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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What is the 'thing' with putting the heating on?

197 replies

CatchersAndDreams · 30/09/2022 19:57

Surely just because you put it on doesn't mean you have to keep it on. I've never understood this thing that people have about not putting or putting on the heating as if you're stuck with it on once you put it on!

OP posts:
Xenia · 30/09/2022 23:26

Many people like us have it on a timer in the winter - eg a hour in the morning on just before you would get up so it is warm when you get up and then it goes on in the evening, automatically so no need to tahink about it. At this time of year it is difficult as some days are cold and some not. We were almost sweating last night so I had to put it off early and tonight it is not on at all. It will be simpler when it is cold enough that I don't touch it and it just automatically goes on and off.

Oblomov22 · 30/09/2022 23:29

I agree with @WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps. I just can't cope with yet another thread of this drivel.

Verytirednow · 30/09/2022 23:30

Twillow · 30/09/2022 20:22

There's nothing weird about it. Once you start putting it on you're going to be paying for it. Pretty sure that's what everyone is referring to. The longer they hold out, the cheaper the bills are.

This ..it’s not too tricky to understand.

TheMoth · 30/09/2022 23:43

Oblomov22 · 30/09/2022 23:29

I agree with @WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps. I just can't cope with yet another thread of this drivel.

But being cold is shit. No heating on here yet. The clothes won't dry cos it's raining outside. Even the sofas are cold. I have 3 layers, a fake oodie and a blanket.

Heswipedright · 30/09/2022 23:47

Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 30/09/2022 22:38

I think most people have it on continuously when they put it on. In our house we put it on for an hour to warm the house and then keep all doors shut into each room to keep the heat in. We also leave the oven doors open once finished cooking as it heats the house. Everyone puts jumpers on or we have blankets all around the house to use. We’ve always done this not because a cost of living crisis.

Where do you live and how often are you at home?

Helpmewithteen · 30/09/2022 23:50

My house is still pretty warm at the moment. 21.5 degrees (new build), so I haven’t had to switch on the heating yet. I start to struggle when the heating dips lower than 18, so I’m sure we’ll pop it on for an hour or two then.

Eeksteek · 01/10/2022 00:27

AsAnyFuleKno · 30/09/2022 21:05

It's like my mum used to say about wearing my coat in the car - 'take it off or you won't feel the benefit of it when you get out'.

If I put the heating on when it's, say 10 degrees in September, I will have to put it on for longer and higher when it drops to 1 degree in December.

I have never, not ever, had to turn my heating up in December because it’s been set at 19°C since September. I don’t understand this acclimatising theory at all. My experience is the opposite. In summer I turn my heating off, because although the house might drop to 18°c, that feels lovely and cool after a 30°C day. I don’t want my heating kicking in then. But 18°C will feel cold if it’s only 14°C outside, for sure.

Sometime in September, I’ll take it from the off setting to 18°C, 19°C or 20°C for the times we are using each room and are up. And then I ignore it. Very occasionally, I might be unwell or feel cold for some other reason and boost it, but it’s rare. The heating will be on longer in December, because it takes longer to heat a room from 1°c to 19°c, not because 19°c isn’t warm enough, and it doesn’t need to be any higher. 19°C is fine all winter.

This year I turned it up from ‘off ‘ later, because my budget to get through relies on me not using my credit until November. I can use my full DD in October, but was hoping to keep building a bit in September. It’s better putting up with 17°C for a few hours here and there now, than burn through my credit and have to cope with 12°C inside in February because I ran out of credit too soon and can’t find spare income for the gas bill. I don’t usually do it, but it usually have more income to start with!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/10/2022 00:29

It's a time honoured tradition with multiple steps.

