers on to keep warm inside. Layers are to keep warm when outside and we don't have control of the temp. Inside we have heating!

I feel the cold so even with the thermostat to 22 I still wear long sleeved PJs and socks with a 13 tog winter duvet - and often a jumper as well!

My heating isn't even on lol only popped on occasionally for when the kids have a bath and a bit after

I'm not one of these 24-30 degrees people and I love to wear a jumper, even indoors!!

But what I can't stand is DH messing with the heating timers or trying to turn it off certain months etc.

The way I see it, is whatever number the thermostat needs to be on for us to be comfortable in December, is also what it needs to be on in July.

So my heating is on all day every day, all year round. The thermostat stays set to 20 and when it needs to click on it does, and when it's already warm the heating doesn't kick in. Simple!

This research suggests 22 degrees is probably the most optimal.

www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160617-the-never-ending-battle-over-the-best-office-temperature

For those who ask if people have their heating on all summer , -well not all summer no. We're at 23 degrees. If the temperature goes higher than that the heating clicks off, obviously.

star

The NHS’ recommendation (especially for infants) are lower.

www.nhs.uk/livewell/winterhealth/pages/keepwarmkeepwell.aspx

"I have my heating on in August if it's cold. Hell yes in May."

Me too. I have the heating on whenever it's necessary. It's according to the need for it, not the calendar.

'My understanding is that they shouldn't be warmer than 16-20 degrees, preferably the lower end, as being too warm increases the risk of SIDS.'

Babies have to be around 37 degrees like the rest of us.

For those who ask if people have their heating on all summer , -well not all summer no. We're at 23 degrees. If the temperature goes higher than that the heating clicks off, obviously.
I asked about people and their heating in the summer.

Just to confirm, ours is on 24x7x365 and set on a thermostat as that is how heatingworks. The point I was making is that if you have it set at 20 plus degrees it must be on near enough all year round, even on days when it’s warm enough outside to be out in a t shirt? Seems insane to me to want a house that warm, especially overnight but I suppose this thread just shows people need different levels of warmth to feel comfortable which might explain why I always feel it’s so stifling hot in other people’s homes and offices.

What does Africa's NHS advice suggest then? I wish NICE would pay more attention to the evidence-base. Then they would actually recommend co-sleeping too.

"most people have some food in the house anyway so the expense of food is minimal/non-existent compared to the cost of heating the house for a few hours on a regular basis."

I don't see how using food you already have is free. It still has to be paid for!
If you can afford pounds for extra food, you can afford to put the heating on.
If not, warn people before they come so they can make an informed decision. It's unfair to invite people over and only then tell them that you won't put the heating on!

Africa's NICE I meant

We just have the heating set to 21 in the day, and 18 at night, regardless of the month of the year. We use the heating according no need rather than on a timetable.

My thermostat is set at 20. I'm wearing a thin jumper over my t-shirt and I'm quite warm. If it wasn't for DH, I'd probably set it to about 18 and wear a fleece. I look forward to winter so that I can wear my lovely jumpers!

A couple of years ago I stayed for a couple of nights with an old uni friend and her family. Their house was freezing! There was a thermometer in the hall (admittedly the coldest part of the house) which showed 10-13 degrees whenever I checked. I was wearing two jumpers and still felt chilly when sitting watching TV. What was bizarre, was that her family were all just in t-shirts and leggings and didn't seem to feel the cold at all!

Bananafish and all you other hot housers, are you solar powered? You know WHY it's worth trying to use less electricity and gas? That it's not just about the bills?

I pay over the odds for 100% renewable electricity. So that guilt trip doesn't work on me!!

"You know WHY it's worth trying to use less electricity and gas?"

There are ways to try to use less electricity and gas that don't involve making your guests suffer. You don't really have the moral highground if you're making your visitors uncomfortable.

20 all the way at this time of year

I like a warm house. Set around 16 night and 17/18 day
Sometimes upstairs is bloody hot yet downstairs is cold as heat rises

For those who can’t affird to hear your home are you claiming every benifits - assume on low income /can’t work

Everyone should have the right to be warm and fed - tho know sadly often doesn’t happen

Bananafish and all you other hot housers, are you solar powered? You know WHY it's worth trying to use less electricity and gas? That it's not just about the bills?

I don't run a car
I don't take flights abroad
I take public transport everywhere
I reduce my carbon footprint in other ways without freezing my tits off