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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect heating to be on?

583 replies

Glitterinthegrey · 08/02/2021 16:39

Me & DD's are spending our days at my FIL house for the next couple of weeks while some work is being done on our house.

We're having meals here, but I brought all the food with us, and I'm doing him dinner every day too.

It's absolutely freezing in his house! Youngest DD is sitting under a duvet in the spare room, and oldest is wearing her gloves to do her homework. There is snow on the ground outside. I asked him (politely) if we could put the heating on - he says it'll come on automatically if it goes below 16.5 degrees!

AIBU to think this is too bloody cold? He just shrugged and said that we should wear more clothes!

OP posts:
isseys4xmastinselcats · 08/02/2021 16:41

thats far to low ours i set to come on at 20 and it dosent feel super warm in here today

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 08/02/2021 16:41

Are you contributing to utilities?
It would cost me a fortune to keep the house warmer than 16.5

Whichname98 · 08/02/2021 16:41

YANBU. Is there anyone else you can stay with? Definitely too cold.

Alwaysandforeverhere · 08/02/2021 16:42

Would it be worth offering him a fiver or something to turn that upto 19 or whatever. He could be really worried about the cost.

CoffeeRunner · 08/02/2021 16:42

Erm, why does DD need to wear gloves if the temperature is above 16.5 degrees? Is he sure his thermostat is working?

Our thermostat is also set to 16 & it does start to get chilly just before it clicks on - but not to that extent!

ShirleyPhallus · 08/02/2021 16:43

We have our house pretty cold and 17 degrees doesn’t feel too cold to me tbh. Just different strokes innit.

Can you offer some money for heating?

katy1213 · 08/02/2021 16:43

Shove him a tenner and get him to switch it on.

joystir59 · 08/02/2021 16:44

Offer to pay heating and turn it up to 18/20 depending. I mean my house never needs to be above 18 cos double glazing and well insulated.

Whichname98 · 08/02/2021 16:44

I agree with previous posters, offer some contribution to heating.

Teardrop2021 · 08/02/2021 16:44

I think the least you could do is offer to contribute to the heating costs. Its common that the older generation wrap up rather than put the heating on and because they cannot afford it.

SoCrimeaRiver · 08/02/2021 16:46

Our heating is set at 17 in the day and 17.5 at night, comes on once the heating drops a full degree below that, so about your DFIL's house temperature. We have blankets on the sofas, curtains over doors and 3 layers of clothes at home, and a scarf / snood if you feel the chill as it really helps. If it's uneconomical to heat, or he's used to that temperature, you can see why he'd want to keep to his usual temperature, not raise it just because you're staying with him.

Alwaysandforeverhere · 08/02/2021 16:46

Our house at 18 it’s freezing like can’t feel your feet freezing. Anything below 20 and you need jumpers. We have terrible drafts though even with double glazing etc.

HerLadySheep · 08/02/2021 16:49

Good grief! The minimum working temperature in the UK is 16 degrees and normal room temperature is considered to be around 20 degrees, there's some hot blooded people on this thread.

I can see why your children would be cold without the heating on, I would offer to contribute to any additional cost and ask him to turn it up.

Eckhart · 08/02/2021 16:50

@CoffeeRunner

Erm, why does DD need to wear gloves if the temperature is above 16.5 degrees? Is he sure his thermostat is working?

Our thermostat is also set to 16 & it does start to get chilly just before it clicks on - but not to that extent!

Because she's got a different level of acclimatisation/different circulation to you.
doadeer · 08/02/2021 16:51

That would be freeeezing for me. Can you ask him if it's a money issue and just give him some? He's obviously used to it

Original poster
Glitterinthegrey · 08/02/2021 16:52

Thanks for the replies 😊

I have offered him some money - he won't take it. To be clear - he's not badly off, he's a pensioner but has a very good private pension. I would never want to take the piss, hence we bring our own food. The house isn't old or draughty, just bloody cold!

OP posts:
Fuckingcrustybread · 08/02/2021 16:52

@Teardrop2021

I think the least you could do is offer to contribute to the heating costs. Its common that the older generation wrap up rather than put the heating on and because they cannot afford it.
That makes a change from all the boomers sitting in their expensive house with their massive pensions!
Sweet666 · 08/02/2021 16:52

I don't have heating at this time of year, put some extra layers of clothes on will help a lot

Muskox · 08/02/2021 16:53

Your FIL sounds like my mum! We always know to take extra socks and jumpers when we go to visit.

CoffeeRunner · 08/02/2021 16:53

But 16.5 degrees isn’t all that cold. My point was actually that maybe his thermostat isn’t working as well as it should!

covetingthepreciousthings · 08/02/2021 16:53

Good grief! The minimum working temperature in the UK is 16 degree

I didn't think there was a minimum working temperature..?
I think it's generally expected it should be 16 for staff to be comfortable but I don't think it's enforceable or enforced.

Snowsnowglorioussnow · 08/02/2021 16:53

Op can you order some electric blankets from amazon or argos, also get hot water bottles.. In the mean time...

Teardrop2021 · 08/02/2021 16:54

Fuckingcrustybread there is a reason why old pensioners get energy saving allowance for the very reason I stated.

Oysterbabe · 08/02/2021 16:54

Are they struggling for money? That's too cold to be comfortable for most people.

soundofsilence1 · 08/02/2021 16:54

I have this at my parents house. Becuase I am often working at a desk there and they are more mobile I feel the cold more. I use a blanket and hot water bottle. Their thermostat is generally at 17 degrees.

When they visit me they complain about being cold despite it being about 3 degrees warmer than their house. I tell them they need to be moving around more!