Sleeping with the heating on?

[GoAgainstNicki]

Sorry just posting here for traffic really.

A couple of hours before DD (19m) goes to bed, I’ll put the heating on in the room just to warm it up for her. As it’s been getting colder. I’ve been leaving the heating on until I go to sleep with DS (7m) around 11pm. It’s currently -3 outside and really cold. Is it okay to leave the heating on overnight or should I not do that?

I’m pretty sure the last time I slept with the heating on, I woke up with a headache and dry throat so I obviously don’t want anything like that to happen to the kids. Thanks

Both WHO & UKHSA advise warmer rooms (15 degrees) than were common in my childhood - respiratory problems and other conditions are worsened by cold. It depends on insulation levels but UK houses have some of the worst insulation levels in comparable economies and so heating is required to avoid ill health.

Best way of burning through a whole load of gas/electric while not noticing it because you are asleep.

No doubt when the January bills come in it will be "how did I use so much gas" and "how can my bill be so expensive" ?

I read something somewhere yesterday, but can I heck find it. Apparently anything below 18 degrees is dangerous for your health. Unless of course you're pottering about where your body will stay warm. The basic advice was the it was more cost efficient to turn the heating on and off as and when required. This would particularly relevant if you're out most of the day. The other advice was to get up and move around at least once an hour, as being sedentary will make you cold (your body heats up when you move). For elderly people and babies it was advised to keep their room at 18 degrees at a minimum.

I've left mine on overnight since be in minus figures, although the one in my room is on low. My asthma has felt better in the mornings as house is warm and dry when I get up. Oddly I've been less hot in night than usual. Wondering if maybe because I don't need to be so snuggled up in duvet as usual 🤔

Turning up the heating won't dry the house. It will just allow the air to hold more moisture so it will seem drier. But the water is still there.

Only way to dry it is through either ventilation (swap warm moist air for cool dry air by opening windows or vents) or removal (dehumidification).

@GoAgainstNicki

You don't know if your heating is gas or electric?

I know you said you are renting but that's still pretty basic stuff.

I don't understand getting dressed under a duvet?

I just jump up (already wearing my pyjamas) and put my warm dressing gown on.

Ahh this is great. She moves around the cot throughout the night but I’m sure she probs won’t be able too in this. I’ll defo get one for her. Thank you! X

@nonevernotever You’re lying??!! No one has ever, ever told me that and I’ve clearly just misunderstood how it works. Whenever I’d turn it to 2, 3 or 4 it would never turn on. So does that mean it’s not cold enough in the room for the heating to come on yet? Surely not, that sounds too good to be true! Mine has a frost symbol but isn’t that basically just zero? That’s what I’ve always assumed it to be.

You’re an absolute legend. This is my first time renting my own flat so as you can tell, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’ll definitely give this a go and see if it works

Wow thank you!! @NewBootsAndRanty

No worries! I've been renting for 25 years and only found out about the valve temperature equivalent thing this year.

Same here.

Soz I misunderstood the question. It’s electric, not gas

It’s so confusing. I wish you’d get given a booklet of useful information regarding things within the house when you start your tenancy😂

@GoAgainstNicki

If it's electric then a lot of the helpful suggestions about thermostatic valves may not help as they are referring to a gas central heating system where there is hot water circulating in the radiators.

Do you know if they are storage heaters or convector heaters or something else? Could you post a picture?

I can't actually help but some of the other posters may be able to if they know what sort of system you have.

Right I’ve just asked my mum and she said it’s gas. I clearly have no clue what I’m talking about sorry!🤦‍♀️

Don't apologise! These things can be confusing when you are just starting out. Just wanted to make sure you are getting the right advice. Looks like the TRV advice is your best bet then.

As well as adjusting the TRVS, there should be a "central" thermostat somewhere and possibly a timer too so that you can control when the heating comes on. Hope someone a bit more savvy than me will be along to help soon.

Good luck!

If your heating is gas your radiators will have pipes connected to them and the boiler will need to be on for them to heat up.

Electric radiators are usually just plugged in to the wall and don't need a boiler to be able to work.

If you have a boiler it is likely that your heating will be gas.

It's important to know if your system is gas or electric as it changes the way you use it efficiently and your landord will have safety obligations if you have a gas boiler and/or cooker in the property.

Our house drops to 12 degrees overnight without heating.

If we set the thermostat at 17 all night, it would cost us an absolute fortune.

My heaters all have pipes however I don’t have a boiler in the flat. Just a big water tank in the bathroom. It doesn’t sound as if it’s electric so I believe my mum’s right and it’s gas. I didn’t actually know there was a difference!

Hmm curious. Are you in a flat? Is the heating controlled by a communal boiler by any chance and the little dials you mention are just your temperature controls?

Is it a council flat? Communal heating systems are more common in council flats.

Our bedroom has dropped to 2 degrees overnight. So far, no ill effects.

@GoAgainstNicki

So it sounds like you might be in a block of flats which has a communal heating system. In that case, the TRV valves are definitely what you need to adjust.

Do you have any friendly neighbours (who will likely have the same set up) that could maybe explain the system to you?

The water tank sounds like it could be an immersion heater (which runs on electricity). Again, it might be worth checking with your neighbours as this probably doesn't need to be on all the time (and might just be a back-up for hot water if the central boiler fails).

What does your tenancy agreement say about heating and hot water. Do you pay a standing charge for it or do you get an individual gas/electric bill?

@Ginmonkeyagain @Itwasntevenblackpudding

I didn’t put much information in the OP as I didn’t think it was necessary so, sorry for the confusion. I private rent and live in a council block. You’re both absolutely right in regards to having a communal boiler. There’s boilers on the top floor which controls everyones heating and hot water within the block.

The water tank is definitely an immersion heater. I only know that because the whole block has often been left with no hot water or heating when the boilers upstairs are acting up. The housing office then puts letters through our doors saying we can use the immersion switch if we need hot water but they recommend we try not to keep it on for too long as it’s costly to the electricity bill. I have one lovely neighbour who’s next door to me. I’ll ask her how everything works but I assume the posters who have mentioned the TRV valves (didn’t even know it was called this!) and that I need to adjust them, are correct:)