Keeping warm

[LostInShoebiz]

I'm in an old Victorian house and thought I was pretty savvy with keeping us warm for a decent cost. Foil behind radiators, door curtains, all the usual. However this cold spell has knocked us for six. We've been in this house for a few years but this is something else. Am I missing a trick somewhere or is there no option but to run the heating much more than our normal amount?

Yes put the heating on! Don't be cold. Fluffy socks and hot water bottles are great too!

Heated blankets for the sofa would be a compromise on the heating. Electric blankets for the beds. Close doors, don't heat rooms you aren't using. How thick are the window curtains?

I wear leggings under jeans and 3 layers on the top half - the last layer being a chunky cardigan. Oh and socks. If it gets colder I’m going to put a thick towel dressing gown on too - I live alone so classy goes out the window.
I find heated throws are a godsend. I’ve got 2 on the go, (no heating on) one on my lower body and the other one on my back and shoulders and I couldn’t be more toasty.
I resent having the heating on - I’d rather spend my money on nice weekends away next spring.

We have a small portable heater that we sometimes move around the house to heat a particular room. Also, furry throws on the sofa are very popular.

After cooking and using the oven, leave the door open to let the heat out into your house. Not a permanent extra heat but a good little boost.

Good tips one and all so thank you. I think the key is to adjust us and what we're wearing rather than the heating timer. We all work different hours so are keen to find another option than running the heating almost 24 hours to accommodate the normal 9-5 workers as well as the night owl.

Make sure your radiators are heating up properly and don’t need bleeding! I recently did mine and the difference is amazing! I’ve also put a window film on the windows of the colder rooms where the windows are a bit drafty! And stealing the dogs warmth is another favourite 😂

You mentioned you've been in your house for a few years and this cold spell has knocked you for six. Perhaps, it just due to the fact it's the first cold spell and you haven't adjusted to winter as I'd say what we have now it pretty average for a winter.

Our heating is generally on up to two hours in the morning and evening, unless it's come up to temperature and gone off. With it being cold, I've left it on at 17c in the day so if it drops it'll come on.

By the way, I submitted meter readings on Tuesday and we've only used £46 gas and electric since September. As it was mild around Oct most of us weren't using much, so you enjoy now while it's cold.

If you're really worried about costs, I used to take gas meter readings once a month in winter and calculate the cost of what we'd used, that way we knew we could afford the cost or really have to cut back.

For keeping the temperature in the house warm, there are many ways like keeping the heater on, foil for radiator and electric blankets. You can try upgrading the flooring in the house to wooden flooring and take some helpful hints from the professionals for installing impact doors and windows that make the house more insulated and helps to maintain the inside temperature. This can be an energy efficient way of keeping the house warm as the doors have proper insulation and the wooden floors are warm so this will surely help you.

We have flimsy curtains so I've put a portable groblind on the window for an extra layer of heat insulation.