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Saint Snow
09 December 2022 10:24:42
I'm new to this thread, but with the cold weather and obvious focus on energy use, have been trying to watch our indoor temperature.

The thermostat in previous years has generally been set at 21-22c (sometimes my missus - though she denies responsibility - has turned up up to 25c, then soon after compained it's too hot). This year it's at 20c (we tried 18c first, but that felt too chilly).

Heating traditionally in use October'ish to April'ish (weather-dependent) and set to be on a couple hours in the morning and, depending on time of year and weather, between 2 and 7 hours late afternoon/evening.

Was working from home yesterday and by lunchtime (heating had gone off around 7.30am), the temp where I work was down to 15c and I was cold. Had to put the heating back on. 

I've read about the overnight temp in some people's houses falling to 11/12c so checked mine last night when I woke at just after 5am for a wee. Was 15.4c. So my insulation seems to be working alright.

I'm keeping the heating on today (again W'ingFH). i think keeping the heating on all day (periodically firing up for a brief time) won't be that much more expensive than having it off for 7/8 hours then having to work hard and for a prolonged time to heat the house from cooler. But I might turn the thermostat down to 18c.

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
ARTzeman
09 December 2022 13:03:19
4.0c In brick shed Set figure.
21.0c in the lounge.
£34.0 gas used this month.
 




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Tim A
  • Tim A
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
09 December 2022 14:31:11

4.0c In brick shed Set figure.
21.0c in the lounge.
£34.0 gas used this month.
 

Originally Posted by: ARTzeman 


That's not bad,  my monthly total is now £50 and I have it no higher than 18c.
Yesterday was a record at £8.50 as Kept it at 18-19c for the Mother in Law all day. 

Definitely cheaper to turn it off when you can and have the boiler work hard for a short period , rather than leave it on constant all day, my smart meter data shows that.  Where I have done that ( like today and the day before yesterday , the daily total is more likely to be around 6.50 to 7.00 if I have it on for say 5 bursts in the day.  
Tim
NW Leeds
187m asl

 My PWS 
Hippydave
09 December 2022 15:07:43
So far we've managed to get by with just using the woodburner although may need to use heating for a few hours next Tuesday as none of us will be home during the day and the woodburner will take too long to heat it back up given the outside temps. 

I have been chewing through my logs since the colder weather set in though, have to burn it much hotter than I usually do to maintain an okay temperature away from the living room. 
Home: Tunbridge Wells
Work: Tonbridge
Jiries
09 December 2022 15:20:20

That's not bad,  my monthly total is now £50 and I have it no higher than 18c.
Yesterday was a record at £8.50 as Kept it at 18-19c for the Mother in Law all day. 

Definitely cheaper to turn it off when you can and have the boiler work hard for a short period , rather than leave it on constant all day, my smart meter data shows that.  Where I have done that ( like today and the day before yesterday , the daily total is more likely to be around 6.50 to 7.00 if I have it on for say 5 bursts in the day.  

Originally Posted by: Tim A 



Was 15C this morning and turn on the heat at 9am for 2 hours at 60C boiler temps as I will take shower and plus the sun came to aid it to rise quicker to 19.5C achieved then turn off at 11am.  £1.82 in gas so far thanks to the sun doing the job and still off at the moment 18C and 17C upstairs. Will wait to 5pm to turn on for a hour or so while shutters closed.  £1.82 so far on gas today while yesterday was £3.98 because used more heating to warm up after we not at home on Wed all day and off heating, that drop to 13C and 14.5 downstairs.  Without the shutters might had drop to 10C or below.  
Darren S
09 December 2022 15:23:46
In prior years, in our 2001-built modern detached house in Arborfield, we had the thermostat generally set to 20C, and during the winter months had the heating on from 0600-0830 and 1700-2230. Thought nothing more of it.

Fast forward to this year, we have moved to a larger house in March (also detached) that is 100 years old at the front but with a two-storey extension on the back that's 15 years old. Since we exchanged contracts, Putin invaded Ukraine, energy prices went stupid, my variable rate mortgage has soared, I got a 1.5% pay rise with 11% inflation (so nearly a 10% real-terms pay cut), and to cap it all this week my wife's lost her job.