  1. Socks are worn in the house
  2. An ancient cardigan is retrieved from the back of a chest of drawers
3.Tights are found underneath the cardigan
  1. Trip to the loft to find last year's coat
  2. 'I don't have a scarf. I'm going to be freezing'. 'It's on the dressing table where you left it in March'
  3. 'Is there a window open somewhere? It's a bit cold?. 'No, everything's shut'.
  4. 'You know you said everything was shut three days ago? I did mean all the windows, not just the bedroom ones.' 'And?'. 'The window in the spare room was open'. 'I know'.
  5. Urgggghhhh, I hate getting out the shower when it's cold. I've been freezing all week. 'Oh. Did you want me to shut the spare room window again?'
  6. What the-? Oh, hello cats. Did you remember we have an upstairs now it's not 23 Celsius all night? Could you not tell me you love me quite that much at this time of night when you've ignored me since April? Less of the pointy things, please. Have you forgotten how you get to stay up here? Stop it. GO. TO. SLEEP. 'Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' Smug little shite. We all know you're only here to steal our heat.
10. Where's my hat? 11. You sleep on the bed, not in the bed, cat. 12. Do you think it's time to put the heating on for ten minutes? Just to take the edge off. I don't want to wear a hat to bed. 12a. No I'm not putting the heating on for the cats whilst we're at work. They've got their own fur coats, for heaven's sake. 12b. Have you considered maybe putting some more clothes on? 12c. Could you not get into bed fully dressed? And take those socks off if you ever want to have sex again. 12d. Well, ten minutes won't hurt. Just to take the edge off. 13. God, it's sweltering in here. 22? Really? We're not made of money, 16 is fine. I don't care what 'they' say about temperatures when you have a health condition, I'd rather ache than melt and avoid having to sell a kidney when the gas bill comes. 14. SHIT. Turn the garden tap stopcock off. We can't afford a burst pipe. 15. Mmmm. Warm. 16. HOW MUCH? Have you been leaving the heating on for the bloody cats again?
Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 01/10/2022 17:21

Heswipedright · 30/09/2022 23:47

Where do you live and how often are you at home?

We live on the south coast so it gets quite chilly here and is always windy. 98% of the time there is always someone at home.

Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 01/10/2022 17:25

etulosba · 30/09/2022 23:24

We usually use the oven to heat the house (so leave the door open after cooking dinner)

You don’t need to leave the door open. All the heat in the oven during cooking and afterwards will escape into the room if you have it shut. It will just take longer.

I meant to say we leave it open when we’ve finished cooking 😂

SarcasticIntrovert · 01/10/2022 17:50

Personally it always annoys me when people say, 'I'm not putting the heating on it's September' or whatever month. Especially with the changing UK climate if it's cold, it's cold. If you have an am unseasonably warm spell in January you wouldnt say, 'I'm putting the heating on because it's January.' Very strange.

TiaraBoo · 01/10/2022 17:57

It’s one of those things we like saying, don’t ruin it with logic!

slinkoff · 01/10/2022 17:58

I never touch my heating, it’s a thermostat. I set it to 22 degrees. If it’s warmer the heating is off, if it’s colder the heating comes on. That’s how it works. Same room temp all year round (warmer in summer obviously, windows open then)

if you have a timer, invest in a smart meter instead so you can do something similar. You can also get clever and use geo awareness so that if you’re out your heating won’t come on and heat an empty house when it dips below your target temp but when you’re on your way home and a few miles away it will so it’s warmer when you step through the door. Saves a little extra.

GingerWit · 01/10/2022 18:10

At last! Someone said it! Just put the fudging heating on and stop with the pity parties "Oooh I'm freezing, but too poor to put it on." Jesus. They can't have what you can't pay, just put it on and shut up.

LemonPledge555 · 01/10/2022 18:11

Putting the heating on has two meanings to me. Clicking it on for an hour on a chilly day is one thing, but setting the timer for it to come on every morning - I wait as long as I can for that so that it’s not wasted on a few warm days IYSWIM. But it’d be the same every year, normally mid October here, central belt

JaneJeffer · 01/10/2022 18:13

They can't have what you can't pay
You're in for a surprise

midsomermurderess · 01/10/2022 18:38

UWhatNow · 30/09/2022 22:41

It’s a saving money thing. If you’re piss poor you’re just being prudent but the middle classes on MN are tight AF and prefer to freeze and shop at Aldi so they can spend it on prestige property and private education and climb even further up the greasy pole.

