What temparature is your house?

Lowering my thermostat has made quite a big difference to the number of gas units (m cubed) that I have used this month, compared to the same month last year. 22 units less ie 26 now and 48 then. Downstairs thermostat is 19, it was 21 last year. I don`t heat hall and utility. Living and dining areas are actually warmer than that when the sun shines. Upstairs is also 19 with 18 through the night. I will blast the heating on for a short time upstairs for a shower but the ensuite radiator (master rad) heats up very quickly and 15 minutes is enough

I made an effort and am happy to say that my body has adapted fine, I do wear wool and tights but not multi layers apart from perhaps a camisole plus a petticoat with a small throw over my knees at times.

It is really nice to see the actual results today. I am expecting an online bill later or tomorrow, I am sure it won`t be less than this time last year due to the cost increase

I feel so very sorry for all those struggling with their heating bills - it is simply not acceptable in an affluent country that people should be cold in their own homes.

I wear loads of layers in winter and always something round my neck (polo neck, scarf) as that is where the cold creeps in.

Yesterday I had my large underground LPG tank filled - it cost me hundreds of pounds and will last me at least a year, so I can put on as much heating as I want - although I am very frugal with it.

As the man was here I thought how very lucky I am that I can afford to do this, and felt so very sad for those not in such a fortunate position. It is a disgrace, as Sunak's wife stashes away her millions in a tax haven.

M0nica

But if the air in the home is so cold you are breathing lungfuls of cold air deep into your body, it rather defeats the purpose of all the clothes. You are warm on th outside and cold inside - and it is the interior cold that is so dangerous.

Yes...I agree with that. That’s why putting loads of layers on makes no difference. You’ve probably just been very cold in the past. Actual hypothermia is life threatening.

But if the air in the home is so cold you are breathing lungfuls of cold air deep into your body, it rather defeats the purpose of all the clothes. You are warm on th outside and cold inside - and it is the interior cold that is so dangerous.

Martin Lewis writes on his web page
Heat the human not the home.
Most of it is common sense but I found it interesting.

I have never yet needed an ambulance for hypothermia. I always catch it before it gets that bad.

Last time I began to develop it was 2 years ago on my food shopping day at Christmas. I went out in a wool coat and the rain forecast for the afternoon started at 8.30. I was queueing in the market, no cover and mycoat got soaked, I then spent an hour outside under a gazebo queueing to get the turkey. By the time I got home, my hands and feet werenumb(I have Reynauds Sybdrome and I felt off. Fortunately my DD was home and she told me later I looked ghostly, but I just said I am developing hypothermia, did as I described. When I got home it was all I could do to drink, I certainly couldn't have eaten anything. After a sleep I was fine and was able to eat lunch and get on with the day.

Sorry MOnica, no hot baths for hypothermia as can cause shock. Just warm drinks, something sweet to eat, cover up until ambulance arrives.

Thermostat set at 16 7.30 am to 16.30pm then at 21 until 10pm fortunately we have excellent insulation and the boiler is seldom triggered

DiscoDancer1975 I'm with you. !5 deg.c at night, 19deg.c during the day. If I'm cold I put on a thick cardi.

Crikey! If anyone had said to me three years ago that in a year's time, we will have Lockdowns, wear masks and have to stay 6ft apart for two years and then be unable to heat our homes and have to eat the cheapest food, probably for the next 5-10 years, I would have peed my pants laughing at them.

Some people feel the cold more than others, and feeling the cold seems to have nothing to do with the temperature you grew up in or have lived in.

Franburn may write
However, when my daughter visits me, I always turn the heating on - at 20* - not just for her personal benefit, but otherwise I get a long lecture from her about the dangers of old people (like me) not noticing the cold etc. etc.

Nevertheless, we should not under estimate the dangers of hypothermia, especially when we are old. As anyone who has had hypothermia will tell you, it has nothing to do with feeling cold, you do not feel cold when you have hypothermia, your whole body just gently cools down to the core and your mind just gets sluggish and vague.

