Have you turned the heating on already?buy Electric blankets?

[User112]

It’s the first proper cold night here in Kent. I was wondering if everyone turned the heating on already?

ive been thinking of buying electric blankets. Do they help? How do you use them?

[Jellybean23]

Get yourself an electric under blanket for when it becomes cold. Ours is fast warm up (about ten minutes) with dual controls so DH doesn't have to have his side the same temperature as mine. We turn it off just before getting into bed. Very economical and a joy to get into bed. Ours looks like a fitted mattress protector, no ties involved.

[Ilovetocrochet]

I put my heating on tonight as it was 16 degrees in the house and raining outside so felt miserable! It was on for two hours before the house reached the set temp of 18 degrees. My house has had damp problems so I will be having the heating on through the winter, if I let the house get too cold it takes ages to heat up.

my energy consumption last winter was quite a lot lower than the year before as I reduced the thermostat but I’m not thinking of lowering it this year but might play around with the timings.

I bought a heated poncho from Lakeland but haven’t used it yet as I was more concerned about the damp today. I think it will be useful in the winter to wear in the evenings rather than knock the thermostat up a bit as I do in freezing weather.

[oakleaffy]

You lucky new build people!
Draughty 1890 's here, dipped to 17 degs C

[Gloriosity]

A HEATED PONCHO???
<runs to shops>

[Lougle]

Not sure what temperature it is indoors but not cold - quite comfy with legs covered by duvet and wearing a t-shirt in bed. 12°c outside right now and not expected to drop below 10°c (SE).

[AchatAVendre]

@Jellybean23

Get yourself an electric under blanket for when it becomes cold. Ours is fast warm up (about ten minutes) with dual controls so DH doesn't have to have his side the same temperature as mine. We turn it off just before getting into bed. Very economical and a joy to get into bed. Ours looks like a fitted mattress protector, no ties involved.

Are you able to recommend the brand? I need a new one.

I love my electric blanket but I hate central heating. If the damn ch is on, I have to have the bedroom window open, thus defeating the point of it. I'm perfectly content with my electric blanket, although I guess heating is good to prevent the house eventually becoming damp and cold throughout.

I also love my heated throw.

[YourWinter]

It’s 17° indoors at the moment, and 9° outside, so no, of course the heating isn’t on.

[WolverineBluey]

Our heating kicked in today so the radiators have come on. It already feels frivolous. Poorly insulated old house in NW has dropped below 16. I've been cold and layered up. Oddly, DCs are still boiling and went to bed in their undies sans pyjamas.

[been and done it.]

We're in the Midlands- a lot chillier when I took the dog out at 8pm but not too cold indoors really so not time for the electric over blanket yet.

[Mmsnetternewbie]

Just curious for those who haven’t had to put heating on yet how you get all the washing dried when it’s average 10-13c and wet outside, genuine question as finding it very difficult to get thick hoodies and joggers and towels etc dry atm without the house feeling damp and the clothes starting to smell and I’m too reluctant to turn heating on yet but don’t feel like I can avoid it for much longer?

[simbobs]

I put the heating on yesterday for the first time as it felt cooler than comfortable at 17° indoors, but just to bring it up to 18° which is where the thermostat is set. It is going to be cold tomorrow so it will be on again for a while.

I don't put washing on the radiators but do have a wall mounted drying frame above one (not in the living area). If I can't dry things outside I use the tumble dryer, or even the laundrette for some large items.

[nanny2012nanny]

Blast the hairdryer under the duvet 👍🏻

[ivegotarms]

Every time I search online for electric throws I just get electric blankets (the ones you put on beds).

I'm really interested in getting an electric throw and would be so grateful if someone could share a couple of links to some please!

(By the way my heating was on for an hour yesterday morning and an hour this evening - Midlands, 1960s house, insulation but I don't think as much as it could be; this is going to be our first winter here)

[Slippersue]

Start the heavier type washing off in the condensor dryer, with the rest of the load hung on a clothes horse in front of the dryer, where i blows some warm air. Then once the load has started drying, hang it on another clothes horse to finish off.

