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Being the son of a coal miner, and growing up with coal-powered heating, I think I have grown to like having warmth on demand rather than having to order it up two hours in advance, and having hot water when you turn on the hot tap! It were grim up north!
Whether its cheaper to heat from cold or keep at a level is a very complex problem, different for each house. Heat loss (and therefor cost spent keeping it there) to the outside world is higher with a higher temp differential, so keeping your house hot means you're throwing more heat out of the window, but on-off heating leaves things like tables, walls etc very cold and IME means you have to heat to a higher temp to overcome the cold downdraughts from the walls to get the same feeling. That said, I was coping with 2 15 min blasts of uncontrolled heating and spending £9 a month. now ive got stat controlled I'm spending £2 a day, which agrees with the physics.
Haven't used any central heating for 2.5 years. Don't have a fire either. Jumpers and socks do the job, mayube a hot water bottle when it gets below freezing.
Heating on constantly here, thermosatically controlled, wife and i work shifts and CBA to set the timer each day to cope with changing hours! Wife gets cold whilst watching Jeremey Kyle when shes on lates otherwise! 😕
Haven't used any central heating for 2.5 years. Don't have a fire either. Jumpers and socks do the job, mayube a hot water bottle when it gets below freezing.
I'm not averse to a little chill, but thats insane.
I live with mrs chuck morris in a two-up-two-down terrace and pay £100 a month for gas and electric.
Heating is on from 3pm - 11pm every day.
In the mornings its cold but it seems pointless firing it up for the sake of an hour.
We have a timed thermostat so technically the heating is "on" all the time
We do too, but it's set to 5C overnight and while we're out during the day.
Coal and wood here so only on once we get back from work during the week and no heat in the morning.
Having loft insulation has helped keep the temp above 5degC on a morning.
Yes butt you live on Teesside. Central heating hasn't made it there yet 😉
We havent had ours on all winter. Having said that the multifuel stove has been burning 24/7 since the wife has been at home with the baby. At the moment, all the wood is free, just takes a bit of time / effort once in a while with the chainsaw and axe.
having skimmed through this thread it seems that 80% of you are soft.
heating on for 1/2hr some mornings if i can be bothered to set the timer and on again from 5.30 to 10.. gas bill is about £120 for the winter/spring quarters.
i think people who have central heating on constantly and work in aircon offices are not doing themselves any favors as they all seem to be constantly ill with colds. just put another jumper on and HTFU. why on earth do people need heating on when they are in bed?? that's what duvets are for.
why on earth do people need heating on when they are in bed?? that's what duvets are for.
Because my head and shoulders still poke out of the duvet (or my feet, its one or the other!) and I end up with a stiff neck every morning. Plus when its that damn cold I dont feel like getting out of bed and going to work.
You are lucky to have heating.
I have no heating and no double glazing, freezing my bloody arse off!!!!!!!!
Ah, poor bumley.
Shall I come round and help keep you warm, with a nice hug?
Because my head and shoulders still poke out of the duvet (or my feet, its one or the other!) and I end up with a stiff neck every morning.
MTFU? 🙂
Plus when its that damn cold I dont feel like getting out of bed and going to work.
That's why heating can be times to come on before you wake up. Which reminds me, now that my kids are sleeping a bit latre in the morning, ours probably doesn't need to come on at 4:30 anymore.
MTFU?
I cant really help that 🙂
That's why heating can be times to come on before you wake up. Which reminds me, now that my kids are sleeping a bit latre in the morning, ours probably doesn't need to come on at 4:30 anymore.
I know. Thanks 🙂 Mine actually gets turned down to 15 overnight, but it never comes on.
MuddyDwarf,
Have you worked out the cost of the gas you use yourself ?
Are your readings 'read' or estimated ??
You will find that by working out the average monthly cost yourself it is often lower than the suppliers figure - never ever take their word for it as all businesses need a cash flow and the energy suppliers are the worst for over charging... I always phone my supplier when they try to put up monthly payments and bollock them.. if its an incorrect judgement by them...
I think leaving it on lowish 24/7 can be more efficient than short hot bursts, as its ages before your house starts to warm up
I've been doing this and have no marked increase in consumption over last year.
To all those in credit - you're meant to be, your winter bills use the credit, I'm £350 in credit but I know that will disapear soon
Do you want my merinos jumper?
I can't stand it anymore because it's way way too hot for me to be honest.
Feeling better?
😉
Yes, Juan, I'll have it! That's very kind of you, too. It'll fit me perfectly.
"MuddyDwarf,
Have you worked out the cost of the gas you use yourself ?
Are your readings 'read' or estimated ??
You will find that by working out the average monthly cost yourself it is often lower than the suppliers figure - never ever take their word for it as all businesses need a cash flow and the energy suppliers are the worst for over charging... I always phone my supplier when they try to put up monthly payments and bollock them.. if its an incorrect judgement by them... "
My current bills are 'estimated' after having the meters read at the beginning of Novemember (i think).
I get completely confused by the way the energy Co.s total up the cost of units used
Been sitting here a bit chilly all day- bloody forgot to turn up the thermo when I got up this morning! Good job it's not too cold today.
Juan, where's that top? Bloody freezing here mate, hurry up!
1 imperial unit roughly = 31kwh, 1 metric unit roughly = 11kwh
the price of which will be on your bill
Don't talk about bills, please. Too frightening.
don't people wear woolly jumpers anymore?
Canna be bothered reading the whole thread but have you generated 69 posts talking about heating? 😆
It's a serious issue, tails!
Perhaps the cold amongst you could utilise this hot air?
put some more ****ing clothes on you daft sods. either that or do some exercise
I got in from band practice this evening, had to turn the heating off & open some windows to cool down. West Yorkshire.
Just got my estimated usage for this year, more or less double last 12 months. I was in credit by just shy of £200, DD still went up from 57.00 to 67.00 per month....but last qtr usage (Gas & Electric) well over my payments... Time to consider emigration I think.
Time to consider emigration I think.
Just don't go to the South Island of New Zealand - they haven't invented central heating yet, and mostly live in un-insulated* wooden houses. And that's in somewhere that gets snow in winter. Jumper-tastic.
Joe
* Actually one house I lived in did have 'insulation', there was a sheet of silver cooking foil between the wallpaper and the wood of the outside wall.
The issue here is not heating - but our atrocious UK insulation standards. I have just spoken to a self builder who use out stuff, and even in the recent -15 near Aviemore, they only turned the heating on for two hours each morning...and used a woodburner in the lounge. They have data-loggers, and the house averaged 19.4*c and it dropped to 16.1* on a cold night...
We all will need to start insulating old houses ASAP. Remember, insulation is (relative the future gas increases) very cheap at present. Draft proofing even more so.