I feel the cold and have since childhood and the first time I remember getting hypothermia was when I was about 20 on a sailing holiday with friends. I had spent the afternoon outside, well wrapped up, pulling a rope, when all of a sudden the helmsman sent me below, told me to get into my sleeping bag, then piled further sleeping bags over me and got me a hot drink. I didn't understand what the fuss was about, I felt fine, slightly dreamy, but that was all, but the helmsman was a seasoned offshore sailor and had recognised from a change in my responses that I was drifting into hypothermia. Eventually you just drift into sleep, and if not warmed up, you die.

If you get hypothermia you need to warm your core. A hot drink and a long soak in ahot bath are the best treatment, after which I usually sleep for several hours.

The whole danger of hypothermia, is that, unless, like me you have had it a number of times and make a conscious effort to be aware of it, most people do not realise they are drifting into it. You can get it in a cold room, even though you are well wrapped, bcause you are breathing cold air deep into your body

Which is why, Franbern your daughter worries. I doubt you would notice if you were drifting into hypothermia. To be fair, from what you say, I think she is worrying unnecessarily, but do not be completely dismissive of her concern.

22 but turn radiators off and put real fire on if it' s below zero outside. Bedsocks and a hot water bottle make so much difference.

suep1953

www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-rebate-factsheet

Teacheranne, you should get the rebate according to the attached. It is paid to those living in Bands A to D.

Apologies, I made a typo, I am in band E, so not eligible.

I was brought up in a Victorian House with no central heating and my late husband hated being too warm - he was known to wear shorts even in winter. I think I must have become accustomed to living in a cold house which is just as well as I live in an old plan Barn conversion with heaps of glass. In fact I worked out that my heating was only (in just the sitting room, kitchen and bathrooms) for three hours a day, set at 19, in Dec, boiler broke down early Jan and no central heating till mid Feb, then on again for two weeks (same setting as Dec). . It is now off and will remain off probably till late Nov. I have a woodburner but that hasn't been on the last few wks. When it is sunny the house heats up beautifully and if I am feeling chilled I would put on an extra jumper and fill up my hot water bottle before I turned on the heating. If anyone is visiting I will make sure I light the fire and flick the heating on as I do appreciate they might not appreciate the temperature! My bedroom windows are always slightly open and although I love a warm bed I struggle to sleep in a warm bedroom. One of my friends has her heating on 24/7 and her family wear teeshirts even in the depths of winter. Her heating bills are horrendous. Each to their own.

Franbern

I am amazed as to how many people on here actually keep their heating on virtually all the time.

It that suits their life style and they can afford the bills then that is their choice.

I am fortunate that my flat is quite warm, very warm when the sun shines through the large windows. My heating has actually been switched off at thermostat for the past three weeks. In the evenings when I am watching tv, I have on my warm fleece dressing gown and a knitted throw. I note that even the temperature gauge rarely goes below 18*.

I detest any heating in bedrooms whilst I am trying to sleep. Went back into my normal short sleeved cotton nighties a few weeks back and only have on my bed a 4.5 tog duvet. I am very snug in bed.

However, when my daughter visits me, I always turn the heating on - at 20* - not just for her personal benefit, but otherwise I get a long lecture from her about the dangers of old people (like me) not noticing the cold etc. etc.

We also live in a flat now and are not using any heating at the moment. The radiators have individual thermostatic valves and the rooms are warm enough to stop them turning on now, the temperature is around 22 but I'm happy down to 18.5 - or less if I put on a jumper.
I can't understand why people say they turn their thermostats up when it's cold
there's really no need for this as they keep the temperature constant.
I also like a cool bedroom and have a 4.5 tog duvet, winter and summer. Apparently it is recommended that bedroom temperatures should not be higher than 18.5.
I really hate being too hot, anything higher than 23 simply stops me from sleeping

Feels like a.sauna

Keep off as much as possible but try to keep to 18/19 if really cold.
My mum has reynauds and when imgomto her house in the am about 9am it is usually 25 she normally turns it.down to 20-22 about 10am but.sure it is.25 ish in the.evening.as.well feels like a but she is miserable if cold.
She does the go out each afternoon for a couple of hours and heating gets switched off then!

www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-rebate-factsheet

Teacheranne, you should get the rebate according to the attached. It is paid to those living in Bands A to D.