[CinnamonJellyBeans]

I bought a load of heated throws over the summer from 45-50 quid, depending on the colours and offers on amazon. Price is now 70 quid, which is a disgraceful hike.

I'm not paying for heating when the kids are not here. It's only coming on at Christmas when they're home from uni.

[Nonewsplease]

Hot water bottle. Lovely. I've had some nasty accidents with them though.

[Creameggs223]

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps

No heating on here.

No electric blankets.

It's not THAT cold.

How the F are people going to cope when it's actually REALLY cold? People need to get a grip!

Well done you for getting a grip!!!! But when you have children that are cold even with fluffy pj's on then yes the heating is going on.

[Rutland2022]

We’ve had the heating on for an hour or two here and there, not excessively but it’s cold in our cottage now it’s been wet here and we moved in over summer so want to check
it’s all working properly anyway.

We won’t have it on regularly though yet, but it was only 16 degrees inside without which is too chilly for us. An hour or so with it on was nice.

I could light the fires but we really need to extend the pots for the insurers to be happy (thatch) and that’s out of scope for now.

We get double glazing and new external doors in Nov though (current single panes are rotten and broken and fecking freezing). I am doing a happy dance at the thought…

[Celticandco]

It’s all relative though. Who are you to tell people they aren’t cold? A poorly insulated home in a rural area will have a very different temperature to one in a town or a well insulated house.

Agree, cold here in an old farmhouse in the rural Midlands. No insulation to speak of.

[PeloFondo]

@Mmsnetternewbie

Just curious for those who haven’t had to put heating on yet how you get all the washing dried when it’s average 10-13c and wet outside, genuine question as finding it very difficult to get thick hoodies and joggers and towels etc dry atm without the house feeling damp and the clothes starting to smell and I’m too reluctant to turn heating on yet but don’t feel like I can avoid it for much longer?

I use a dehumidifier

[Ineedwinenow]

1820s cold draughty house here! The heating automatically started kicking in for one hour from last Friday morning and every morning since (at 5am ) and it came on for about another hour tonight, its the first time this evening that it’s kicked in during the day! We haven’t put it on but the thermostat said 16 degrees so it bought it up to 18 degrees! I’ve been using my teddy fleece blanket a couple of evening but definitely interested in a heated blanket! If anyone can post links to a particularly good one otherwise I’ll Google them 👍

[Calmdown14]

@Mmsnetternewbie it's surprising how well it dries outside. Cold here today (n e Scotland and heavy downpours this afternoon) but washing was pretty much dry by 7pm despite a soaking.

If there's a breeze it still dries. Been known to peg mine with my Mac on in the rain before work if it's forecast to be drier later!

[Celticandco]

@Mmsnetternewbie

Just curious for those who haven’t had to put heating on yet how you get all the washing dried when it’s average 10-13c and wet outside, genuine question as finding it very difficult to get thick hoodies and joggers and towels etc dry atm without the house feeling damp and the clothes starting to smell and I’m too reluctant to turn heating on yet but don’t feel like I can avoid it for much longer?

I put one radiator on in a small room to dry the clothes

[AnnieSnap]

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps

No heating on here.

No electric blankets.

It's not THAT cold.

How the F are people going to cope when it's actually REALLY cold? People need to get a grip!

People don’t all live in the same place you know 🤷‍♀️ I imagine it’s getting pretty cold in Scotland. It’s quite chilly in the North East in the early hours and first thing in the morning. No heating or electric blanket needed here yet. I’ll go for the blanket first and hold off on the heating for as long as I can (it will be down to me, as husband feels the cold much less than I do).

[Lyricallie]

Yup heating was on for an hour to get some heat and hot water bottles in bed. Freezing cold. North coast of Scotland! Tempted to get a heated blanket.