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Original poster

When do you put the heating on?

207 replies

Gh12345 · 15/09/2023 15:04

I’ve turned the heating on as it’s super chilly in the house. Already got warm socks and a blanket but got me thinking when do others put their heating on?

I swore I wouldn’t put it on before October but here I am…

OP posts:
AvengedQuince · 26/09/2023 17:36

It's 20 degrees in my sitting room right now so no need for heating! DS is still regularly leaving his bedroom window open. It would be October at the earliest, but might not be on the timer properly until November.

Comedycook · 26/09/2023 18:18

24 degrees on my car thermometer today...it was gorgeous.

Sunday is meant to be 23degrees

Having a BBQ this weekend

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/09/2023 23:40

Usually Around October but if temps dips I would put it on for 20m
Or so

Better to do that and warm house then sit freezing

Hasn't happened yet as sunny here in South east And been sitting in garden reading in the sun today

PestoandPeas · 28/09/2023 13:15

If my thermostat is set to 17.5 and my central heating timer is set to come on from 5-6pm, will it will only come on at this time if the temp drops below 17.5? (ie does the thermostat override the timer)
Does that mean I could not use a timer and just leave the CH switched to on all the time, and it would only come on once the temperature was below 17.5?
😨
I'm confused (and cold!!!!)

EbiRaisukaree · 28/09/2023 13:36

PestoandPeas · 28/09/2023 13:15

If my thermostat is set to 17.5 and my central heating timer is set to come on from 5-6pm, will it will only come on at this time if the temp drops below 17.5? (ie does the thermostat override the timer)
Does that mean I could not use a timer and just leave the CH switched to on all the time, and it would only come on once the temperature was below 17.5?
😨
I'm confused (and cold!!!!)

The timer controls the periods when you want the heating to potentially be active, so it won’t come on outside those times.

If you have the thermostat set to 17.5, the heating will come on if the temperature falls below that within the set timer periods. If it falls below 17.5 outside the timed periods, nothing will happen, because the timer will have the heating set to off at those times.

If you want to maintain a temperature above 17.5 day and night, just set the heating to ON (not TIMED) and leave the stat at 17.5, and it will maintain that temperature all the time.

EbiRaisukaree · 28/09/2023 13:38

You can usually also override the timer periods by hitting a button called ADVANCE or BOOST depending on what controls you have. ADVANCE will turn the heating on right away, and it will go off at the end of the next timed period.

PestoandPeas · 28/09/2023 13:53

🤓thank you so much-I feel like bit of a knob, tbh -it just feels wrong (!) to have the CH on and to trust the thermostat to do its job! Its quite a basic one, and a combi boiler, so will experiment with different timed settings-i won't be able to afford to stay at 17.5 day and night, much as I'd love to.

EbiRaisukaree · 28/09/2023 14:41

You could just leave it on but remember to turn the stat down to something much lower when you go to bed, if that’s the easiest way for you to manage it.

Once we get to stage of needing heating at all, we get by with our stat at 18 for an hour in the morning, an hour in the middle of the day and two hours in the evening, so it’s not on for very much of the day at all, but it’s enough for us unless in the coldest part of the winter.

MikeRafone · 28/09/2023 15:29

When it drops below 16 degrees, which judging by the forecast will not be for the next 10 days as it’s not going below 18 degrees

MikeRafone · 28/09/2023 15:33

PestoandPeas · 28/09/2023 13:53

🤓thank you so much-I feel like bit of a knob, tbh -it just feels wrong (!) to have the CH on and to trust the thermostat to do its job! Its quite a basic one, and a combi boiler, so will experiment with different timed settings-i won't be able to afford to stay at 17.5 day and night, much as I'd love to.

It shouldn’t have to, as once you’ve heated up the house to that temperature (if your house is well insulated) the boiler will click off and stay off until the temperature drops.

I just leave mine on 16 degree - unless I’m out all day or away.

BooksAndHooks · 28/09/2023 15:34

Not before November. Last year it was barely on at all as kept it on 15. Hoping with the credit we’ve built up and drop in prices we might be able to have it on more this year.

Comedycook · 29/09/2023 10:01

Just had a look at the BBC weather page...it looks forward up to two weeks...the 7th October is predicted to reach 24 degrees in London. I'm soooo happy!

MikeRafone · 29/09/2023 11:28

Last year october was very mild and it helped keep heating costs down over the winter, as it’s much later for gas to be used.

Idontpostmuch · 03/10/2023 13:26

Never before Nov, usually 1Nov but occasionally into second week Nov. Have lived quite far south in England for many yrs, but even when I was at home in Scotland, only turned it on around 2 wks earlier. Living room (one floor up) currently 19, bedrooms (two floors up) 20 and kitchen (ground floor) 17.

