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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:
User7458 · 08/02/2021 18:46

Our hall and kitchen are 16.5 and feel freezing, I put the additional oil filled radiator on in the kitchen to prepare dinner so it got up to about 18-19, the normal radiator in the kitchen is quite small, it's 20-21 in the living rooms though so that is fine

Sweet666 · 08/02/2021 18:47

If I feel not too cold why should I plug my heater on? It's waste of money for me. In my home country people will put rugs on the wall and things to stay warmer and some people even wear a t-shirt, it is about what you are used to it doesn't mean it is wrong

fallenintobits · 08/02/2021 18:47

You don't have heating "at this time of year" 🙄 ffs?? Seriously?? NO HEATING? At "this" time of year? The COLDEST time of the year...when we have fucking snow on the ground and temperatures of -7! Christ on a bike but there are some mental braggers on here! I honestly despair at the lengths some of you will go to to score a point for the craziest nonsense spouted 🤣🤦‍♀️🙄

FFS has it not occurred to you yet that some people CANNOT AFFORD to put the heating on.

Bluntness100 · 08/02/2021 18:47

Well the WHO recommends a very min temp of 17 degrees and between 21 and 22 if there are small children, sick people or elderly in thr property. The ideal is seen as between 19 and 22 for most people to be comfortable.

It is unusual for humans to prefer to be cold in winter. As said, for me, I think most people who chose to live this way it’s likely about cost.

megletthesecond · 08/02/2021 18:49

Yanbu.
16 is freezing, even in layers. The air needs to be warmer.

Poptart4 · 08/02/2021 18:49

@Honeybobbin

I just sit in the freezer and get my DH to chip the ice off my face when he walks past. In fact I had my house demolished because it felt too luxurious having walls and a roof. Bloody lightweights nowadays.
This just gave me a very much needed laugh...thank you @Honeybobbin
lazyarse123 · 08/02/2021 18:49

I'm not sure I dare say i've put mine on 25.
After 5 years of struggling with a boiler that barely worked I am absolutely loving being toasty and it's so far working out at at least £10 quid a week cheaper, we have a prepayment meter so easy to check. We don't have it on after about 11 at night until 8 in the morning as we have got used to being cooler at night. It's great.

Original poster
Glitterinthegrey · 08/02/2021 18:49

To the people asking - we're wearing jeans, t shirts and jumpers/hoodies, plus thick socks. I wouldn't even suggest turning up the heating if we were wearing less.

FIL is wearing a thermal base layer, in addition, apparently.

The thermostat is mobile, but kept on a picture rail on the wall that adjoins the house next door.

OP posts:
VinylDetective · 08/02/2021 18:49

@LillyFlower1984

Sweet666 must be a troll
She must be bloody cold.
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 08/02/2021 18:50

I would be mortified if I had guests and they were so cold they asked to put the heating on, it's just being a bad hostess if nothing else. I've stayed in cold houses before now and it's bloody miserable.

My thermostat is set to 21 during the day, it's a well insulated house so doesn't go below 19 degrees over night. Tbh even though my thermostat currently says 22 I'm still cold and under a blanket!!

Op I'd say to your fil the children are struggling with the cold and you need to go home.

DwarfQuasar · 08/02/2021 18:50

This thread reminds me why I'm so happy to now work from home, i no longer have to share an office with menopausal women!

flossletsfloss · 08/02/2021 18:50

Jesus Christ I think 20 is low! Mine is on 23 at the moment 😳

Needsmustnow · 08/02/2021 18:53

To the people asking - we're wearing jeans, t shirts and jumpers/hoodies, plus thick socks.

I think it's reasonable to expect you to be a bit warmer dressed than that. A pair of socks plus slippers? A thermal or long-sleeved top rather than a t-shirt? A cowl? Fingerless gloves if typing?

Purpleberet · 08/02/2021 18:53

Why do people keep saying put some extra layers on, as if op hasn't thought of that already.

In my house now I'm wearing 2 thermal tops, a dress, a jumper, thick tights, fluffy socks and a fleece dressing gown. The heating is on 19 and I have a hot water bottle. I am just the right temperature! But no doubt some people on this thread would be saying my house is too hot. Some people are just colder than others!

Nsky · 08/02/2021 18:54

16c far too cold, mine is at 20c, not hot either

Needsmustnow · 08/02/2021 18:54

Why do people keep saying put some extra layers on, as if op hasn't thought of that already.

Well, she hasn't though. A t-shirt and a jumper aren't really enough for February.

Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2021 18:54

@Needsmustnow

To the people asking - we're wearing jeans, t shirts and jumpers/hoodies, plus thick socks.

I think it's reasonable to expect you to be a bit warmer dressed than that. A pair of socks plus slippers? A thermal or long-sleeved top rather than a t-shirt? A cowl? Fingerless gloves if typing?

Thermal tops I'd agree with and the layer(s) under the jumper should be long sleeved. T-shirts are not winterwear. HOWEVER, I don't think it's fair to expect people to wear gloves indoor. Gloves are for outdoors. If you have to wear them inside, it's proof that the place is not adequately heated.
Needsmustnow · 08/02/2021 18:56

HOWEVER, I don't think it's fair to expect people to wear gloves indoor. Gloves are for outdoors. If you have to wear them inside, it's proof that the place is not adequately heated.

That's fair enough, I run cold and find them necessary if I'm sat at a keyboard for any length of time.

higgledypiggledyhen · 08/02/2021 18:57

I would offer to pay him some
Money: our house said 19.5 today but felt much colder

If he doesn't utilise central heating during the Feb snow: when does he put it on?

Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2021 18:58

"FFS has it not occurred to you yet that some people CANNOT AFFORD to put the heating on."

If you're living alone in a house that can accommodate 3 people rather than a small flat like this fil, you can't really make that argument.

Numbergame · 08/02/2021 18:59

16.5 is warm! I’m working from home and don’t have my heating on during the week, it’s currently 9.5 degrees, but I’m not cold because I’m wearing lots of layers. I do look like the Michelin man though.

Toorapid · 08/02/2021 18:59

I've never understood the point of fingerless gloves. Surely if you need gloves, it's the fingers that are coldest? Obviously there are some things it's hard to do in gloves, but fingerless gloves don't solve the problem of being cold.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 08/02/2021 19:00

I wonder how some people survive outside though when the average temperature where i am in England is 16 for july😂 I am not talking people who are cold at 16c, i mean the people who have around 20 and are freezing😱

Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2021 19:01

@Needsmustnow

HOWEVER, I don't think it's fair to expect people to wear gloves indoor. Gloves are for outdoors. If you have to wear them inside, it's proof that the place is not adequately heated.

That's fair enough, I run cold and find them necessary if I'm sat at a keyboard for any length of time.

Me too and there have been times when I've needed them at work (menopausal office manager), but I kicked up a fuss about it. You shouldn't have to be in your coat, hat or gloves.
Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2021 19:03

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I wonder how some people survive outside though when the average temperature where i am in England is 16 for july😂 I am not talking people who are cold at 16c, i mean the people who have around 20 and are freezing😱
The temperature OUTSIDE is 16, you mean and you're probably walking around most of the time. You need higher temperatures when you're sitting down for a while.