To think that I could just not use the heating much at all this winter?

[Socathe]

I live with my DH and three year old DS in a new ish four bed detached house. I know that there are many who will not be able to afford to heat their homes this winter and for whom it will not be an option.

We are very fortunate in that we could just about afford to heat our home as we usually would. However, it would swallow up all of our extra money - we would be doing it at the expense of other things, such as a holiday next year, a normal Christmas, meals out, the pantomime in December, finishing our house renovations, those sorts of things.

I know these things are luxuries and we are very fortunate to be in a position where we have luxuries we could give up in order to afford heating. But AIBU to think that we could just try not to use the heating much at all this winter, so we don't have to give up these other luxuries? In previous winters we've had it on for 5-6 hours a day, I'm thinking of trying an hour a day to start and see how we go. Thicker duvets, boot slippers, oodies etc.

Am I being unrealistic especially with having a 3yo? What is everyone else planning on doing?

@iratepirate the log burner will come in handy this year! We have a gas fireplace, I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to have that on for an hour in the evenings than putting the central heating on. We haven't used it at all and we've lived here two years so would want to get it serviced first to be on the safe side. I'll have to look into the costs.

Have you ever had to live in a very cold house before? If you don’t know what it’s like, I would wait and see how it feels before you prioritise luxuries. Especially with a three year old.
It’s not very nice not being able to fall asleep because your teeth won’t stop chattering.
You can wear fluffy dressing gowns and extra socks in the house but it doesn’t stop your face being cold. It’s not like being outside where you can just come inside and get warm.
If you can, you will end up putting the heat on. It won’t matter what you have budgeted for luxuries.

And in fact, the less the use, the bigger the profit they make on your limited consumption.

Yes I'm happy to heat my house less to save money and for environmental reasons. Like PPs, my concern is unheated or under heated rooms becoming damp.

We are in an old stone cottage in a damp part of the UK, so if we drop much below 18C we get a lot of damp problems even whilst running dehumidfiers and using a decent heat pump tumble dryer.

However in my last house my oil tank started leaking so i couldn't use the heating anymore, I survived a very cold (2010/2011) winter with lows of -15C. It wasn't pleasant, and I'm sure neighbours either side (mid terrace) helped me along with their heating. But the house despite being old (Edwardian) didn't get any damp problems at all.

In a new build I'd definetly give it a go, but would advise investing in a heated blanket for snuggling under on the sofa.

Last winter i was working from home and begrudged having to pay for heating the house just for me .The heating was on for 30 minutes first thing and not set to go on until tea time as thats what it was set at pre covid.This was solely my choice as we could afford the heating then . I wish I hadnt put myself through it as nothing was gained really.
I had to have a heating pad ( which was excellent) to warm my feet and I wore warm clothing plus wrist warmers I made by cutting the lower half of the sleeves of an unloved jumper.
I got by okay and at times was almost snug when the sun shone through the window but boy it was miserable. The air was cold. My face and especially nose was cold. The desk I worked on was cold. I lived for 5:30 when the heating came back on.
This year I am not working at all and this will be a bigger challenge . I still have my heating pad which at least keeps my core warm but the air will still be fridgid.
Thank goodness for heated underblankets though. I just couldnt go from a coldish house to a freezing bed.

If anyone is still going to be able to afford to have a bath, here's a tip - take off the side panel and fill under and around the bath with loft insulation and it will keep the water warm for far longer.

Our house would be black from mould without adequate heating.

If you are planning to dry laundry inside it may be worth running your washing through a 2nd or even 3rd spin cycle if you can do that easily on your machine. Especially jeans and heavy workwear for example.

I tried it last year and it did seem to make a difference with drying time and every little bit helps.

Titterofwit, I do that and it does make a difference.

Great tip- tanks.

Thanks!

I'd be mindful of damp. Its easy to forget in summer but at times it's bitterly cold. We only use the heating when it's cold even with numerous layers on and we are under a duvet (keep some behind the sofa so we can have them in the evenings!)- aside from in DS' room as he's only young, but still there were times last year we felt we needed it. I'd say just be sensible. Layer up as much as possible, use just in rooms as necessary rather than necessarily the whole house and be mindful of timings, as people should be anyway.

Its easy to forget in summer but at times it's bitterly cold.

True. I'm another who was young in the 60s and there was no heating at all upstairs. Downstairs there were gas fires in the front and back living room and a very rarely used gas heater in the hall. I remember the ice on the inside of the windows and getting dressed under the bed covers. Those were doable, but the worst thing was chilblains on my toes all winter. They were so itchy and painful, it was miserable. It grieves me to think they'll become a familiar part of winter again.

Not unreasonable to try and heat your house less but tbh I think I will struggle. I work from home so does DH, DD on gap year and another child educated at home so basically 3/4 people here throughout the day and using different rooms due to work meetings etc
I hate being cold during lockdown I tried to avoid putting heating on during the day and froze at my desk, it's worse wfh as you sit at a desk and aren't moving much so really will need heating on.

Can confirm the mold that comes if you dont use heating!

We decided to really minimise our heating use one year and made it through till the end of december. We lived in a fairly well insulated 3 bed terrace house and used blankets etc but never felt awfully cold

We ended up with awful damp. We shut up one room, and that needed to be repainted.
In the other rooms, the corners, windows etc became damp. When we moved out furniture etc we realised that behind dressers, bookcases and sofas became damp. We ended up spending money on mold sprays etc, and ended up having to get rid of some bedding, soft furnishings including cushions, curtains that the mold never came out of

It was never that cold, we had windows open etc but had to dry clothes inside (no dryer) . Between the cost of the mold paint, curtains as well as a sentimental canvas photo, we think we didnt save much

we remain low heating users but make sure to put it on regularly in the winter now

We've just cut 5 tons of logs (Free), we'll only use the heating at night time for a bit and eat more salads, and colder foods during the winter than we normally would. The £400 should cover our electric thru from Oct-March.
That's it really, not a lot else we can do.
We're also looking at spending Xmas away from the UK on a holiday.

Good to hear the rich are not struggling.

We've had it on loads last few days but will be turning right down next week when it gets above freezing again. We have a 2yo and 5yo

How is the no-heating plan going in this cold snap, OP? (If you're still here.)

I reckon this thread hasn’t aged well 👀

Still not using my heating. Yes it's cold in the flat, but I've got a thick duvet and an Oodie. Doing ok so far!

Same here, I live alone so no kids to worry about but I'm concerned about mould and damp.
Does anyone know how long it would take to set in? Roughly? Probably a how long is a piece of string question