To ask if you’ve put your heating on yet?!

[Lostil]

I’m cold. But also poor so I’m doing my best to keep it off!

I’ve just walked home from the gym in my kit with my coat over my arm.

@sunsetsandboardwalks I do agree that a few peoples houses I've been in are overly hot- I think some of it depends on what kind of house you have too. Mine feels very nippy at 17 degrees- and I think age comes into it as well for some- only in last few years ( I'm 62) I've found that even at 15 to 18 degrees out I'm still 'not warm' unless I have a jacket on

@WhereTheHeckAreMyGlasses I also think it helps if you are on the same page as anyone else in the house- if it was cold enough for blankets, woolly socks and hoodies, my H would simply turn the thermostat up- he is one of those people at 40 degrees on holiday saying 'ooh this is lovely' he also loves cold snowy weather, what he hates is damp dull weather

There’s a general consensus from various organisations that for the health of people and buildings, houses should be heated to at least 18. I guess some thermostats aren’t accurate, or are placed in cold zones, so maybe some of the people saying 17 is perfectly fine are actually sitting and living at a higher temperature, but it’s odd there are so many on here who claim 18 is way too hot.

People haven't said it's way too hot though, they've just said they wouldn't consider putting the heating on at that temperature.

If I put the heating on everything my thermostat went below 18 it would cost be an absolute fortune, for starters!

Below 20 degrees is winter for me 😂

I work outdoors and that's shorts and t-shirt weather 😂

of course not! Our thermostat says its 20 in the house. That's the highest I'd ever put the heating on anyway. It's much healthier to live in a house that's cooler, and keep your body warm.

Ummm….you said it was. You said 17 was warm enough and 19 too hot…
And now you say your thermostat is set below 18. Where is it? In the hall? Mine’s near where I sit. It’s set for 18 (down from 20 which I prefer really due to the cost) but my hall is probably a couple of degrees cooler.

Heating still off here. Definitely much chillier today though - I have succumbed to my electric heated poncho.
The worst issue here is now I'm not opening the windows, because of cold drafts - but the house still needs ventilating...

My new build flat is well enough insulated that it stays warm without heating most of the time. Add that to perimenopause & the radiators only go on for a few weeks when it’s really cold.

No but I might light the log burner later...

Nope...but it's still about 15 degrees here and meant to go back up to mid-twenties next week.
I've dressed DD (7 weeks) in cosy sleepsuits, though. And I have turned the hot tub up.

@cardibach I meant that if my thermostat was saying 19, then I’d think it was way too hot to consider putting the heating on.

Our thermostat is in our living room - no idea what it currently says as I'm at work but when we have it on, it's set to 18.5 at the highest. Anything more and I get a headache and dry skin.

Is it aye? Been between 10-12c here in Hartlepool which isn't warm!

I think it is a load of rubbish.

A lot of people spend prolonged time outside at 18C and are fine.

I can have my house at 15C, it's about 18C at the moment and although it doesn't feel warm I certainly don't need the heating on.

Part of the reason for that is that I keep the humidity under control. Although there are some other factors like using clothing and ability to tolerate cold which differ from person to person.

Houses with high humidity feel a lot worse at a similar cold temperature than ones with low humidity. In my opinion anyway.

The key to good climate control in my opinion is understanding the relationship between how warm you feel, temperature and humidity.

And to do it efficiently in terms of cost you need to consider what is the real issue that is causing you to feel cold. Lowering the humidity for example may result in you feeling warmer at much lower cost than just turning the heating on to maximum.

Unfortunately many people in the UK believe that the only solution to cold weather is to fire up the boiler. But climate control has moved on from that.

Had it on few days back and yesterday and today because it's been heavy rain and was cold and damp despite having dehumidifier on it just felt damp still so stuck it on that and my two DCs needed bath so didn't want them getting cold.

With respect, @GasPanic whether you think it’s bollocks is irrelevant to what experts in health and in building maintenance say. Yes, I’m often outside at considerably lower temps than 18. I’m not usually sitting still though. Buildings need to breathe and be warmed to keep the materials in order.

Had it on for an hour yesterday evening as the chill air was aggravating my asthma

I don't know if I have. It's set to turn on if the house gets down to 15⁰C (our house is prone to mould if it is even slightly cold and damp), so it may have in the night. I haven't noticed the radiators being warm though!

I'm inclined to agree with you.

We don't "put our heating on". It just comes on if the temperature in the living room drops below 20 degrees during the day. We have a frost free setting for night time. We don't have the heating on at night.

@GasPanic it isn't a load of bollocks. Cold buildings get damp and then mould develops. However, you are correct about humidity. Houses need to be kept at an optimum temperature, well ventilated and dry. I also think that most of us are sitting still at those temperatures, and don't work outdoors.

@cardibach is correct. The World Health Organisation suggests 18 degrees is the ideal temperature for healthy and well-dressed people and 20 degrees as the ideal temperature for the old, young or unwell (which is why our thermostat is set at 20 degrees).

Don't think I have had a decent run of heating off this "summer" at all!

Working from home today it is 12 degrees and I have blanket over my knees. The heating will be on later tonight.

Mine has just come on this morning by itself. Set to 17c so it must be properly chilly outside!

It's 5 degrees outside. Our heating has come on this morning.

Love the 'weird Spartan endurance test', so true. It's very difficult if cost is the issue but we all feel the cold and my heating is now on, briefly, in the mornings and evenings. All the wraps and slippers and scarves don't keep my hands and feet warm and the house, no matter how well ventilated, grows mould at the drop of a hat.

All the wraps and slippers and scarves don't keep my hands and feet warm

Same here. I think the "just put on another jumper" posters genuinely don't get chilled to the bone like you and I do. Then, DH feels the cold even more than I do due to health issues. He also has poor circulation and his fingers go white in cold weather.