Turning on the heat

Yes, we've done loft insulation too. I'm not sure what other measures we could take, to be honest.

Loft Insulation? We have double insulation in our loft, cost us nothing.
It did make a difference.

We have stopped using the timer, (apart from first thing) because we had the heating on and we didn't always need it. I'm sure we wasted energy.

Our Hive means that if we are out, the heating is off, but we switch it on remotely, on our way home.

Thanks, Marydoll - we've already got double glazing and replaced our boiler last year and I don't think we qualify for any other help, unfortunately.

MissInterpreted

Oh well, at least if the cold kills me, it'll be warmer 'down under'

MissIterpreted, not meaning to be cheeky, but as you live in Scotland, I assume you have looked at Government grants to make your house warmer.

www.mygov.scot/energy-saving-funding

MissInterpreted

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not getting all nostalgic about growing up with ice on the inside of the windows at all, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But for those of us who live in old, hard to heat houses, it's often simply not possible or practical to keep them at that kind of temperature. There were days last winter when I was genuinely so cold, even with layers and gloves on, that I could have cried, but I had to 'get on with it' because there wasn't really any alternative.

But for those of us who live in old, hard to heat houses, it's often simply not possible or practical to keep them at that kind of temperature.

Oh, I sympathise - my house is exactly like that. In the depth of winter we have to live downstairs and only keep the heat on upstairs at the absolute minimum because it costs a small fortune to heat the whole house.

I know what it's like to be so cold that you want to cry - it saps everything out of you. God only knows how the homeless deal with it .

We have an old sandstone house with thick walls so great if it’s too warm outside inside is pleasant, but once the cold and damp weather starts it takes ages to heat up. But with HBP, asthma and arthritis I ensure the heating goes on as soon as the temperature drops. It’s only me and Dh at home now so we don’t really put the heating on upstairs, as we have two bedrooms downstairs, one is used when DGDs stay over, upstairs has become a storage area for all the things AC don’t have room for.

DJ22

What are your favorite country music??

Buckets of Rain
Two Coats
Too Cold at Home
We've Got a Good Fire Going

Our conservatory is lovely and warm on a sunny autumn or even winter's day but unfortunately we don't seem to get many of those at the moment. It's cloudy, windy and 14C outside.

I've just come in here as it's light and bright to do craft and it's 20C in here, just on the cool side of comfortable. To heat or just bundle up in a cardigan on top of a thin jumper?

I don’t bother with the timer. Don’t know how to work it anyway.

If it’s cold, I switch it on. Then turn it down when everywhere has heated up sufficiently.

I’m definitely not scrimping on it,
Especially as I had a very large and well deserved refund from my energy company.
They had been overcharging me for at least a year.
Now I can switch heating on without having to worry about it.

We've had ours on a couple of times now. We put it on at 16c and turn it off after it reaches 20c usually within 30 to 45 minutes. We no longer user the timer to turn it on and off and that has resulted in the biggest saving on our energy bill

On for two sessions a day at 18°. Switched it all on a week ago as just too cold, especially in the morning, bathroom needs a bit of warmth for me also for drying towels off. Have loads of throws and cosy coverups but these are for later, hopefully.

18 is freezing no point in it being on.....mine is at 22 but only on for 1hr in mng and evening to take chill off..then it's my wee halogen in the living room

No, I don’t think it is good for you ‘to be a little bit cold’ on the whole. It might burn calories, but older folks are more susceptible to cold related illness if they do not keep warm, particularly if they already have underlying health issues - high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, high cholesterol, other heart conditions, copd, cancer, mobility issues, et, etc. Young children, too, are vulnerable if continually cold. If you are physically fit, relatively young and in good health, then being ‘a little bit cold’ now and then is probably ok, but we’re talking here about people not heating their homes sufficiently for lengthy periods of time ( usually due to affordability) and that is certainly not good, and means they are not just ‘a little bit cold’ but chilled for unhealthy periods of time which leads to all sorts of life threatening conditions, including hypothermia and potentially death.

Oh well, at least if the cold kills me, it'll be warmer 'down under'

Being cold puts your heart and lungs under stress, it makes those organs work harder. Certainly not a good idea if you have respiratory or cardiac issues.

undies- being cold is not good for those of us with heart issues, reynauds disease, rheumatoid arthritis and more. Your advice is fine for you but not for many of us

Have heating on as little as possible, not just because of cost but also health. It's good for you to be a bit cold - it helps to burn calories and gives the body some of the right kinds of 'stress'. And another layer of clothing works wonders. However, if we were ill then the heating would go on, and each and every pensioner should be able to afford a healthy level of warmth

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Ice on my shed roof yesterday morning. Woodburner lit for the first time last night.
I’ve just put the gas fire on as it’s too cold to sit without heating

Disabled household on Central Scotland heating went on for first time last Monday was scraping. Ice off car byWednesday Thermostat trips heating on if temp is less than 16 during day and20 in evening Fortunately have very efficoent jeating and excellent insulation

@petra
Mine is never turned off either. I hate being cold.

Also in “the north” and we’re late 60’s early 70’s in age. It’s currently 5 degrees outside, thermostat says 15.7 degrees inside. I’m wearing a warm jumper and thermal vest 🤣 heating is not on yet, but I do have a fleecy blanket and am considering a hot water bottle tonight!

We have thermostats on all the radiators.

Yes. Life is too short to be cold. We have had to forfeit holidays though and might have to sell the car.

Hot water bottle and sheepskin slippers up to now. No heating yet, always have heating at 16 degrees unless it is very cold.