I don’t like it above 18 as I suffer with sinus troubles, and my head fills with rubbish if it gets over warm. My husband likes it 21/22 and I really can’t stand it. So bedroom is my haven…. I turn radiator of and as soon as I’ve given him his dinner …. put the tv on the football channel and disappear into my room. Window open all night …. no heating. … just my 5 tog duvet! Bliss! He washes up!

Well, I’ve got a cold nose now, I’ve been baking but am now sat down to catch up with some recorded tv programmes so will knock my thermostat up from 18 degrees to 20 for the rest of the day.

I was upset though reading the post from MibsXX, no one should be living in an unheated house because they don’t have the money to pay the energy bills. I just hope you will benefit from the rebate on council tax ( I don’t as I am in a band B house) and the government loan so that you can put the heating back on. I wonder if you should check if you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to?

Buttonjugs

I keep mine at 20c. It’s important to remember that temperatures under 16c can lead to hypothermia, and it’s not just body temperature that’s affected. Breathing in cold air is irritating to the respiratory system.

Indeed, my chest often feels tight if my house get too cold. If I needed to make financial savings, I’d try to cut back on food and eating out rather than my heating.

Nannashirlz

I also have arthritis and I don’t have my heating on and I use a electric throw so saves loads. I don’t have a upstairs I’m in a bungalow. I only have a walk in shower and have bath if stop in hotels etc

Gosh, I would hate to have a shower in the winter if my house wasn’t heated, I’d feel very cold getting out.

But I guess it’s what we get used to, my bungalow is built in a damp area ( formerly mossy land hence why only bungalows were built) and although much of my garden is very sunny, I don’t get any direct sun into the rooms so without heating my house would be cold and damp.

19C. Used to live in a modern house with underfloor (water) heating - took 2 hours to get warm (20C) but was so well insulated that I paid £76 per month dual fuel - large sitting room, kitchen, hallway bathroom, 2 beds, landing only heated as only the 2 of us. I went through menopause in this house and couldn’t cope - it was so well insulated, stuffy and no air coming through even with the windows open. Used to feel as sweaty as plastic wrapped cheese.

In and older house now I make sure my feet and legs are as warm as possible, have a gel filled hottie, keep my neck and shoulders warm, and wrap myself in a fleece blanket for the evening.

Moved here 10 months ago and am so grateful I signed up to a (then)more expensive 2 year fixed tariff .
This rise in energy costs is a bommer, there will be another scandal of the vulnerable dying in under-heated housing.

Take care everyone

We’ve dug out our smart meter screen and it showed a combined usage of approx. £5 yesterday, so - rough estimate - 365 x £5=£1,825. (Plus a standing charge). That was on a day when I didn’t use the washing machine. We have our thermostat on at 19 degrees mostly, during the day, and 16 at night. It rarely kicks in at night unless the weather is freezing.

I have a thermostat on the mantelpiece which is hovering around 18 at the moment, which also accords with the Galileo thermometer. The house is well insulated. The heating was on for two and a half hours this morning and then went off of its own accord. I turn the heating up each morning to twenty even if it clicks on lower than that, as DH has health issues, but he is not at home at the moment so I don’t mind it a bit cooler. When the sun is on the conservatory, we take advantage of the heat in there.

My thermostat is set to 22C 24/7 all year round. The system is balanced to ensure bedrooms are at an appropriately lower temperature. This means I never have to think about the heating and the house is always at a comfortable temperature. My current annual cost is just under £1200 for both gas and electricity and I will be interested to see how this is affected by the price increases. So far there has been no request to increase my monthly direct debit.