So we now have an energy meter display so we can see how much we're using at any time. We've been trying to just have the heating on for half an hour in the morning, maybe half an hour in the evening, and otherwise relying on the log burner in the lounge and hot water bottles. With this cold weather this week, we've had to have more heating.

In general in the morning, the house is 12C. Some parts have managed to hit 15C at times but then goes down. Despite that, yesterday we spent £10 on gas. I'm currently wearing 3 jumpers, shirt, t-shirt, ski base-layer under my trousers and a blanket around my legs.

I'm regretting the house move, as lovely as this house is (in the summer months)!
Darren
Crowthorne, Berks (87m asl)
South Berks Winter Snow Depth Totals:
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Saint Snow
09 December 2022 15:40:44

In prior years, in our 2001-built modern detached house in Arborfield, we had the thermostat generally set to 20C, and during the winter months had the heating on from 0600-0830 and 1700-2230. Thought nothing more of it.

Fast forward to this year, we have moved to a larger house in March (also detached) that is 100 years old at the front but with a two-storey extension on the back that's 15 years old. Since we exchanged contracts, Putin invaded Ukraine, energy prices went stupid, my variable rate mortgage has soared, I got a 1.5% pay rise with 11% inflation (so nearly a 10% real-terms pay cut), and to cap it all this week my wife's lost her job.

So we now have an energy meter display so we can see how much we're using at any time. We've been trying to just have the heating on for half an hour in the morning, maybe half an hour in the evening, and otherwise relying on the log burner in the lounge and hot water bottles. With this cold weather this week, we've had to have more heating.

In general in the morning, the house is 12C. Some parts have managed to hit 15C at times but then goes down. Despite that, yesterday we spent £10 on gas. I'm currently wearing 3 jumpers, shirt, t-shirt, ski base-layer under my trousers and a blanket around my legs.

I'm regretting the house move, as lovely as this house is (in the summer months)!

Originally Posted by: Darren S 




Ouch!

😯

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
Jiries
09 December 2022 15:44:28

In prior years, in our 2001-built modern detached house in Arborfield, we had the thermostat generally set to 20C, and during the winter months had the heating on from 0600-0830 and 1700-2230. Thought nothing more of it.

Fast forward to this year, we have moved to a larger house in March (also detached) that is 100 years old at the front but with a two-storey extension on the back that's 15 years old. Since we exchanged contracts, Putin invaded Ukraine, energy prices went stupid, my variable rate mortgage has soared, I got a 1.5% pay rise with 11% inflation (so nearly a 10% real-terms pay cut), and to cap it all this week my wife's lost her job.

So we now have an energy meter display so we can see how much we're using at any time. We've been trying to just have the heating on for half an hour in the morning, maybe half an hour in the evening, and otherwise relying on the log burner in the lounge and hot water bottles. With this cold weather this week, we've had to have more heating.

In general in the morning, the house is 12C. Some parts have managed to hit 15C at times but then goes down. Despite that, yesterday we spent £10 on gas. I'm currently wearing 3 jumpers, shirt, t-shirt, ski base-layer under my trousers and a blanket around my legs.

I'm regretting the house move, as lovely as this house is (in the summer months)!

Originally Posted by: Darren S 



Sorry to hear all that and i moved here last Feb and this house had extra wall insulation from the outside but the main culprit is the uPVC windows which seem to be very cold easily so Installed shutters to shut them out.  Really nasty cold air rush in every moring I opened the shutters and give up to 1C further drop indoors.

Anyone know about Halogen heaters? or using them?  I read a lot of reviews and many said is cheap and to use for 1 room and around you.  I don't have one but got 2 spare oil filled radiators for emergency use. I tried that last month and it was using lot of electric so I put away.
Essan
09 December 2022 15:46:27



In general in the morning, the house is 12C. Some parts have managed to hit 15C at times but then goes down.

Originally Posted by: Darren S 



That's actually about the same as my house atm!   Although I don't have the heating on all day and I only have half the radiators turned on.  

