Thermostat!

DH always used to complain that his mother’s Bungalow was far too hot, and when we stayed he would immediately turn down the heating. Now he is older, and sitting around more, he feels the cold, so now our house is too hot. I am forever turning radiators down or off, then he turns them up. We never used to have the rad on in our bedroom but now I wake up roasting. I can’t win this one.

Not necessarily, M0nica. Our boiler's only 18 months old but, while the timer and other controls are alongside the boiler in the airing cupboard, the main thermostat is on the living room wall and quite discreetly located behind the door so that you have to look for it to find it.

If it is a very old boiler it could be controlled from the boiler. You set the boiler temperature and then the clock. It might also be controlled by thermostats on the radiator with one uncontrolled radiator on the system. Failing that she may simply not know what the thermostat looks like.

I worked for British Gas on the domestic side for a couple of years and sat near the Home Service Advisors and I was continually amazed from overhearing their phone calls, how very little some people knew or understood about their heating systems.

If the boiler is 20 years old or less there will be a thermostat somewhere, usually incorporated with the timer. Ask her where the timer is for her heating and where that is you will almost definitely find the thermostat.

nannymags27 give him salads for dinner explaining you are trying to save on the fuel costs of cooking until it gets really cold.

Its not really cold enough yet but I have to admit when we do turn the heating on its always me turning it down and opening windows. I see we have a cold snap forecast next weekend so maybe then .......

We are also Hive converts. Not only can we control the heating in our main home, but also in our second home, in rural Scotland so it’s warm when we arrive and not liable to frost damage.
We have invested in automatic light switches/ bulbs that we control from our phones. The lights go off and on at your choosing. Hopefully fooling any would be intruders!

I hate being cold, especially in my own home. We also have Hive and think it's wonderful. Fortunately both DH and I must have same body temperature as there are not normally discussions about heating on/off. Hive is brilliant esp when your not at home so on the way home you can put it on from your phone - brilliant I say.

Maw, that is a bit of a dilemma. There has to be some way of controlling your friend's heating. Would she be offended if you suggested having a look? How does she set the time?
DH suggested it would be a good idea to get the Hive to control our heating, as it was free with our new boiler.
It certainly was!
He doesn't feel the cold and lets the heating go off, complains when I put it back on, as I'm always cold. Now I just go upstairs and boost it using my tablet without him being any the wiser.

I have my own home, so the heating is just as I like it. However, my partner’s big Edwardian house is always cold. He doesn’t feel the cold- he says it’s due to his boarding school upbringing- so I always dress for arctic conditions at his house, and have a blanket and a hot water bottle when I’m watching tv. Still have a cold nose, though. He, on the other hand, complains that my apartment is too hot. It’s a good job we don’t live together.

My friend was complaining that her heating didn’t seem to be working properly this year and she always felt cold so I suggested somebody might have turned the thermostat down -perhaps accidentally or when it was milder - and she assured me she doesn’t have one! Her DH has Alzheimer’s so no use asking him but do I go looking for myself or just let it go? Thermostats are usually such obvious things in the hall or wherever, I felt a little nonplussed!

Worry not! I know how to turn the heating on. And I do. And then sit back and watch the husband peeling off the layers of sweaters...grumbling!

There’s no point having heating, if you’re cold! Have you got radiator thermostats?
If so have the heating on,with your radiator where you’re sitting up high. Put the others on low ( being economical) and refuse to leave the room your in!

Blooming cheek I say if you’re cold turn it up, is it the cost he’s worried about?

Do you know where rhe thermostat is? Turn it up!

What do you mean Dh won't have the heating on?
Surely you have a say in being comfortable in your own home?
Turn your heating up and be warm, if he starts being awkward, tell him ? bye and go and sit reading in the library or buy a coffee and stay warm there.
What right has he to dictate to you?

Ah the cold nose test. If my nose is cold I put on the heating.
If the cat is sitting on front of the fireplace and looking reproachfully at me I also have to put that on!