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Is anyone else’s house freezing?

71 replies

OneCyanHiker · 08/01/2025 10:52

partly a question and partly a whinge (sorry). Our house is really struggling to get to temperature and hold on to it in this cold spell. Mornings are awful! We spend like £5 a day just on gas

OP posts:
SleeplikeababyTonight · 08/01/2025 19:18

Yes, absolutely freezing!! I just can't seem to warm up.

BeAzureAnt · 08/01/2025 19:22

For our old Victorian, best thing we did was double glazing throughout. Next best thing was solar, and the woodstove to supplement.

I’ve found curtains on the interior doors to keep heat in, and draft excluders for doors helped quite a bit too. Hope people stay warm.

CandidHedgehog · 08/01/2025 19:32

From March to October I browse charming, quirky period houses on Rightmove. Between November and February I remember why I bought a boring boxy small modern flat.

I have the heating at 19 during the day (WFH) and 15 overnight and quite often the heating doesn’t come on at all overnight (though it has been coming on briefly the last few days.). The flat has triple glazing in the bedrooms to keep the noise of the nearby railway out but it also massively helps with insulation.

I’m not usually cold (the oodie, thermal leggings and sheepskin slippers over thermal socks help, of course).

Geekylover · 08/01/2025 19:36

I live in a big old house and usually refuse to turn on heating. It’s on now but I swear it will,only be a couple of days. I refuse to make those fat cat energy companies any richer. But yes my house is generally cold

Whatee · 08/01/2025 20:10

We have pretty big, recently replaced double-glazed windows and thermal curtains. The house heats up beautifully on a sunny winter day and the curtains do a good job of keeping the house warm when the temperature starts dropping. We also recently had the whole roof space insulation redone, which has made a noticeable difference to how warm the house stays.

daraghdecember · 08/01/2025 21:19

I wfh quite alot atm. It's freezing in my 3 storey (converted attic) Victorian terrace. The bathroom was added later and is always icy (2 external walls/no sun/ north facing.

DP bought me an electric heated foot muff for xmas. I love it and sit at my desk now with toasty toes and an electric blanket around me.

frockandcrocs · 08/01/2025 21:33

I'm quite glad you've posted this OP, because I've been the same (approx £5 per day), worrying that it was a lot but now realising that's relatively normal from the responses!

We're a Victorian end terrace, double glazed but definitely gets draughty! Plus I've been opening the windows for 10mins AM & PM, which makes it colder for a while.

Can I ask, has anybody tried the putting something reflective behind the radiator trick, and does it work? All of our radiators are also under windows (not our choice, too late to move now!). I'm planning on getting thermal blinds as we have bog standard ones currently.

ACG84 · 08/01/2025 21:37

bluebee17 · 08/01/2025 19:02

We have a new build 2800 ft.² with underfloor heating on from 4am until 9pm to keep the temperature around 20° costing us around £20 a day at the moment. Our house is full of electric so we don't have to worry about gas bill thankfully.

£20 a day is insane - regardless of whether the energy source is renewable or not.

I defintely couldnt' afford that... :-s

DreamingOfASilentNight · 08/01/2025 21:38

My house hasn't been warmer than 17 degrees today despite the heating being in in every room all day and night.i didn't have a daily cost for gas usage but it will be outrageous simply because we've had the heating on as day and night with a big boiler. It's so cold out things just aren't warning up. Were bundled up in extra socks and scarves with blankets and hot water bottles in the sofa. If imagine most people are struggling to get their homes properly currently..

Wigtopia · 08/01/2025 21:41

Hot water bottle tucked into your waistband, layers and good thick jumper, socks, slippers and a hat.

unfortunately homes in this country are very poorly insulated so even having the heating on loads more it will still leak out. I find heating myself is far better than trying to keep the house warm.

DontshootmyRaptors · 08/01/2025 21:43

frockandcrocs · 08/01/2025 21:33

I'm quite glad you've posted this OP, because I've been the same (approx £5 per day), worrying that it was a lot but now realising that's relatively normal from the responses!

We're a Victorian end terrace, double glazed but definitely gets draughty! Plus I've been opening the windows for 10mins AM & PM, which makes it colder for a while.

Can I ask, has anybody tried the putting something reflective behind the radiator trick, and does it work? All of our radiators are also under windows (not our choice, too late to move now!). I'm planning on getting thermal blinds as we have bog standard ones currently.

Radiators are better under windows makes the hot air circulate.

ZiggyZowie · 08/01/2025 21:44

Yes. Kitchen was 0.7 centigrade yesterday

Just above freezing

DontshootmyRaptors · 08/01/2025 21:47

I want a 1970’s North American style house with a white modern railing staircase. I don’t why I feel that style of house may be warmer.
Im currently in a 1853 one and having to use a small snuggly dog and a hot water bottle for heat. It’s not enough.

Biiiii · 08/01/2025 21:47

Im really cold even at 20c in the house its just so cold. I dont know how much a day goes by monthly DD i think annual gas and electricity is 2500 GBP or maybe more.

HellsBalls · 09/01/2025 00:05

frockandcrocs · 08/01/2025 21:33

I'm quite glad you've posted this OP, because I've been the same (approx £5 per day), worrying that it was a lot but now realising that's relatively normal from the responses!

We're a Victorian end terrace, double glazed but definitely gets draughty! Plus I've been opening the windows for 10mins AM & PM, which makes it colder for a while.