(edit: and I'm usually just wearing a fleece dressing gown)


As an aside, I see that the WHO recommend "Indoor temperatures should range between 21C (70F) in living rooms and 18C (64F) in bedrooms for a minimum of nine hours a day"    Which I think is incorrect, misleading and actually dangerous (insofar as the worry it will cause millions who cannot afford such stiffling temps in winter).   If you wear clothes and have a half decent duvet a normal, healthy, person shouldn't need temps anywhere near that high - unless they are shape shifting lizards from outer space.
Andy
Evesham, Worcs, Albion - 35m asl
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Rob K
14 December 2022 12:38:04
12.5C downstairs at the moment as we have had to turn the underfloor heating off to have our flooring laid this week. Still got the radiators on upstairs and it is 17C which is OK for me if a little cool when you are just sitting at a desk.

@Jiries there are lots of dodgy adverts for "miracle heaters" (including on this site!) which are just nonsense. Any electric heater is going to be basically 100% efficient at converting electricity into heat, so you won't get more heat out by using one type of heater over another. The cheapest way of warming yourself up with electricity would probably be one of those electric heating pads that you can put right on your body.

My heat pump has been running at about 240% efficiency even in this current cold spell but it certainly wasn't cheap to install!

PS @Darren S sorry to hear you have been struggling a bit since the move - not easy times for anyone are they.
Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl
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Rob K
15 December 2022 15:24:22
8.5C in the extension this morning. One more day of floor laying before we can gradually crank the underfloor heating back up!
Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl
"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand." — Jerome K. Jerome
Jiries
15 December 2022 18:23:22

12.5C downstairs at the moment as we have had to turn the underfloor heating off to have our flooring laid this week. Still got the radiators on upstairs and it is 17C which is OK for me if a little cool when you are just sitting at a desk.

@Jiries there are lots of dodgy adverts for "miracle heaters" (including on this site!) which are just nonsense. Any electric heater is going to be basically 100% efficient at converting electricity into heat, so you won't get more heat out by using one type of heater over another. The cheapest way of warming yourself up with electricity would probably be one of those electric heating pads that you can put right on your body.

My heat pump has been running at about 240% efficiency even in this current cold spell but it certainly wasn't cheap to install!

PS @Darren S sorry to hear you have been struggling a bit since the move - not easy times for anyone are they.

Originally Posted by: Rob K 



I don't plan to buy them anywaybut I see some false comments on reviews how good they are.   This morning was the coldest indoor temps 11.9Cbedroom. 14C bed 2, 12.5C upstairs hallway and living room was 13.5.  Sun helped to increased by 4C then drop sharply before I closed the shutters.
Zubzero
15 December 2022 19:54:57

Sorry to hear all that and i moved here last Feb and this house had extra wall insulation from the outside but the main culprit is the uPVC windows which seem to be very cold easily so Installed shutters to shut them out.  Really nasty cold air rush in every moring I opened the shutters and give up to 1C further drop indoors.

Anyone know about Halogen heaters? or using them?  I read a lot of reviews and many said is cheap and to use for 1 room and around you.  I don't have one but got 2 spare oil filled radiators for emergency use. I tried that last month and it was using lot of electric so I put away.

Originally Posted by: Jiries 



Problem with halogen heaters is any more ey you could possible save is list as the bulbs are u3sless and need constant replacing. 

I Got lucky and brought my dad 4 halogen heaters from homemade for 5 pound each they were getting tid off them in the summer. 
since then all bu ls have gone in all 4 and hes on to the 5th now cost 25 pound one bulbs gone within 10 days. 
Zubzero
15 December 2022 19:56:02
Problem with halogen heaters is any money you could possible save is lost as the bulbs are useless and need constant replacing. 

I Got lucky and brought my dad 4 halogen heaters from homebase for 5 pound each they were getting tid off them in the summer. 
since then all bulbs have gone in all 4 and hes on to the 5th now cost 25 pound one bulbs gone within 10 days. 

johncs2016
19 December 2022 19:26:06
Despite the really mild temperatures outside which have made it feel really tropical when I step outside, it has still felt really cold in my flat to the point where I've still had to wear a big dressing gown during today on top of my big winter jumper in order to keep warm.

I'm guessing though that this is probably just down to it being so cold outside for so long that it was always going to take a while for that much warmer air which we have just now, to filter into my flat.

