To wonder how long the no heating brigade will last when it turns cold?

[womaninatightspot]

I’ve been contemplating how much I can reduce the heating and electric throws. It’s chilly here today, sixteen degrees, but grey and drizzly. I’ve lit the wood stove, I do have a cold so maybe I feel more susceptible to chills.

I feel like I’ve fallen at first hurdle. Definitely going to be keeping one warm room in the house so it’s not just really unpleasant for the dc. I’ve recently paid 365 for four cubic metres kiln dried wood but it’s going to cost 1K to fill the oil tank for 1000 litres. Was a third of that last year.

I’m not sure but I think the min temp to prevent frozen pipes is about 6 degrees. That might not cost a whole heap of energy. I’d be pleased to hear a well-informed opinion on that

Some of us already keep the heating off in winter. It's always been expensive.

I practiced last winter. Didn't put the heating on once - or used an electric heater or anything. It was feckity freezing and friends who visited never took their coats off.

I always try and put off turning the heating on till November. I normally just manage.

I don't know for sure but 6 sounds about right. I think if you get a few degrees above freezing in the house it will be pretty close to zero by the walla. My mum poo poos this constantly. She would rather flood her house than go over sub freezing

I think it was double figures - either 12 or 15° iirc.

I really don’t mean to be rude but I’m just so confused at the indoor v outdoor temp perception. If it was 17 degrees outside I’d be in shorts and a T-shirt so why is it so different inside?

I think it’s probably 10 outside before I start to feel slightly uncomfortable/ chilly. Sorry for my incompetence, just very confused.

I always seem to be sweaty 🥵 Maybe I just have a higher set point

Cooking will be interesting - every inch of the oven will be used if it's on, and I've got a Wonderbag for casseroles, curries, porridge etc. which should save a fair bit
Porridge cooks in no time at all if you make it up the night before, proper rolled oats not the dusty stuff.

I can't quite figure out the intent behind your comments towards me Doingprettywellthanks. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're curious rather than incredulous...

We don't have roasts. But if hot water is needed for pots, I boil a kettle.

Yes, I do have a washing machine! 😳 A brand new one, bought on credit card when my old one broke down beyond repair a few weeks ago. I have a DS, he plays football. And just generally rolls about in mud, for fun, at any opportunity. As another poster has explained, washing machines these days run off the cold water pipe and heat the necessary hot water themselves. It's more efficient that way apparently.

And yes, I wash my hands in cold water. Believe me, I have far more serious problems to worry about than that. 😅

We live in a relatively modern 4 bed house but our boiler broke down and our central heating system has been condemned. We don't have the money to replace it and have lived without heating for the past 8 years. Over the summer we have put up a door between the living room and dining room and we will do what we do every winter - socks, jumpers, sleeping bag or duvet on the sofa.

Why are we paying higher rates?

Ive just checked the weather forecast, its due to rain here for 7 days. Christ knows how I'll get any washing dry, its cold inside too.

One of my clients (and I’m not suggesting anyone do it- not sure how safe it is)….

But they’ve saved up empty carling cans, filled with pebbles, glued them together and placed in front of the halogen heater. The cans heat up as well. Providing extra heat when the heater is off. Will only work in a small room.

I definitely won't have my heating on. I have not had it on at all for the past 2 years.

@FayeGovan
Do you have a garage or greenhouse at all? An airer can be put up in there. I've even seen ppl suggest a tent.

anyone doing this…. Well I can’t imagine them being to be a client of anyone.

unless you work for the citizens advice (they call people that come to them for advice… clients)

I always try to make it to when the clocks go back because I don’t know how to change the clock on the boiler and usually fail by a week or so!

And I reckon they live in a flat or terraced property, in which case - a very very serious fire risk and tbh…. You know their address and I’d probably report to local council your concerns

My parents don’t put their heating one cause the house is so drafty it makes no difference according to them. It’s bloody freezing in their house for my from say October - April and I’m only visiting. They must be used to it. They just can’t afford to heat it to where it would make any difference. I’m going to try and keep mine off as long as possible and have brought us all thermals and extra duvets and blankets.

We were without heat /power for 3 days last Feb cos of the storms. Our well insulated and relavitely new (2005) home soon became cold and miserable.

I'm in the North West and am grateful it's still really warm here! Will try and make it to October and also feel lucky we've got a woodburner and a decent-ish stock of wood (enough for a couple of months). The woodburner is good at taking the chill off at leasr half the house - I'm a total wuss and will have the heating on 22c ideally - am aiming for 19 this year, but only when the woodburner isn't cutting it. Feel lucky we at least have the option, but so pissed off we're this worried....

Main issue for me is drying clothes -
I di have a TD but obviously concerened about the cost of running it .
I've got a small heated rail (Aldi bargain) which I put in the hall upstairs . I've got a hanging rail about the doorway to the small (multi purpose storage) room and over the drop of the stairwell.
Clothes get hung there when nearly dry .

Tempting as it is to put washing on the radiator , its a nightmare for damp . And if the radiators aren't on, that won't work .

We have a de humidifier for after the shower is run, especially if windows are shut .

Woke up today to dull and rainy weather and house felt damp. Haven't put the heating on but it won't be long I suspect. We've had great weather virtually all summer and I've been line drying the washing most days. My concern now that weather seems to have turned is how I'm going to dry washing on the clothes horse and it not taking 3 days to dry.

I was brought up with no heating in the 60s and 70s on an arable farm. It snowed heavily everyday. It was bloody freezing all of the time.

No unfortunately