Have you turned off your heating now?

[WombatChocolate]

I know some people haven’t really had it on all winter - terrible position to find yourself in and I’m truly sorry people have had to do this.

But if you have had it on, have you now turned it off or if you’ve reduced it,how many hours per day now?

It’s late March and ours is till on for 1 hr in morning and about 4 hrs in evening. Obviously it’s not firing up so much as it gets to temp (17 degrees) faster now.

Just wondered when people who’ve already turned it off did so and what those still using it are doing…and when you’d think it will be off fully. Thanks.

It's currently 20° with no heating thanks to both sides next to us apparently liking their houses to be like a sauna. The lowest it's dipped to is 17.5 in the day. We have run the heating through but haven't really needed it on.

I’m finding it odd how some people reacted to the poster who said they hadn’t used their heating all winter.

It’s almost as if some people aren’t aware there’s a massive cost of living crisis going on and do t know that some people can’t afford heat AND food and make choices. More people will have not had their heating on this year, or only in the very coldest spells or perhaps for an hour a day.

We aren’t badly off, but I have been more conscious of usage than ever before. My thermostat has been set to 17 degrees and we use a timer, so have been reducing the hours it’s set to come on sooner this year.

I don’t think the poster who said they hadn’t used their heating was being smug at all. Hard up is probably more like it.

Usually this time of year, I'd have it timed just for an hour in the morning, same again eveningat 18.5c.

We turned it down this year to 18c. Unfortunately DH hasn't been very well (first time he's been signed off in 30 years work), for I've taken it off timer in the morning until it comes up to 18c. House warms up a little in the day due to outside temperatures, heat from cooking/showering and sun, so it isn't coming on at 18c later on.

DH going to try going back to work tomorrow, so I'll switch it off as soon as he's left.

Jealous of people with partners as cuddles on the sofa or in bed are like having a never ending hot water bottle

Oh do behave. Of course people can pop the heating on for an hour a day, and still afford to eat. This is propaganda and scaremongering peddled by the media to cause maximum clicks and views on their news items.

No-one I know in real life NEVER has the heating on. Only on mumsnet, and on the odd news article on TV or online ... Where someone is standing in front of a camera, with a woeful look clutching a hot water bottle and a fleece blanket.

And how do they heat the water for the hot water bottle? Heating the water would use gas or electric. Oh the horror! Funny also, how the people shouting the loudest on the kind of news items I mention, seem to be able to find money for other things in their life that are non-essential.

Yes of course, some people are on the bones of their arse, and struggle badly financially, but the ones shouting the loudest and complaining the most, and saying 'I never switch my heating on - EVER,' are not those people.

Astonishing.

Can I refer you to the websites of the Trussel Trust or other foodbanks? Can I refer you to the many Debt Advice websites and centres?

Increasing proportions of the population ARE having to choose between heat and food, because their income won’t cover both to the extent they would like.

Perhaps volunteering at a food bank or warm hub, would give you more awareness of a problem you seem to doubt exists.

I could survive without the heating on. Is it great ? No. It's also very dependent on the type of house you are in (mid terraces can be pretty warm due to the neighbours) how well it is insulated and how many people are in it and where you are in the UK (latitude, altitude).

I reckon mine would get down to about 7-10C without any heating on at some points.

Would it be survivable ? Yes. Would it damage my health ? Doubt it. Would it damage the fabric of the house ? Doubt it, because I keep the house very dry.

The greatest danger is that the pipes will freeze and the resulting damage will cost me a lot more than the heating bill.

The idea that some people can't understand how other people can survive without the heating on is a bit of a mystery to me. After all, there is massive variation of housing type, insulation, personal tolerance and medical requirements, even climate within the UK (much milder on the south coast than the far north). So it shouldn't really be that surprising that some people can handle the entire winter without heating.

@WombatChocolate

Astonishing.

Can I refer you to the websites of the Trussel Trust or other foodbanks? Can I refer you to the many Debt Advice websites and centres?

