Energy bill increases

[gbb]

You truly must have a tolerance to the cold if your keeeping your house at 14c when you have the wherewithal to pay your energy bills comfortably. Medical opinion recommends a minimum of 18c. You are obviously not youngsters (with grandchildren). Are you aware there are physiological changes to your body including changes to blood viscosity at such low temps which carry a higher risk of blood clots and strokes especially for older people ?

Are you definitely married? I'd be divorced quite quickly if the house was that cold!! I have managed to wean down from 23c to 22c and during the day as low as 20c...

14 is cold tbf but were both children of the 60s and 70s, coal fires, no central heating, frost on the inside of the windows when we were kids. Ironically I love heat but not at night. Normally, just dressing appropriately sorts it enough to be comfortBle5

I remember talking to someone medical about house temps...they immediately realised and said.yeah, different generation, kids today almost certainly couldn't, or wouldn't tolerate that.

 

[Scaleyback]

14 is cold tbf but were both children of the 60s and 70s, coal fires, no central heating, frost on the inside of the windows when we were kids. Ironically I love heat but not at night. Normally, just dressing appropriately sorts it enough to be comfortBle5

I remember talking to someone medical about house temps...they immediately realised and said.yeah, different generation, kids today almost certainly couldn't, or wouldn't tolerate that.

Well, I was born in 1947. No bathroom, tin bath brought into the kitchen. Outside toilet only etc etc. It has not given me, or my wife (1950) a tolerance to cold weather. Physiologically I don't believe you can 'build' a tolerance, your body will react pretty much the same as anyone else of a similar age to you. Sure you can probably tolerate suffering more than me/the next guy but that is a different subject.

 

[cougie uk]

Are you definitely married? I'd be divorced quite quickly if the house was that cold!! I have managed to wean down from 23c to 22c and during the day as low as 20c...

My wife used to be very nesh. 21 degrees on the thermostat. But she had improved and realised she can wear a jumper in winter and now the thermostat in the living room is reading 15 degrees!
It's fine if you're doing things and if you're sitting around then a blanket over the lap keeps you nice and snug.

I'm actually surprised it's that low a temperature. I would have thought it was 18 or so. Even I'm adapting.

 

[gbb]

Well, I was born in 1947. No bathroom, tin bath brought into the kitchen. Outside toilet only etc etc. It has not given me, or my wife (1950) a tolerance to cold weather. Physiologically I don't believe you can 'build' a tolerance, your body will react pretty much the same as anyone else of a similar age to you. Sure you can probably tolerate suffering more than me/the next guy but that is a different subject.

Physiology must be the answer tbf, i know our grandson is pale skinned and fair haired and can't stand the heat, even at 8 or 9 years old, he has an opinion and an understanding he likes winter, doesn't like summer, purely for the heat.
Grandaughter, his half sister, darker skinned, loves summer, hates winter, just like her dad (and us)
Build a tolerance ?, ...its perhaps just being able to be tolerant to or of extremes. I don't mind a cool house yet I hate winter.
Its complicated to put into words ?..perhaps its just that we are both what we call 'burners', fast metabolism which may well help us cope.

 

[Scaleyback]

My wife used to be very nesh. 21 degrees on the thermostat. But she had improved and realised she can wear a jumper in winter and now the thermostat in the living room is reading 15 degrees!
It's fine if you're doing things and if you're sitting around then a blanket over the lap keeps you nice and snug.

I'm actually surprised it's that low a temperature. I would have thought it was 18 or so. Even I'm adapting

I'm beginning to feel like a ' wimp ' all these stats set at 14c and 15c ! mine is always at 18.5c. The Hive stat is in the kitchen/diner which is the coldest room therefore its always between 19c & 20c in the lounge. I have tried it lower but we end up cold and miserable so I'm going no lower. We can afford the bills so I'm not stressed but I would much sooner save/spend this money elsewhere.

 

[Kingfisher101]

My bedroom and the bathroom is 12c and the room where the gas fire is its 24c. I've never liked central heating I find it too hot and stuffy. I also have all the windows open for a while each day because I'm not having any issue with damp or mould which a lot of people get.
It is bad at night though if you have to get up for the loo or for pets etc, my arms burn with the cold.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Physiologically I don't believe you can 'build' a tolerance, your body will react pretty much the same as anyone else of a similar age to you.

