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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you think a normal house temperature is?

262 replies

HavelockVetinari · 13/12/2018 09:46

DH grew up with parents who have the thermostat set to 23 degrees day and night - to me this is swelteringly hot, and I sleep without covers on (or the window open if I can get away with it!). My parents, on the other hand, set theirs to 18 or 19 degrees during the day, and 16 degrees at night.

DH prefers a warmer house, I prefer a cooler one, so we have frequent heating wars!

What do you consider a 'normal' temperature for a UK home?

OP posts:
Youngandfree · 13/12/2018 10:59

I’m always cold so 21/22 for me

Pachyderm1 · 13/12/2018 11:01

Anything hotter than 21 I find really uncomfortable. We are usually around 19. And in the bedroom I have no heating at all, and usually the window open.

HotInWinter · 13/12/2018 11:02

For the UK, I'd say your preferred temperatures are the 2 extremes of normal. We used to set thermostat about 19C, and off between 10pm and 6am.

For me currently, the windows are thrown open, I've spent the moning sat in the garden, and the AC isn't kicking in. It's a blissful 23. We tend to cool to 25C over the summer.
I fly tonight. It's going to drop down to around 3C to when I land. I'm packing as many clothes as I can!

AnguaUberwaldIronfoundersson · 13/12/2018 11:03

Our thermostat is set to 18-19 degrees and its off overnight. I never have the radiator on in the bedroom either.

I feel for my DH at night as I'm pregnant and super super hot all the time so I must be a pain to live with!

My in-laws have a much warmer house and my FIL brings an extra jumper when he comes (which I politely tease him about!)

GreenHillOpposite · 13/12/2018 11:03

This thread is making me realise that I'm a bit odd, and that perhaps my friends have got a point as they've tried to tell me about this.

Most of the time the heating's not on at all, so at the moment this means about 15 during the day and lower at night.

On an evening I'll treat myself to 18C in the room we're in, the radiator in the bedroom slightly on, and all others turned off.

If I'm around during the day I'll put the heating on to about 17C in a couple of rooms and the other radiators all turned off and try to get a load of laundry done whilst the heating's on. I have a dehumidifier for this and that makes a big difference. Dry air is warmer than damp.

babysharkah · 13/12/2018 11:04

We don't have a thermostat but m combo is currently on 3/4 and it's lovely and toasty considering how cold it is outside.

It really irritates me with thermostats - if it's -10 outside you're going to have to turn it up to have the same level of heat say 19 indoors. If it's +10 and heating is on 19 it's going to feel hotter.

wigglybeezer · 13/12/2018 11:04

We have it off during the day and overnight, only on in the morning and evening, Victorian House in Scotland, you're all a bunch of Southern softies Grin seriously, our bills are bad enough as it is, I wear lots of layers and sheepskin slippers and it's fine, I think we all burn more calories if it's a bit cool too.

U2HasTheEdge · 13/12/2018 11:05

About 20-21 here.

No heating on overnight and it is set to frost protection. My house keeps the heat in really well though so I don't think it has ever dropped below 16c.

Knittink · 13/12/2018 11:11

Scotland, you're all a bunch of Southern softies grin seriously, our bills are bad enough as it is.

If people can afford it, why wouldn't they want to be comfortable in their own houses? There is nothing virtuous or admirable about being cold, you know!

BentNeckLady · 13/12/2018 11:12

20 in the day. Off at night. 23 at night would be unbearable.

Pringlemunchers · 13/12/2018 11:16

I have a question.Those who barely have the heating on at night, how come your head and nose is not freezing ? I had to get up and put the heating on the other night , because my nose felt like it was going to freeze and fall off !!

Celebelly · 13/12/2018 11:18

We don't turn the heating on or off ever. We just have the thermostat set to whatever and it goes on if it dips under that temp and then does off again. No idea if the radiators go on overnight or not. I assume so.

I work from home though as does DP a lot of the time.

MaudesMum · 13/12/2018 11:19

Thermostat is set to 21, which seems a bit high, especially since I prefer a coolish house (menopausal!). However although it has nice thick walls which retain the heat quite well, it also has wooden floors with gaps in them and no separation such as porches/corridors between inside and outside, so its pretty draughty! I also work from home and find that if I'm sitting around for several hours I really start to feel the cold.

ginghamstarfish · 13/12/2018 11:22

17-18 mostly, down to 16 at night. PILs house is at 24! Last time I was there I sat fanning myself, pouring with sweat, red faced, while they looked at me as if I was a freak, not the slightest bit of consideration that it was making me so uncomfortable. (No, we are not allowed to say anything they may not like as it creates a frosty atmosphere and 'upsets' them). One good thing is that I told DH I won't be going again unless I can take my electric fan with me, so hooray for Christmas at home this year!

Narya · 13/12/2018 11:24

Ours is 19 in the day and off at night. It's a modern house though and very well insulated.

shumway · 13/12/2018 11:27

My parents have theirs at 25. It makes my eyeballs sweat.

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 13/12/2018 11:27

This is all very exciting, I've just bought a wireless thermostat and will be installing it over the weekend. I now feel fully informed as to the MN consensus. Grin

No heating on at night here, it's one of the joys of life to be toasty under a duvet but with a cold face.

Oblomov18 · 13/12/2018 11:27

19
Never changed, the dial on the thermostat, for 20 years!!

FaFoutis · 13/12/2018 11:29

17.5
No heating at night.

Ohyesiam · 13/12/2018 11:29

19 in the evenings, heating off at night.

SisyphusDad · 13/12/2018 11:31

20 during the day when the heating's on, whatever it gets to without the heating on at night.

SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 13/12/2018 11:32

I like the heating at 19/21 in v cold winter,we turn it right down an hour or so before bed though

Trampire · 13/12/2018 11:32

15-18 during the day (if very cold!).

Off at night. Can't stand being hot at night. Thick duvets are enough.

DH likes it even colder than that and will frequently have all windows open in a gale. That's a bit much for me so I go around closing them all. It causes a bit of friction.

wombatsears · 13/12/2018 11:34

23!!! I’d be so uncomfortable. 18/19 during the day and off at night unless extremely cold which may happen about once a year or less.

Knittedfairies · 13/12/2018 11:38

18 during the day, off at night. The bedroom radiator is turned off. I sleep with a summer weight duvet in winter and just a sheet in summer.