Increasing proportions of the population ARE having to choose between heat and food, because their income won’t cover both to the extent they would like.

Perhaps volunteering at a food bank or warm hub, would give you more awareness of a problem you seem to doubt exists.

I said that I KNOW some people genuinely struggle, and some people ARE on the bones of their arse. I KNOW that. I did say that in my post, (But you conveniently overlooked that!) So you can keep your condescending and patronising 'suggestions' that I volunteer somewhere to yourself. And how arrogant to assume I DON'T volunteer anywhere.

With some, I believe that it's bad budgeting. Call my views 'astonishing' if you want, and act all shocked and in 'pure disbelief,' but it won't change my views and opinions.

I shall cease posting on here now, as I can tell I am upsetting you and several others with my views. I know some people struggle, and cannot make ends meet. But as I said, for some who say they can't make ends meet, it is bad budgeting. (Not with ALL, but some.)

There is no way you can seriously try and insist NOTHING I have said has any grain of truth. I have said all I need to say now. So I will leave you to it.

I can absolutely assure you I NEVER have the heating on. I'm not shivering by candlelight either.

I am quite surprised by the low temperatures there are is some parts of UK yet! I hope it warms up quickly there too. It has been a huge relief here since the last frost around 2-3 weeks ago.
We all know for sure that many many people in UK have not been able to afford the heating this winter, so I do not understand some of the posters on this thread....
I mean, as a whole UK has spent a lot less of Kw than usual so...

@SandLResources forgot to say she lives in California.

I was wondering how much average usage has gone down. Where did you find out the kwh for the UK?

Interesting. We’ve used way less electric and gas than we did in previous winters. We’ve used the heating very minimally, used airers and a dehumidifier instead of the tumble drier, lots of cooking in air fryer and slow cooker to avoid using the oven too much. Even then we’ve spent nearly £300 a month on elec and gas. (4 bed detached house, four occupants, electric car).

Yes , I have turned my heating off now . I may turn it on again about 8pm .While I totally appreciate there is a cost issue for many I dont really understand the concept of on / off heating being a non reversible event .

Once ours is off then the set times are off, this is once it would hardly come on anyway. It doesn't mean we use zero heating from that time forward, if there is a cold day I can press the +1 hour button as needed.

No; my thermo is still on 17 during the day so it's not coming on much, although it's 19.5 for an hour on an evening so it still comes on then. South east, badly insulated house, hate the cold.

Nope. Heating is on and I'm currently curled up with my heated blanket just as I have for the past few days

my boiler is on each day to heat the water, so boiler valves arent going to seize up.

its cosy sitting under a duvet

Was an hour in the morning up to 19degrees, 3.5hrs in the evening up to 19degrees.

Now it's 30m to 18degrees in the morning, and 1hr to 18degrees in the evening.

I doubt it will be on for much longer though l don't really feel we need it now tbh.

My heating is never in a permanent state of 'on' because I only ever use it for an hour at a time when I think it's required, but I can't recall activating it at all this month. Perhaps once or twice right at the beginning of March, but certainly not over the past three weeks or so. I just hasn't been cold enough to require it.

We're lucky enough to have recently acquired a log burner (DP is in the trade so knows people) which has literally saved us hundreds since Christmas. We've barely had our heating on except for mornings when it's cold but am trying desperately to do without unless it's too cold for DC to get out of bed.

I hate that it has come to this and feel so sad for those that can't afford to put their heating on 😢

Mine went off at Feb half term - with the exception of two days when it snowed.

It will be staying off until October (hopefully half term) so am praying for mild start to Autumn.

No, it’s still cold and pouring down today.
Wet dog doesn’t smell good!

We tend to keep it off from mid April to mid Sept/Oct.

Ours broke a week ago and waiting for pay day to call it in. It's been very temperamental this year and had a few call outs so I know it's going to be bad news. 😭

@Okunevo It was published in the newspaper, I think around January. I read it in the Guardian. I will try to link the article. But surely the total has changed since them.
We were close to a q0% reduction on overall usage at the time.