TheOnlyMrsW · 04/10/2023 08:28

We haven't yet - although we have lit the burner a couple of times at weekends. Currently 10 degrees outside and and 16.5 degrees in the downstairs...........it's an open plan end terrace so tends to be cold but I'm trying to last as long as possible! We're moving out next week for a kitchen refurb so expect that we'll need to put it on when we get back........I'm on one of the weather threads too and am completely astounded by the difference in temperature in different parts of the country! It sounds a bit think as I knew that obviously the south was warmer but 10 degrees and upwards sounds mad to me!

defi · 04/10/2023 08:32

No I've got a heater aired and dehumidifier that warms up rooms. So not needed thankfully

TheChosenTwo · 04/10/2023 08:34

When it’s cold! Put it on in my office yesterday as I do feel the cold when just sitting still at my desk but it hasn’t come on in the rest of the house yet. It clicks in when the temperature drops to 20 I think but I put my office to 22 yesterday as i felt a little chill. I do work in light comfortable clothes though; leggings and a tshirt. I hate feeling all bundled up!
We leave it on all year but just have the room thermostats come on when the temperature drops. It’s been quite warm though as it’s not come on by itself yet.
Sadly it’s not been cold enough here (SE) to warrant having a fire yet, can’t believe it!

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 04/10/2023 16:06

I was close to putting it on this morning as it was so cold in the house. I had the heated blanket on at 8am. I might put the fire on tonight to warm the house through though. Im using the oven soon though so that’ll warm the house a bit and my Xbox kicks out heat too 😂

ShadowsontheHill · 05/10/2023 10:30

The thermostat is set to 18 so who knows. It did feel cold yesterday so we had the blanket to sit under and it was fine. I find if you start putting it on then you want it on more. It’s a funny time of year because there is a definite temp change but not enough. Going to be warm this weekend where I live up to 21 so I intend doing loads of washing.

@BellaTheDarkOverlord xbox does kick out a fair bit of heat doesn’t it. Mine is on the floor so quite close to my feet :)

GasPanic · 05/10/2023 10:52

Last year was beginning of November.

Am painting at the moment and have all the windows open. House is getting lower in temperature so winter is definitely approaching ! Now about 16-17C.

Apparently the WHO says I will die when it is at this level but it feels fine - am still hoping to hold out until November.

Ariela · 05/10/2023 11:15

Sunny south east here, predicted 26 at the weekend. If the warmer weather continues, we may well not need central heating at all this side of Christmas (we often don't, smaller style highly insulated house) , and just perhaps light the log burner a couple of times to warm the lounge. Still using solar to heat all our hot water, so oil use looks to be below last years 800l for the year

midgemadgemodge · 05/10/2023 11:37

The WHO doesn't say you die at temperatures below about 18

But it will say that the likelihood of dying noticeably increases

Comedycook · 05/10/2023 11:53

Ariela · 05/10/2023 11:15

Sunny south east here, predicted 26 at the weekend. If the warmer weather continues, we may well not need central heating at all this side of Christmas (we often don't, smaller style highly insulated house) , and just perhaps light the log burner a couple of times to warm the lounge. Still using solar to heat all our hot water, so oil use looks to be below last years 800l for the year

Yes its going to be lovely this weekend and into next week...can't wait. We haven't even been close to wanting to put the heating on yet. Haven't even felt a chill in the mornings or evenings yet.

Desecratedcoconut · 05/10/2023 11:53

GasPanic · 05/10/2023 10:52

Last year was beginning of November.

Am painting at the moment and have all the windows open. House is getting lower in temperature so winter is definitely approaching ! Now about 16-17C.

Apparently the WHO says I will die when it is at this level but it feels fine - am still hoping to hold out until November.

Of course it's unlikely that you'll die at 18c. A healthy adult can live with cold indoor temperatures, they would probably be fine if their homes became damp and riddled with mould too.

Even most people with health vulnerabilities wouldn't die in this situation, although they may experience a further decline in the own health. And the ones who were operating with very poor health may be pushed over the edge by living in a cold home.

National Energy Action suggest that there are 45 deaths in England and Wales that look like this each day over the winter months.

Comefromaway · 05/10/2023 12:01

I’m another one who has it come on whenever the indoor temperature drops below a certain temperature.

My timer is set so that during the hours we are in the house it comes on at below 19. Overnight and whilst we are at work it comes on if it drops below 12 to prevent freezing pipes.

in addition I have thermostats on the radiators so only the rooms we occupy are on or if one room gets warmer (the living room gets a lot of sunlight) the radiator goes off in that room.

it works very well