That’s simply not true, you have those who are better at handling the cold and those who are better at handling the heat. Simply attend a cycling event with a large international mix and you will see everything from shorts and short sleeve jerseys and those wearing duvets and balaclavas in exactly the same temperatures and conditions.

We don’t all respond to same to cold or heat, there’s clear physiological differences.

Heat acclimation is a thing, the physiological changes understood to a degree. Why not the same to cold?

 

[Kingfisher101]

in this house the heating is coming on seven while ten.Rest of the time two jumpers and a scarf plus a car blanket around the legs when sitting on the sofa.

And does your partner put up with that? I would only put up with that if I was on state benefits and had no other option.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Is there a formula or calculator anyone can share to help me calculate the cost of running an oil filled radiator?

I know it's rating (1.5Kw) and my electricity unit cost, what I'm not sure about is how to factor in what setting (high/medium/low) its on at and temperature it is set to.

 

[cougie uk]

Is there a formula or calculator anyone can share to help me calculate the cost of running an oil filled radiator?

I know it's rating (1.5Kw) and my electricity unit cost, what I'm not sure about is how to factor in what setting (high/medium/low) its on at and temperature it is set to.

It's impossible to tell without a smart plug or meter.
The max usage would be 1.5*34p per hour if it was running on high all of the time - but in practice it would heat up and switch off and then heat again when it's cooled down a bit.

So max 50p per hour.

What are you heating?

Something like an electric throw costs about 4p an hour to run if that could work for you.

 

[wiggydiggy]

It's impossible to tell without a smart plug or meter.
The max usage would be 1.5*34p per hour if it was running on high all of the time - but in practice it would heat up and switch off and then heat again when it's cooled down a bit.

So max 50p per hour.

What are you heating?

Something like an electric throw costs about 4p an hour to run if that could work for you.

Just my front room, I have it on the lowest setting and about 1/3 of the temp dial. The house is well insulated so retains heat quite well but this is only room been heated right now. I'll see if amazon can get me a smart plug by tomorrow.

It's 15.5c in the heated room, I'm wearing thermal undie type things as well so that's fine for me now.

Elsewhere the house is 11c in the unheated rooms, so it'll be a dash into bed later lol!

 

[midlife]

And does your partner put up with that? I would only put up with that if I was on state benefits and had no other option.

I can afford to run my heating like I used to but have better things to spend my money on so I put more clothes on and accept I'll get a bit chilly going for a pee.

 

[presta]

Is there a formula or calculator anyone can share to help me calculate the cost of running an oil filled radiator?

I know it's rating (1.5Kw) and my electricity unit cost, what I'm not sure about is how to factor in what setting (high/medium/low) its on at and temperature it is set to.

Do you know what the knob does, is it a power ajustment or a thermostat? If it's the latter you'll need a meter, but if the former and a simple bimetallic timer like my cooker, you can time the duty cycle by listening to the contacts click or watching the pilot light if it has one, then just multiply the duty cycle by 1.5kW.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Do you know what the knob does, is it a power ajustment or a thermostat? If it's the latter you'll need a meter, but if the former and a simple bimetallic timer like my cooker, you can time the duty cycle by listening to the contacts click or watching the pilot light if it has one, then just multiply the duty cycle by 1.5kW.

Power Adjustment, not a thermostat. Have grabbed a notepad and clock to record the on time though.

I'll still be getting a smart plug tomorrow to monitor usage. The radiator normally lives in my office so it'll be used again regularly.

 

[wiggydiggy]

TP Link Tapo P110 plugs. Got 6 now. Impressed TBH. Small and dead easy to pair up. Energy monitoring good, and the app's been updated with unit price, so you pop that in and can sync it across all plugs so you enter it once. Gives current use and history. Been useful to see what the TV uses, and the heating in the conservatory - that's hitting my use at the moment - got the oil radiator on pretty low, and just boost the heat with a fan heater first thing. The radiator is cycling through 900w but you can see it's actually on about 30 minutes in every 60.

Obvious question but if I buy these do I need to get the ones that come with 'Energy Monitoring' and not the slightly cheaper 'Smart Plug' ones?

Also can add more of the same plugs later, or have to rder as many as I need right now?