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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - heating for guests

388 replies

ifonly4 · 27/12/2017 19:15

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.

OP posts:
SellFridges · 27/12/2017 19:59

15 degrees is my “you can probably go out without a coat” temperature. I’m astounded that people keep their houses below that.

JaneEyre70 · 27/12/2017 20:00

I'd make sure I wore lots of layers, and a hat and scarf next time!!

Our heating comes on automatically at 16c, that's cold to me.

stickytoffeevodka · 27/12/2017 20:00

People wear jumpers indoor??

Of course. It's winter, don't you kind of expect to have to wear a jumper?

We rarely even turn the central heating on in winter unless it's due to freeze. We have a fire in the living room and it keeps downstairs nice and toasty. I don't like the bedrooms warm, else I can't sleep and get headachy - we just use winter duvets and hot water bottles if it's cold.

Natsku · 27/12/2017 20:03

Brrr 14 is way too cold, especially if you have guests round! I keep my house over 20 always (just checked the thermometer in the room I'm in and it's 24 right now, and the air pump heater in the lounge is set to 21 I think - I sometimes need to wear a jumper in the lounge).

Judydreamsofhorses · 27/12/2017 20:03

I hate being cold - we have quite an old house and it takes ages to get properly warm. I can’t imagine not wearing a jumper inside at this time of year, and am also currently sat on a heated throw, with a cosy cat purring on my lap, as well as the heating on.

FuzzyCustard · 27/12/2017 20:04

We wear layers and have sheepskin boots/slippers which keep our feet cosy. And have several fleecy rugs on the sofas.
Sadly, my DH has been unable to work for some while as he had a rare cancer (and hideous treatment), and I was made redundant this year (and am his carer anyway) so disposable income is insufficient to allow heating.
On the bright side, we are not contributing much to global warming!

user1468353179 · 27/12/2017 20:04

That sounds like pa-in law's house. It's fucking freezing and I refuse to go in the winter (DH agrees).

IHaveACuntingPlan · 27/12/2017 20:07

Ours is at 15-17•C and guests do comment on it but there's not a lot we can do - we're due a bill in the next two weeks and I have no idea how we're going to pay it and it's only going to be e about £180. We have no money.
The thing is, we're mostly used to it and it doesn't feel uncomfortable. If we do feel the chill we put blankets over ourselves. Other people's houses are boiling in comparison!

Andylion · 27/12/2017 20:08

Jumpers, or as we call them in Canada, sweaters, are one of the joys of winter. I have so many I can’t fit them all in my dresser.

But I agree with op, 14 degrees is way too cold.

My workplace is often too cold in winter. Most of my co-workers have shawls or oversized cardigans that we keep at work and put on overtop of whatever we are wearing.

TuftedLadyGrotto · 27/12/2017 20:10

Anything above 18,is too hot. Being too hot is far worse than being cold. You can put layers onto warm up, move around. Can't do much if the heating is on 23 and it feels like a tropical greenhouse.

We have office thermostat wars. We have an agreement that is stays on 18. Except some people think they should be able to wear the shirts and blouses in the middle of winter and turn it up to 23. Unbearable.

Piggywaspushed · 27/12/2017 20:10

the Dept of health recommends at least 18 degrees, having moved form 21 a few years ago for living rooms.

There IS no official minimum temperature for classrooms by the way . We have some totally inadequately heated classrooms at my work and everyone has to sit in coats and scarves . Even me and I am Scottish. The thermometer I brought in said 14 degrees and I- I am not joking- I became ill.

I don't really believe any of you actually have houses at 9 degrees! That would be considered dangerous to human life. I couldn't possibly get my house that cold. Coldest it has been recently was 16.5 overnight when it snowed. Just as well those of you who enjoy the cold don't live in new builds!

lurkingnotlurking · 27/12/2017 20:10

Mine is 22-23 degrees. The same temp (or higher) is recorded by the thermostat all summer. Maybe the room it is in traps the heat. Thank goodness.

FuzzyCustard · 27/12/2017 20:10

IHave you have my sympathy. And understanding.

froshiechipandbrickie · 27/12/2017 20:11

People wear jumpers indoor??

It’s winter! I’m also wearing woolly socks... and I used to wear a woolly hat to bed when I was little (but that was before moving to the U.K., I was used to colder winters, tbh).

Piggywaspushed · 27/12/2017 20:11

And I speak as one who turns the thermostat down at work (in the classrooms where the heating works!)

LazyDailyMailJournos · 27/12/2017 20:13

I am genuinely boggling at the idea that someone thinks that you shouldn't wear jumpers indoors!

But I grew up in a family where money was very tight and we had oil-fired central heating, which was very expensive to run. And when the oil ran out and we had no money, then we had no heating. So we got very used to putting on another layer if we were cold, and that's translated into my adult life. If I feel chilly I'll put a jumper, cardi or hoody on and pull a blanket over me on the sofa.

FuzzyCustard · 27/12/2017 20:14

piggy I assure you that the thermometer in my hall says 9 degrees. My house is 10 years old - not ancient at all. And it has been below freezing here (ie in minus figures). We are talking Celsius not Fahrenheit here.
It is shit being cold - it is shittier not being believed!

LazyDailyMailJournos · 27/12/2017 20:15

For example in my living room now it's 17 degrees (by the independent thermometer, not the thermostat), and I am sitting quite happily in cotton PJ bottoms and a short sleeved t-shirt. I don't feel cold at all.

Piggywaspushed · 27/12/2017 20:15

Well, there's something wrong with the house then fuzzy because new builds have to adhere to strict regs! Has it got proper cavity wall insulation??

hels71 · 27/12/2017 20:17

We do not have working heating. In the winter you can often see your breath in many rooms. We do have an electric heater for the living room, but it is often only 6 degrees in there when we get home from work. Lots of layering house...and if the living room actually reaches 17or 18 we all feel hot!

peachgreen · 27/12/2017 20:18

How on earth do you 23 degree-lovers cope when there's a baby in the house? 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.

LemonShark · 27/12/2017 20:18

YANBU. Can't bloody stand people being stingy about heating for guests unless it's for financial reasons. Basic hosting manners is to ensure guests are comfortable! Heating takes a while to come on and filter into the rooms so they really should have prepared ahead of time.

OuchLegoHurts · 27/12/2017 20:18

Fuzzy Is it through choice that you have the house at 9 degrees or can you not afford the heating? That is frighteningly cold and very bad for your long term health, especially lung function.

PaxUniversalis · 27/12/2017 20:19

I think it's quite careless to heat your house at only 14 degrees when you're having guests.
Our house is usually heated at 19 degrees during winter.

Are they outdoorsy people who are used to the cold?

Glad the food was nice and they put on a good spread though.

LuluJakey1 · 27/12/2017 20:19

We turned ours off at the end of May and didn't put it back on until mid November. This time of year we have it on at 18-20 depending on how cold it is.

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