What do you set your heating at?

[amibeingaknob]

Please settle an argument with me and my mother.

What do you set your heating at? Is it different in the day and the night?

Just trying to gauge what the 'norm' is here. We are South East (not that that makes any difference - temp is temp).

For me - 20 in the day, 17 at night. My boyfriend (who lives with me) is 22 day, 19 night so its gone up - I wouldn't want him feeling the cold.

My mother thinks a house that is 14 is perfectly reasonable, and not on at all at night. She rarely puts in on. This worries me desperately as father has had pneumonia and they are in their mid 70s. She is convinced I, and 'my generation' are wussies, and heating is bad for you, and they are normal and I 'feel the cold more than most'.

I guess I want to prove to her that that last line is inaccurate, and she puts her bloody heating on this winter, as I am super anxious about their health (particularly my dad). On a selfish note, I loathe going round there as I sit shivering, whilst being given a blanket and told 'oh dear, you do feel the cold don't you'. Like Im some sort of alien. The offer of heating is never there, and when it is put on, it is with much complaint, and mum performance huffing and fanning of brow. Ugh. Drives me nuts.

For those who don't put it on much, or its low - would it make a difference if you were elderly and were susceptible to pneumonia with weak lungs?

22 from 06.30 until 10.30. in a well insulated house.
I'm , err.., senior and hate being cold .

Off.

They live in their own house and I assume they are grown ups so can turn the heat to whatever they want. They have also presumably been told what heat they need to maintain for medical conditions so if they choose not to do it it's their business.

It's rude not to make your guests comfortable though.

I used to live in a house with someone who insisted that people would die if the temperature got down to 18C. Which is frankly nonsense. I guess there might be some very ill people that might die at that temperature, but by far the majority can withstand it absolutely fine.

Off at night, 18c otherwise

20 in the day, off at night

Between 22 and 24 in the day and 19 at night.

My hearing comes on at night if it drops below 18. During the day generally around 22 unless I feel cold then I’ll turn it up.

You must spend an absolute fortune!

I just turn it on and off when needed.

Mine doesn't have a thermostat that makes it come on when it's a certain temperature.
It's a small house so stays warm.
I've no idea what "danger level" means
The heating hasn't been on so far.

18 in the day (when we put it on), and off at night.

When I do put it on It's usually about 20-21. My house feels cold at 18. Heating is never on over night.

Our timer is set to the following:

6.30am - 8am - 20 degrees
8am - 5pm - 14 degrees (nobody home)
5pm - 10pm - 20 degrees
10pm - 6.30am - 16 degrees (our house never really falls below this unless it's bloody freezing so doesn't really ever come on overnight)

Hi Mum!

Seriously, just because someone is a grown up you wouldn't worry about a loved one who had a medical condition and clearly was ignoring medical advice? Last year dad had pneumonia for weeks and weeks and it still didn't go on. Apparently 'fresh air' was good for him. She convinced herself that heating was 'bad'. I mean its nonsense, and its dangerous.

Yes they are grown ups but they are vulnerable (due to age and health) and I love them.

Off at night and at the minute putting it on at about 22 so it clicks on (it's currently saying the house is about 20 without the heating on so it's not coming on, but I don't believe it's 20 because it's chilly).
When it's well into winter we will have it around 22-25 but still off at night.

@amibeingaknob

For just £4.99 on Amazon you can order a

’ Twin pack eco room thermometer card (white and blue) Liquid Crystal Display’ by brand TSAI

which has a colour code showing if a room is Cold/Cool/Comfortable/Warm/Too Hot

You could give them to your parents.

www.ageuk.org.uk

(formerly Age Concern) states that a minimum temperature for older people is 18C

Inactive people need more warmth than people moving around.

No. ( And I'm in my 60s)

And if my children tried to bully me into putting the heating on I wouldn't be at all happy.

The Health and Safety Executive gives a minimum of 16 degrees for workplaces for sedentary jobs. Your home should be at least as comfortable as work.

You said you are south East but then saying it's like an ice box? We are the same area as you and the coldest our house has been in 18 and that's overnight/first thing. We've not put the heating on yet as we aren't cold enough but no doubt will be soon.
Normally we are 20ish during the day and off at night.

ETA even when it's on, it's normally an hour in the morning and 2 hours in the evening

20 in the day, off at night unless its very cold, like about 14

Show her the NHS page where it says 18 degrees as a minimum.

It doesn’t go below 22. I hate being cold.

It's not that cold though, are you on the coast if it's 14 or are you talking about last year.

Will they get their WFA this year.

I keep mine on at 15 unless I feel cold. Hasn’t come on at all this year yet and currently 20.2 according to the thermostat app.

18 - it hardly ever comes on as next door heat theirs like a sauna in the day and off at night. It hasn't been on yet this autumn. Living room currently 20.5° no heating upstairs anyway.