Are 1930s Semis cold?!

[Beach1983]

We should be moving soon to a 30’s semi (currently in a new build which is always warm) and with the price of energy I’m worried it’s going to be freezing and £££ to keep warm? What are your 30’s semis like?

it’s seems well insulated and has upvc windows and new central heating, but worrying we may be making a mistake in the current climate!

Ours does get cold in the winter but boiling in the summer #cantwaitforautumn

@LemonSwan a log burner is on the list 100%!

We live in a 1930s semi, it's very warm in the winter. It has a decent boiler regularly serviced, thermostats on the radiators, double glazing, roof insulation and cavity wall insulation. I just wear normal clothing in the winter, probably every house is different even if they are built in the same decade. It will depend on the care the various owners have taken about maintenance over the years.

How did you do the underfloor insulation please?

I went from modern to 1930s semi. Its much, much cooler. The walls are solid and I have a suspended floor.

I've put in a new boiler, new rads, reinsulated the loft, new windows, took the bathroom ceiling out and kingspanned before plastering and put in a log burner. This winter will be the test!

My 30s semi is warmer than DM's 60s open plan semi.

What made a difference to our freezing north facing living room and bedrooms was new boiler and double radiators. We also insulated the roof space but then did a loft conversion and kitchen extension both of which were well insulated. I think the double radiator in living room (with help of new combi boiler) made most difference. We are in a 1930s terrace.

I'm in a 1930s semi and my house is lovely and warm in winter and downstairs stays very cool in summer (upstairs less so, so I have an aircon!).

Have double glazing, modern combi boiler, there is insulation (done before my time here over 14 years ago) too.

I sometimes wonder if it is because we are South East facing, and get lots of sunlight through the big bay window all day. But yeah, I'm a cold person so I do have the heating on lots. But my OH hates it, finds the house too hot and complains! I never put a radiator on upatairs though. It definitely doesn't need it unless is is below freezing and even then it is around 17-18 upstairs. The downstairs is heated by one of the big living room/diner rads and the kitchen rad. All others are off. I don't have a thermostat as they were supposed to come back to put one in when they did my new boiler. They never did and I couldn't get hold of them. So I gave up.

I really can't complain about my house. I was in a new build before this too, and think this house is better!

Ours isn’t at all cold and isn’t expensive to heat. Insulated walls and loft, good double glazing, newish condensing boiler, carpeted.

we're in a 1920s. It was cold and damp when we got it (and the damp made it feel even colder than it was) . Now, thanks to various things like ventilation etc it's dry, but still somewhat chilly. Great in the heatwave, though.
Beware of cavity wall insulation in older buildings. Someone did this house, we're currently looking for quotes to get it out, as it's breaking down to dust in many areas, squatting on the DPC ,and stops the walls breathing like was intended in old houses. Loft is now insulated, which helped a lot. We are working on the suspended timber floor, one room is now insualted (from below), and it has made that much warmer. But be under no illusions, houses this age will never be as warm or energy efficient as a modern house is. Your woollies are your friends. And your long johns are your friends too, in the winter.😉

I like how some people say our house is not cold, but then say we have the heating on a lot and go on about new boilers and radiators. Any house will be be warm if the heating is on a lot. I think the op was asking if the houses were generally cold without the heating blasting out as she was worried about the cost.