Central heating

Mine's been on & off for a couple of months. Hate being cold. Don't understand why people 'wait'.

My heating is never off, but only comes on when the temperature drops below 22 deg. Interestingly, it came on overnight for the first time since May on September 16, and when flicking through last year’s diary, I spotted that I’d written on 16th September last year ‘ heating came on overnight ‘. As we’ve had quite a few warmer days, it has stayed off until today!

I definitely do not do cold either, mine is on all year as well, never turned off, just stays at 21 degree, I whack it up as required but never below 21.

Heating goes off on March 31st back on Nov 1st
Water goes on twice a day for an hour all year unless we go away!
We have a slow cooker, air fryer, microwave and combined oven, ditched the tumble dryer except for a quick 30 mins for big towels ! Keeping costs down as much as possible .
We have thick curtains, fleecy throws and a cat on the lap 🙀
We live in West Yorkshire !!

Snugglies over warm clothes and hats first. Heating when that's not enough. Usually set to 15 for day and 12 for night. Can't afford more than that.

I live in a 15th century semi detached village house. It is a large 4 bedroomed house. For its age and construction it is very well insulated and heating costs are reasonable.

Our heating operates on a thermostat and has yet to come on. I did put a winter nightdress on last night, but otherwise have yet to go into winter clothes, which is a tribute, I think to the effectiveness of our insulation and the ability of our house to hold heat.

I don’t do cold either. Hive is saying it’s 16 this morning and i5 hit 18 yesterday. I’m now wearing velour top and bottoms and woollen socks. Yesterday I put the heavy blanket on top of the duvet. What a godsend, I’d recommend it to everyone. Lounge has a posh electric fan heater if we need it. My husband still has the tower fan pointed at his feet!! Every night. I just snuggle down to avoid any draught from it. I hope to keep heating off till 31/10 🤞it’s been off since 31/3. Good luck everyone. Stay warm

I usually try to wait until well into October and this year I certainly will as I am dreading the bills. I'm already adding an extra layer so I should be looking like a Michelin man by the time I give in and switch on!

I'm in the North East and up to now, no heating on at all and I am perfectly comfortable.
I've had the odd evening/early morning over the last week or so when I've put a cardigan on but otherwise all good!
I do feel the cold too....

Detached timber framed bungalow lovely & cool in warm weather but already needed heating on last couple of days in morning's as so cold. Autumn pj’s & thicker duvet on last night as cant stand cold due to OA & RA hurting more then. Lovely life if you dont weaken my Nan used to say!

sodapop, Foxygloves you ignored the other parameter i mentione and that was that this information about how people heat themselves and their house, depends on what type of house they live in and how well insulated it is.

The heating needs of a small very well insulated house are very different from those of a larger less well insulated and draftier home and so are the ways we dress and use our heating in those different homes.

I try to last out until the 1st October, but this past week has been very challenging.

Don't think either BlueBelle or I were claiming any high moral ground or that we had more strength of character because we didn't have central heating, that would be ridiculous.
I would prefer to spend money on air con rather than central heating as that would make me most comfortable.

Our thermostats are set, heat comes on and off at the number.

Easy really.

Frankly, I can see no reason to attach special credit to those who manage without heating or are happier when the temperture is lower. From my experience, how much we feel the cold has very little to do with fortitude or experience and much more to do with genes
I’m not sure anybody has been claiming any “moral high ground” with their personal preferences regarding heating!
Of course most if not all of us predate the age of central heating (and it was blimmin freezing in my bedroom too back in the day).
But economic considerations apart, it is surely a matter of preference plus a bit of common sense in not letting one’s house cool down to a dangerous level and taking our (late) mothers invariable good advice about dressing appropriately and, when the temperature dropped - of putting on a winter woolly!

My Dad is £5,000 in credit to British Gas (long story...) so I clicked the button on his online account to request a refund.
Website refused as apparently he will need that money now the colder weather is coming!
My battle continues... 🙄

At our house I've been switching my heated towel rail on in the morning, and we both moved on to winter pjs last night. Ok with that for now!

I'm off to Primark to buy myself a snuddie and some winter slippers. DH is happy in t-shirt and shorts with the windows open until it's freezing outside.
Our 70s semi could do with more insulation. I'll turn the heating on when necessary and don't go by the calendar. We live in the South East and it's still warm here.

Easybee
Do you use an iPad, if so, there is a magnifying app on there. There you will have the whole screen. Or, ( on an iPad) take a photo and expand that on your screen.

Oh, just realised you mean the regular Winter fuel payment, not additional payouts as last year. Still very welcome!

I think pensioners are getting an extra amount this winter, in addition to the Winter fuel money? Hope so, or our heating will be as low as possible!
www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/cost-of-living-support/money-off-your-energy-bills

I'm a cold bod. At the moment the heating and water is on timed for a couple of hours morning and evening and the thermostat is set at 21. The heating came on this morning for the first time this autumn, it gave me a warm house to get up to but the timer has switched it off now.

Oh, just realised you mean the regular Winter fuel payment, not additional payouts as last year. Still very welcome!

Thanks, Karmalady for that info- and I didn’t know about the extra money. That’ll be really helpful.

StacyAnna

^I have programmed the oldie safe temperatures into all the thermostats, five of them and I think I will turn the actual thermostats on later today. They will catch any low temperature blip that I don`t physically notice^

What is the oldie safe temp, Karmalady? About 18?

I have 21 in my downstairs living areas and 18 upstairs for my bedroom. If I want a quick boost for my en suite shower, then I press manual,23, and it stays on for 15 minutes

Pensioners get the extra money again this winter, £500 in total I think. No-one should be sitting in temperatures that are below the safe level

I had a new gas boiler installed earlier this year so yesterday I turned up the thermostat to see if it worked, programmed for an hour in the morning. It did, which was a relief, as the instructions are complex and printed in about font 8 so I need a period of intense study and a magnifying glass.

I have programmed the oldie safe temperatures into all the thermostats, five of them and I think I will turn the actual thermostats on later today. They will catch any low temperature blip that I don`t physically notice

What is the oldie safe temp, Karmalady? About 18?