AIBU to expect heating to be on?

[Glitterinthegrey]

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!

@LillyFlower1984

Sweet666 must be a troll

A cold-blooded one ?

@HerLadySheep

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.

I think for us it’s cos all the baby books said babies are most comfortable at 18 degrees so we have basically acclimatised to that

Jings my thermostats are set at 22 and I live in a new build, hate cold houses! A lot of the time it is the sun heating the rooms but Oct-April 22 then switched off.

@Toorapid

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.

In air conditioned offices my 'mouse' hand gets cold on the top more than the fingers get cold.

We only put the heating on once we're wearing jumpers, socks, slippers, scarves under blankets and still cold. Gloves would be too much. Usually that's around 17 degrees. Since WFH it's been a bit strange having blankets during the work day. And right now I'm cuddling a hot water bottle despite it being closer to 19 (heating was on but now off)

It's not about the temperature. It's about wanting your guests to be comfortable. Is it possible he didn't much want you to stay? Is he being passive aggressive?

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.

Looking at how many people buy them, I guess that many can see the point.

@fallenintobits

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.

REALLY not thinking this is the issue here...read the room...and the dozens of posts from Sweet! Many people have talked about not being able to afford it...TOTALLY understandable! Sweet, on the other hand, is making outlandish comments that have nothing to do with finances 🤦‍♀️🤣 and suggesting we all follow suit and wear 17 layers whilst sitting in a fridge!

@Needsmustnow

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.

Looking at how many people buy them, I guess that many can see the point.

I don't get body warmers / jackets without sleeves, but I suppose some people do.

Sod that. My thermostat is set to 24 and I've lit the open fire. I totally understand being conservative wrt energy costs if money is an issue, but if it isn't, this daft pissing competition some people engage in to have the coldest house ever is bizarre.

so, YANBU OP, YANBU.

@Touloser

You'd hate it here there - set for 12.5 during the day, 8.5 overnight!

That’s nothing to be proud of, in fact it’s dangerous for health

Photo didn’t attach

We have ours on at 18 during daytime and 19 in evening when we are just sitting but we turn.it off at 10pm as both me and DH asthmatic and can't breathe if it gets too warm in night. DS's have plug in oil radiator in their rooms overnight as don't like the cold. Get electric blanket of or you and kids. Can put on bed at night and sit under during day. Put on extra jumper and fleecy socks.

Just on the “why do my fingers get so cold point”, your body diverts blood away from your extremities to keep your vital organs warm. So if you can warm up your core by wearing a gilet or something you’re less likely to have chilly fingers.

Explains why my hands get so hot going for walks and I don’t need my gloves on after about half way usually. That’s also why stuff like thermal body warmers and fingerless gloves exist. Just getting you generally warm enough to stop your body diverting your blood away from your extremities

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.

I said I don't mean people who get cold at 16c

Sorry but I'm in Scotland and 14 pretty comfortable for a temperature with me so our heating won't turn on till after that and tbh we just layer up because we're used to the cold!

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.

Generally, people have cold fingers and toes because their core isn't warm enough. When you're cold, blood diverts away from your extremities, which is you nose, ears, fingers and toes feel the cold more than other body parts.

If you're indoors and have cold hands, warming your core is the best way to stop it. That could mean wearing an extra layer, wearing a gilet/body warmer, or using a hot water or blanket pulled up around your chest and back.

@Sweet666

Yes i do live in UK it is not bad if you wear enough clothes, the winter this year has been very mild I think? It's about getting used to it and then you can handle it better

It was the coldest January in a decade. So no, it hasn't been a mild winter.

We rarely get frosts here; we had more frosts in 2 weeks than we'd normally get all winter. And it's still really cold now, so time for more yet.

I prefer 18° - 20° in the house. 16.5° would be too cold for me as I have Raynauds, like a PP. I'd need gloves indoors at that temperature.

"If you're indoors and have cold hands, warming your core is the best way to stop it. That could mean wearing an extra layer, wearing a gilet/body warmer, or using a hot water or blanket pulled up around your chest and back."

This doesn't work for me. My feet are cold most of the time when I'm not moving no matter how many clothes I've got on my core. I might even be warm enough to have rosy cheeks, but my feet will be cold. A circulation issue I suppose.

X-post

Ours is set to 17 overnight and 18 during the day. Our last electricity bill was really high as we had it at 19 so now we are trying 18 most of the time. I think it's because we are wfh. Pre Covid, dh worked from home 2 days a week but I never did, and he had a little plug in radiator in his study that he put on for extra heat rather than turn the thermostat up. With 3 of us wfh this winter we have had the thermostat at 19 to keep the house warmer during the day. We have now gone to 18 as a compromise.

I can't bear a hot house and sleep with the window open. But I have very good circulation, I rarely wear gloves and rarely do my coat up.

What’s the point of having the heating on overnight and having the window open?

@Gwenhwyfar

"If you're indoors and have cold hands, warming your core is the best way to stop it. That could mean wearing an extra layer, wearing a gilet/body warmer, or using a hot water or blanket pulled up around your chest and back."

This doesn't work for me. My feet are cold most of the time when I'm not moving no matter how many clothes I've got on my core. I might even be warm enough to have rosy cheeks, but my feet will be cold. A circulation issue I suppose.

Yeah, it's definitely not a failsafe solution, but it often helps.

For cold feet, I find merino socks and bootie-style slippers the best combination!

I have my heating set to come up if it drops below 20 so I don't think you're being unfair especially as you've said you've offered money.

Maybe an extra few blankets or the microwavable heat cuddlies/hot water bottles may be an idea x

@Gwenhwyfar

"YAB massively U to "expect" anything

It's his house, and he is in it!"

And he's accepted to have guests. He didn't warn them there would be no heating.
If you're too mean to put the heating on, DON'T HAVE GUESTS!
Same for lights, etc.

because you shut your own heating if your "guests" are too hot, do you?
Yeah right...

Or posters who normally switch the heating off at night suddenly leave it on for a week?

he's doing them a FAVOUR, and didn't invite them for a jolly.

I have the heating on and I am wearing Uggs because my feet are cold. If you are visiting and my house is too cold for you, you can book another place.