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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

my house is 16c - is that too cold?

121 replies

tfkyt78y · 05/12/2022 15:32

I work from home but try not to heat the house during the day so only for one hour in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening. It's 3.30pm and the thermometer on my desk says it's currently 16c. It obviously feels cold and I am under blankets. Not sure we can afford to heat it during the day but seriously does everyone else think that would warrant putting the heating on?

OP posts:
Winterpetal · 05/12/2022 15:55

All through the summer our electricity was £9 a day ,without heating on.
we really can’t afford to pay more than that
so sadly ours won’t be going on ,unless it gets close to freezing and then just enough to stop the pipes freezing.
pits hiddious ,but it is what it is ,and £9 a day is the maximum we can afford

AtomicBlondeRose · 05/12/2022 15:57

It’s all very well people pronouncing “ you shouldn’t be cold” or “I won’t sit in the cold” but I tried keeping my heating on at 16 for a day and it cost over £10 in gas, so the choices are be cold or layer up! If you live in a cold house that doesn’t retain heat well, and can’t magic money from nowhere, blankets it is. A heated throw is amazing btw and very much worth the investment (you can be warm all day every day under one for 5p an hour for the cost of 5 days’ heating…)

janglealltheway · 05/12/2022 15:57

I think 16 is fine, I'd be wearing my dressing gown and slippers though and possibly a blanket too. My family feel the cold more than me though so if they're home they'd probably put the heating on for a bit.

PinkHeadphones · 05/12/2022 15:58

I wouldn't be able to work at that temperature as my hands would go numb and i wouldn't be able to type. Can you just heat the room you work in? that's what I do.

WhatLikeItsHard · 05/12/2022 15:59

I cracked and put our heating on when it got done to 14oc. I would be okay with 16oc, preferably with a hot water bottle.

Millana · 05/12/2022 15:59

We keep ours around 16/17.

Even before all this nonsense we kept it at 17/18 so it's not that big a difference really.

We have an old drafty house that doesn't seem to retain heat well too. Have you searched out any drafts, got thick curtains (kept closed on cold days), rugs etc?

PinkHeadphones · 05/12/2022 16:00

tfkyt78y · 05/12/2022 15:38

It's just really frustrating because this house is really cold and doesn't keep the heat. How often do people heat their houses? As I said - the heating was on 6.30-8 this morning but has since gone down. Dreading the temperatures going down this week.

Is it an old house? Ours didn't heat up when we moved in and the things we have done are: had the radiators all seen to (they weren't giving out enough heat, all gunged up), had the sash windows refitted to stop drafts, put balloon things up the chimney to stop drafts, had the walls insulated and blocked up the gaps between the floorboards. All that helped a lot.

luxxlisbon · 05/12/2022 16:01

How can anyone tell you if it’s too cold? Everyone feels the cold different.
If you’re cold and can afford it put the heating on.

If you can’t wrap up warm, use a hot water bottle and drink hot drinks.

CheeseIsMyPatronus · 05/12/2022 16:01

I have it at 15 during the day and 18 in the evening. It can get damp if you don't have it above 17 some of the time and I don't want mould on top of heating bills.

DrManhattan · 05/12/2022 16:02

It depends on your house, mine gets mouldy if it's too cold and damp. I had it at 16 degrees but it wasn't very comfortable

monsteronahill · 05/12/2022 16:02

Mine is currently 21 but I'm not sure how accurate the temperature is on the thermostat! I have ours on from about 7am to 10pm ish - haven't had a bill yet since September, so it'll probably be a shock when it comes in January, we're a new build so it's fairly energy efficient and keeps heat in well.

16• would be too cold for me in an office, are you really able to work in that temp? If you're okay with it and it won't have ill effects on your house, then leave it off if you want to.

antelopevalley · 05/12/2022 16:02

Snoopsnoggysnog · 05/12/2022 15:36

That wouldn’t be legal in a UK office so YABU

but only you know what you can afford

It is too cold, but it is legal in offices in the UK.

Original poster
tfkyt78y · 05/12/2022 16:03

We live in a townhouse and am currently in the living room which is on the middle floor. All the heating just goes up and down through the house. It's all open plan so no way to trap the hot air in the room. I will just have to make do with a blanket but was thinking about the kids coming home from school.

OP posts:
PanicAtTheBigTesco · 05/12/2022 16:04

Mine is 13.1 currently and my hands are a bit cold but I'm ok with my heated blanket over my legs. I never have the heating on during the day (didn't last year or the year before either so that's not just due to COL, more environmental). Whether it's too cold for you is a personal choice surely.

antelopevalley · 05/12/2022 16:04

PinkHeadphones · 05/12/2022 16:00

Is it an old house? Ours didn't heat up when we moved in and the things we have done are: had the radiators all seen to (they weren't giving out enough heat, all gunged up), had the sash windows refitted to stop drafts, put balloon things up the chimney to stop drafts, had the walls insulated and blocked up the gaps between the floorboards. All that helped a lot.

Show quote history

I live in an old house. Orevious owners did lots of this stuff then had to have air bricks and vents fitted all over the place as the lack of ventilation caused issues.

lking679 · 05/12/2022 16:09

Bbc had an article recently and your body starts compensating for cold below 18 degrees. Higher blood pressure, cold extremities etc. I have a fan heater for the room I’m in and put it on when cold!

Optimist2020 · 05/12/2022 16:10

I think it’s too cold, my heating is set at 19.5. Everyone feels the cold differently though. My house is an older house and the mould starts to quickly develop if the heating is on lower than 18 degrees in the daytime x

Wishawisha · 05/12/2022 16:10

Have never had it on during the day even before the cost of living crisis. Me too. Couple of hours in the evening.

If it’s worth it to you - put it on. If not, don’t. Personally I’m fine in bed socks and a big dressing gown or outside coat but I know not everyone is.

Ittybittytittycomittee · 05/12/2022 16:11

tfkyt78y · 05/12/2022 15:32

I work from home but try not to heat the house during the day so only for one hour in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening. It's 3.30pm and the thermometer on my desk says it's currently 16c. It obviously feels cold and I am under blankets. Not sure we can afford to heat it during the day but seriously does everyone else think that would warrant putting the heating on?

Our house is around 13 degrees permanently at the moment. So scared to put the heating on apart from an hour a day. Our latest bill was £240 and that was with no heating, no tumble drying, hot and cold showers. I'm a low earner and hubby is mid to low so we're trying to cut costs everywhere. Good job we dont work form home. 😢

Bookaholic73 · 05/12/2022 16:14

Is it too cold for what?
You are paying your bills and you are the one living in your house.
If you feel it’s too cold and you can afford the heating, put it on.
If you don’t feel cold, then it’s not too cold.

SleeplessInEngland · 05/12/2022 16:16

If you're ok with it and you're the only one there why ask us?

2bazookas · 05/12/2022 16:17

16 c =60 F. The outdoor temp of many summer days in the north, when I would happily be sitting in the garden without a coat.

bendmeoverbackwards · 05/12/2022 16:19

I think a lot of houses are way too hot and stuffy, it's so unhealthy. And the weather is still quite mild in most parts of the UK (cold snap to come though).

16 degrees outside would a mild spring day requiring a light jacket.

berksandbeyond · 05/12/2022 16:20

That would be far too cold for me personally and I would think you're risking damaging your health and the health of your house!

We are averaging about 4-5 hours of heating a day at the moment and I expect that to increase this week as the temperatures drop

thelobsterquadrille · 05/12/2022 16:20

It depends whether you feel cold or not.

16 is chilly but not freezing.