Having said that though, it am now finally gradually starting to feel not quite as cold in here, so I might not need that extra dressing gown now.
 
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richardabdn
20 December 2022 21:23:30
Central Heating required at all times otherwise house will be uncomfortably cold. Mild crud does not warm the house up one iota.

My station console is kept in an unheated room and the temperature plot of indoor temperature (yellow) v outdoor (red) shows that the indoor temperature has not changed at all despite the increase in outdoor temperature. Spikes on the plot are when the sun comes out and briefly warm up the room. No sun yesterday so indoor temperatures remained very low throughout the day. Sun today warmed it up to 20.8C but dropped back to 13.8C once it had gone. Exactly the same as the cold days.

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Brian Gaze
21 December 2022 06:58:57
Between 30/11 and 19/12 we spent £243 on gas. 
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Berkhamsted
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Tim A
  • Tim A
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
21 December 2022 08:58:26
We are on £145 for the month for a 4 bedroom semi. 
Has been as high as £10 a day when it was cold, but £4-6 last couple of days. 

 
Tim
NW Leeds
187m asl

 My PWS 
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
21 December 2022 09:10:20
A race to the bottom? from 1st - 18th Dec I spent £23.35 on electricity and £49.11 on gas. 

To wind up Jiries, this would be less if it didn't  include the standing charge, £4.33 for electricity and £ 4.78 for gas.

(3-bed terrace house; EDF fixed deal; figures for gas always supplied two days late so 19th to come)

EDIT - this evening, EDF is offering me £3/KWh for using less electricity than normal between 1730 and 1830. I haven't been using much at this time anyway but I could put off cooking until 1830 without difficulty. Maybe for future events which are promised, I should from tomorrow turn every appliance in the house on between these times so as to establish a new normal, and get a bigger discount?
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Chichester 12m asl
ARTzeman
21 December 2022 11:45:45
For 4 Days last week, we had no heating or hot water in our sheltered one-bedroom bungalow on the coldest days for ages.   We used a small electric free-standing heater and wore extra clothing along with the thermals. It took Curo housing 3 days to come and do the repairs. We had to keep on at the as they said no repairs until 3rd January. 
All is ok now. At the moment it is 20 c. 




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Others just get wet.
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Jiries
26 December 2022 12:15:38
As daylight now very slowly drawing out had some good results for indoor temps as now rose tlo 18.5C and 17.5C upstairs after it was 17C this morning.  Heating usage 2 days ago was 2.58 hours then went off at 20.5C when thermostat set at 20C.  Yesterday went off in 2.30 hours, today might go furher less as from 18.5c to 20C is quicker than from 16-17C levels.   Up to date now £120 many thanks for nasty bone dry cold spell had an effect.  I hope Jan will be very mild month with lot of sun between the rain if there no deep cold and snow on offer.  Bartlett HP will do fine so I will get credits next month as paying out £92 per month.
Surrey John
24 January 2023 09:59:06
Been so cold and misty down here in the south, have had to have heating on much longer.

-6 last night, been below 0c for 7 of last 8 nights


 
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
35m ASL
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
24 January 2023 10:03:51
But further south again,  the South Coast, brilliantly sunny since last Wednesday, and evening heating not needed for more than an hour. 
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
ARTzeman
24 January 2023 10:22:55
17c. With no heating on in the bungalow. The roof was covered in frost.
Now, 20.9c Humidity 52% Rh.




Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Jiries
24 January 2023 18:26:41
Been 14-15C every morning and warm up to 17.5C and 16C upstairs from the sun and my bedroom around 14C so heating come on every evening for up to 2-3 hours as I monitor the every 30mins rate of 28-32p first half hour warm up before settling down at 48p to 50p.   I am now £21 less than last month up to 23rd Jan.  Boiler temps at 50C.

As it was -5C this morning so last night I put the max and min thermometer between the shutters and window at my north facing bedroom window to see what the temperatures like so it was 6.9C.  Thank god the shutters was a godsend that prevented the temps from falling to below 10C in bedroom and 12C in living room if shutters was not fitted.  My front door window and back door are covered with thick bubble wraps that came on the package from Wilko also prevent it from coldness of the glass emitting inside.  Will sort out in the summer to install door blinds.
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