Can I ask, has anybody tried the putting something reflective behind the radiator trick, and does it work? All of our radiators are also under windows (not our choice, too late to move now!). I'm planning on getting thermal blinds as we have bog standard ones currently.

Go to wherever you get podcasts from > Sliced Bread > Insulation Hacks.
They are discussing cheap insulation methods.

PigletJohn · 10/01/2025 00:41

For example www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00260sl

fivebyfivebuffy · 10/01/2025 00:57

Mine is about £5 for gas and electric but I'm quite tight with the heating and keep it around 16-18c

In summer it's blissful, ground floor apartment and it's often 5c cooler inside. My dad is "oh I'll pop over for a drink today"
Yeah you're just escaping your roasting hot flat Grin

UncharteredWaters · 10/01/2025 01:32

We are more like £13/14 per day and that’s not even with it on a lot or high temps!

Hard to heat house we know!

northernsoulful · 10/01/2025 01:40

Not sure if anyone already mentioned adult blanket hoodies but 2 years ago we were all literally freezing in our house. 5-bed open plan rooms for the most part, suspended floor in living room. Office converted from a garage. In 'normal' conditions the rooms feel perfectly fine and comfortable but in Winter it's like living in a freezer. We did put the heating on for short periods to try and 'warm up' the rooms we were using the most (living room, bedrooms, bathroom) but it made no difference. Sometimes my feet and legs were so cold it felt as if I was sitting in freezing water. The cost of trying to heat our home became a real cause for concern.

Not wanting to repeat that experience, last year around end of September, I bought some adult blanket hoodies, seeing it as an investment IF they worked and planning to return them if not. But my goodness, did they work! Talk about toasty. We found it's better to heat the person (the heat moves around with them) rather than try to heat rooms. I got 2 of these garments for each of us - one knee-length and one full length - and they wash really well and dry quickly. We have LIVED in them and rarely need to put the heating on at all now. My daughter and I both like the patterned ones (I have the polar bears in first link) and DH preferred plain so he has light grey - he changes as soon as he gets home and combined with thermal socks and slippers, remains toasty until bedtime. We have 'teddy fleece' bedding with lightweight teddy fleece throws and are snuggly thoughout the night.

For Christmas this year I bought myself a couple of new hoodies from Dunelm. These are just as war but much lighter to wear (not that the others are heavy or uncomfortable in any way), wash and dry quickly, available in several colours and cheaper than the ones from Amazon - some currently on sale too!

As I said, I consider these adult hoodies an investment and we are not worried or concerned about whether we need to put the heating on to get warm. I appreciate not everyone will be able to buy 2 for each person in the household (they have children's size too) but perhaps those who are skilled at sewing could buy single throws made of same material as the Dunelm ones and make your own! I considered that myself and if my hands were less troubled by arthritis I would have made several. I've seen the single 'teddy' throws for as little as £7.99 on Amazon or double at £11.49 - folded in half with a neckline cut out and the sides sewn, they would be perfectly fine.

Amazon Link 1 (short polar bears, with long version next to it)

Amazon Link 2 (extra long, DH)

Amazon Link 3 (teddy fleece throws)

Dunelm Hoodies

Dunelm Hoodies Selection Page

Anyway, thought I would offer this up for anyone who wishes to buy/make their own, and maybe reduce some of the anxiety/stress the heating issue causes many of us. We wouldn't be without ours now...

Elaxi Extra Long Oversized Blanket Hoodie, Soft Sherpa Hooded Wearable Blanket with Sleeves, Pockets Fleece Warm Wearable Throw Giant Sweatshirt for Women and Men : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Elaxi Extra Long Oversized Blanket Hoodie, Soft Sherpa Hooded Wearable Blanket with Sleeves, Pockets Fleece Warm Wearable Throw Giant Sweatshirt for Women and Men : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elaxi-Oversized-Blanket-Wearable-Sweatshirt/dp/B0CHW6SNHS/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1NBEZV43XNVHL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7dsNEd4OJayJj6WedMMm1xyW1-byNGwc09s6RgCYXmmt2tL3JLnlKFIxJMqfqGpVVX_xOP40GVI-8zlqMFNK-gO-sJmo9m2CthmMiZQv9VsipAOeaIcUPNyCovP3WrfDxK6lOUpInfHSCS29gGrd6H7trncQWYFTrrIeQRhgTB6Uz6jIZhUyBp5ZdgcQfngjpkgUNA5zvaHHvNVdps9uRv5EWXvdUHK6tikfIgHW4n0xoAYWo0HHeB7b_jJ85gYvKJclR6UEhbWCwvjYEsxahQWNleixLM8gbnycnJee_1Ib7PACpa-T9Nk44UNYvedcYXiDDvzrTlzt-wAy1i8HM2GvPzrdsy6PCTDxCOdMPT7jJv5EAELcpBRcMsWXrSqGReQhsP7sPExeKj-Ry6KlKYaIIbPiuNNpm9_wrsXtB1Ddy3k0GmBjP7mDFIcI78KI.znCe32haHfYVyOSvZp3MfLq_MNh5XkC0ZSeILbOAzxM&dib_tag=se&keywords=extra%20long%20hoodie%20blanket%20for%20men&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1736472375&sprefix=Extra%20Long%20Hoodie%20Blanket%20for%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-6&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-property-5247643-is-anyone-elses-house-freezing

Elissaisnotmyname · 10/01/2025 01:50

It’s very cold at the moment but temperatures are rising this weekend🙂

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