- Thread starter lizziecupcakes
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Mrs McG
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I keep my thermostat on at 16 night and day but I sometimes increase it to 18 in the early morning and evening if I’m having a particularly slothful day. Heat retention is definitely better since I replaced my windows but the cottage will never be great at holding in heat.
We keep the heating on all day at 18C and at night programmed to 16C. Two-foot thick stone walls, plus cast iron rads, even out the heat meaning on/off control not worth it and the uninsulated loft does a great job of cooling the upper floor bedrooms by a couple of degrees so it's nice to sleep!
Much prefer to live in a colder house with fresh air than a stuffy warm box. Can't sleep in the latter.
Much prefer to live in a colder house with fresh air than a stuffy warm box. Can't sleep in the latter.
Lacan07
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Its amazing how 18c has become the 'new norm'. The house I grew up in during the 70s / 80s barely dropped below 20-21c. I guess there's a multitude of reasons why but lets not get into that.
15c is fine at night when tucked up in bed (or as low as you're prepared to let the house go) but not for daytime activities imo.
15c is fine at night when tucked up in bed (or as low as you're prepared to let the house go) but not for daytime activities imo.
With a condensing boiler, efficiency rises when the flow (more precisely, the return) temperature is below ~54°C. The lower the temperature, the better the efficiency (see graph below).
However, the output of a radiator is a function of water temperature - The higher the temperature, the more heat radiated. Dropping the flow temperature from 70°C down to 50°C effectively reduces radiator output by half. So if you are currently struggling to heat your home, you don't really want to be reducing the flow temperature. The only reason I can get away with running at 60°C or lower is because my radiators are a lot bigger than really needed.
As always, there is a but - Most gas boilers will start to become more inefficient if you try and push the flow temperature down too low. 45°C is about the limit for me. If I try and go to 40°C, gas consumption increases with no extra heat being generated (have a sensor attached that records the amount of energy going in to the heating system).
DaveG
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In relation to some of the earlier comments on how low a temp is healthy for an old building I came across this resource this morning.
14c minimum was recommended. Thought it may be of interest here.
14c minimum was recommended. Thought it may be of interest here.
fernicarry
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Just got a bill for 280 from Octopus. Estimated but if correct not as bad as I was expecting.
Each room here is a separate zone with its own programmable thermostat (Heatmiser). Unused rooms are set to between 12 and 14. The higher the temperature difference to outside the faster you lose heat so you want to stay as low as you can without going below the dew point when not occupied. But the lower it goes the longer the recovery time back to a comfortable temperature of course.
At least its set to get warmer from tomorrow. The first few days of below freezing the internal temps here held up surprisingly well but its taking longer and longer each evening to get past the magic 18' as the building fabric cools down. Will be calling on boiler #3 (wood burner) tonight methinks.
Apparently the country's gas reserves are lower for the time of year than normal due to an early start to the heating season. And the electricity market was a bit tight during the week due to the still wind conditions. Govt response pointed to our "robust and diverse energy market". That seems to be gas to generate electricity when the wind doesn't blow (cold spells like this often accompanied by dead calm) and gas to heat our homes. Different use of the word "diverse" to what I'm used to...
Each room here is a separate zone with its own programmable thermostat (Heatmiser). Unused rooms are set to between 12 and 14. The higher the temperature difference to outside the faster you lose heat so you want to stay as low as you can without going below the dew point when not occupied. But the lower it goes the longer the recovery time back to a comfortable temperature of course.
At least its set to get warmer from tomorrow. The first few days of below freezing the internal temps here held up surprisingly well but its taking longer and longer each evening to get past the magic 18' as the building fabric cools down. Will be calling on boiler #3 (wood burner) tonight methinks.
Apparently the country's gas reserves are lower for the time of year than normal due to an early start to the heating season. And the electricity market was a bit tight during the week due to the still wind conditions. Govt response pointed to our "robust and diverse energy market". That seems to be gas to generate electricity when the wind doesn't blow (cold spells like this often accompanied by dead calm) and gas to heat our homes. Different use of the word "diverse" to what I'm used to...
philpjuk100
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I light two log burners when rising and burning mainly logs (hardwood, dry £250 for two builders bags) soon have the downstairs to 25c+. I know that is far too hot but I am "poorly" Most visitors comment on the temperature but both I and Frodo the cat are happy. I live downstream from Staythorpe gas fired power station which seems to have been working "flat out" for nearly a week but the Large Mansfield wind farm is stationary.
lizziecupcakes
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hi all, thanks so much for your responses and sharing! It's really interesting about the temperature people feel comfortable in. Thanks @DaveG for the link and wow - £14 per day during this cold snap is a lot - do you have a large house? I read from World Health Organisation that the recommended internal temperature is 18 degrees for human and house health. I personally find 18 degrees a bit too warm. My other annoying issue is that the heat rises so my upstairs is a lot warmer than my downstairs.
Agree with the comment that the past couple of days reaching 18 degrees has been taking longer and when it does reach it, it disappears pretty quickly, so I've just left it at 15 degrees on the thermostat which feels cosy enough with all my insulating clothing I am wearing. Even right now, it's 15 degrees downstairs but 18degrees in the bedroom!! Thats 3 degrees difference! It's funny because we wanted to be in this house for a winter or two without too much reno work done so we can see what's needed/not needed and this happens to be the coldest winter for 15 years!! So at least I kinda know what to act on in prep for the next winter (fingers crossed!)
Also, some people mentioned radiators. I have large radiators on the ground floor, and smaller ones upstairs (all came with the house). They are panel convector heaters.
I'm thinking about getting cast iron heaters in the near future because I read that they retain heat for longer periods after the boiler shuts off due to their high thermal mass. And they're great for maintaining warmth in continuously used spaces. My plumber suggested panel convector heaters are better though - apparently they heat the room more and circulate it through the room better, which cast iron heaters will heat the wall behind it and a lot of heat is lost there in that spot. I'm not sure about that though.
I can't wait for this freezing snap to be over!
Also, I live in SW London. For those with log burners, where do you get your logs from?
Agree with the comment that the past couple of days reaching 18 degrees has been taking longer and when it does reach it, it disappears pretty quickly, so I've just left it at 15 degrees on the thermostat which feels cosy enough with all my insulating clothing I am wearing. Even right now, it's 15 degrees downstairs but 18degrees in the bedroom!! Thats 3 degrees difference! It's funny because we wanted to be in this house for a winter or two without too much reno work done so we can see what's needed/not needed and this happens to be the coldest winter for 15 years!! So at least I kinda know what to act on in prep for the next winter (fingers crossed!)
Also, some people mentioned radiators. I have large radiators on the ground floor, and smaller ones upstairs (all came with the house). They are panel convector heaters.
I'm thinking about getting cast iron heaters in the near future because I read that they retain heat for longer periods after the boiler shuts off due to their high thermal mass. And they're great for maintaining warmth in continuously used spaces. My plumber suggested panel convector heaters are better though - apparently they heat the room more and circulate it through the room better, which cast iron heaters will heat the wall behind it and a lot of heat is lost there in that spot. I'm not sure about that though.
I can't wait for this freezing snap to be over!
Also, I live in SW London. For those with log burners, where do you get your logs from?