Oh mate, the chippiness. And it doesn’t make you any happier, does it?

angela99999 · 01/10/2022 19:05

If you have a properly working thermostat it doesn't matter if the heating is on or off.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 01/10/2022 19:12

they put our heating on at work on wednesday!
i have since been round and turn all the radiators down

GrimmTales · 01/10/2022 19:17

angela99999 · 01/10/2022 19:05

If you have a properly working thermostat it doesn't matter if the heating is on or off.

Well, yes, it does. Because a thermostat isn’t the only way or best way to control if your heating goes on or not.

Nanalisa60 · 01/10/2022 19:23

Heating on yesterday afternoon as it was cold dull and raining only on at 18 degrees for a few hours , not on today as lovely and sunny so open plan living area warmed up just lovely hit 20 degrees this afternoon . Will be nice again tomorrow so won’t be on. Decided each day depending on the weather. Going to try and have it on at 18 degrees all winter , wearing more cloths and throws on sofas , and electric under blanket on bed. Also turned down the radiators in the rooms not used down to one. Hoping for a cold sunny winter not a cloudy damp one I hate grey damp winters much prefer sunny and cold.

cimena · 01/10/2022 19:28

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/10/2022 00:29

It's a time honoured tradition with multiple steps.

  1. Socks are worn in the house
  2. An ancient cardigan is retrieved from the back of a chest of drawers
3.Tights are found underneath the cardigan
  1. Trip to the loft to find last year's coat
  2. 'I don't have a scarf. I'm going to be freezing'. 'It's on the dressing table where you left it in March'
  3. 'Is there a window open somewhere? It's a bit cold?. 'No, everything's shut'.
  4. 'You know you said everything was shut three days ago? I did mean all the windows, not just the bedroom ones.' 'And?'. 'The window in the spare room was open'. 'I know'.
  5. Urgggghhhh, I hate getting out the shower when it's cold. I've been freezing all week. 'Oh. Did you want me to shut the spare room window again?'
  6. What the-? Oh, hello cats. Did you remember we have an upstairs now it's not 23 Celsius all night? Could you not tell me you love me quite that much at this time of night when you've ignored me since April? Less of the pointy things, please. Have you forgotten how you get to stay up here? Stop it. GO. TO. SLEEP. 'Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' Smug little shite. We all know you're only here to steal our heat.
10. Where's my hat? 11. You sleep on the bed, not in the bed, cat. 12. Do you think it's time to put the heating on for ten minutes? Just to take the edge off. I don't want to wear a hat to bed. 12a. No I'm not putting the heating on for the cats whilst we're at work. They've got their own fur coats, for heaven's sake. 12b. Have you considered maybe putting some more clothes on? 12c. Could you not get into bed fully dressed? And take those socks off if you ever want to have sex again. 12d. Well, ten minutes won't hurt. Just to take the edge off. 13. God, it's sweltering in here. 22? Really? We're not made of money, 16 is fine. I don't care what 'they' say about temperatures when you have a health condition, I'd rather ache than melt and avoid having to sell a kidney when the gas bill comes. 14. SHIT. Turn the garden tap stopcock off. We can't afford a burst pipe. 15. Mmmm. Warm. 16. HOW MUCH? Have you been leaving the heating on for the bloody cats again?

finally someone’s talking sense

InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 19:38

My dad was staunch supporter of no heating until October.

I think it's because at that moment you are admitting the winter is coming....

Pupinski · 01/10/2022 19:41

I think the point is that people tend to start heating their homes at a certain time of year. Once you start, it's a slippery slope as your body becomes attuned to a certain temp in your home and at the moment in particular people are concerned about the cost, so are hoping to leave it off as long as possible. It's not that big a deal to get worked up about is it?

Explaintome · 01/10/2022 19:42

I don't understand putting it on at all, I never turn it off. Its set on a timer and a thermostat. It comes on at times I'm likely to be in, when it's cold. There's no decision to make.

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