r/ireland • u/tharmor • 1d ago
Cost of Living/Energy Crisis Have you put on the heating yet ?
Cold week coming ahead...who has started the heating already ?
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u/dashboardhulalala 1d ago
I took the "I'll just test the rads now to see if they need bleeding" a bit far last week. They're very tested. They don't need bleeding. Just another hour to be sure.
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u/GeraniumMom 23h ago
No, still have the summer duvet on the bed, and the window cracked open to sleep too. It's a tiny bit chilly when we first get up but nothing a pair of slippers can't sort out.
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u/Ok_Compote251 22h ago
Summer duvet all year round here
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u/Apprehensive_Bat_980 23h ago
We have the summer duvet on too. Wife did suggest to get the winter duvet installed. I tend to get hot, so will hold off for a bit longer.
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u/Tenoio 17h ago
Get two single duvets. One winter for her, one summer for you. Solved.
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u/greenstina67 13h ago
In Germany we had two mattresses on the double bed, two under sheets and two duvets. Makes a huge difference in comfort, especially if you or your partner moves around a lot at night. Very common set up there.
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u/microgirlActual 23h ago
God are you mad? I'm still leaving the bedroom window open at night! 😅
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u/lumpymonkey 22h ago
Me and my wife have taken to seperate bedrooms because of this! Last night she had the stove lit in the living room, the heating on for 2 hours and then went to bed with warm pjs and a hot water bottle. Meanwhile I had the window open in the other room and still just wearing shorts to bed. She's a cold cratur.
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u/Visible-Ad9836 19h ago
Separate bedrooms here too,my wife still has the fan going full belt and the two bedroom windows open,feck that,im in the box room with the winter quilt,turned the heating on last week to get it started, oil pump.gone,just as well I didnt leave it a few weeks
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u/microgirlActual 14h ago
Ugh, I remember all that shenanigans growing up when we had an oil-fired boiler. And the one year someone stole our oil. My mam was absolutely distraught as she was a single mother on a very low income and simply couldn't afford another half tank (we could only ever afford a half tank).
We have gas where I am now, so thankfully don't have to worry about things like that.
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u/microgirlActual 22h ago
Ha! I'm lucky my husband isn't given to feeling cold when up and about, and at night will just use more blankets on the bed (we sleep Scandi-style with each of us having separate covers while in the same bed). He recently moved up to wearing PJs and using a second blanket, while I moved up to actually wearing a t-shirt instead of nothing, but still using my old, cheap, unzipped Dunnes kids sleeping bag as a cover.
We're thinking of putting on the summer duvet this weekend 😅
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u/TGCOutcast 22h ago
This is my wife and i as well... only opposite. 😆 Haven't turned the heaters on yet, but I've certainly lit the stove.
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u/beckyboo40 23h ago
No to heating as I hate a warm bedroom...but stove has been on.
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u/UnableSelection9263 23h ago
You can’t bate a proper wood burning stove.
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u/beckyboo40 23h ago
Honest to God,it's the best yok...my winter position is sitting on the floor infront of it! Bliss
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u/Exact_Government1874 23h ago
We have an open fire I love sitting in front of it too. The centre of many chats in our home.
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u/AnySandwich4765 20h ago
I had the stove on the night before last and it was so nice. Burning firewood and turf. The kitchen got so hot that I had to open the door and let the heat down through the house. Got more firewood delivered yesterday so I've got enough to keep the small stove going till after Christmas
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u/not-ideal-but-true 23h ago
No chance. When it gets cold it’ll go on but I’m not going to start wasting energy yet. My plan this year is to use the wood burner more and reduce the need for oil as it’s costing a fortune and getting worse.
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u/Financial_Edge1084 1d ago
Recently switched from oil to air-to-water so it's technically "on" all the time I think? I've heard the pump fire up a few times over the last few days.
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u/DullBus8445 23h ago
It might just be firing up to heat your water. I don't think my heat has come on since April.
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u/Sudden-Candy4633 22h ago
What temperature are your rooms set to?
My underfloor heating came on this week for the first time since March I'd say
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u/Ok_Compote251 22h ago
How much was the cost? I think with the new grants, a heat pump now works out cheaper than installing Solar.
Solar was on my list for this summer, with a heat pump further down the line when the boiler eventually dies. But thinking now financially the heat pump is cheaper to install and saves more on bills.
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u/Financial_Edge1084 22h ago
10 solar panels + air to water heat pump + all new radiators + hot water cylinder (3 bed detached) = €11k out of pocket
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u/Leading-Carrot-5983 22h ago
That's bloody brilliant. I take it you didn't have to insulate the house as part of this?
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u/Financial_Edge1084 21h ago
No but I had the insulation done with the same company about two years ago for a euro. (grant covered all but a euro)
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u/Leading-Carrot-5983 21h ago
Could you share the name of the company?
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u/Financial_Edge1084 21h ago
They're pretty local and only go so far; where roughly in the country are you based? Dm me if you like!
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u/Leading-Carrot-5983 21h ago
Based in Dublin
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u/Financial_Edge1084 20h ago
They do not cover Dublin unfortunately! 😭 Closest they'll go is the Naas ball
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u/Ok_Compote251 21h ago
Unbelievable value, wouldn’t happen to know the breakdown? What was Solar and what was Heatpump?
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u/Financial_Edge1084 20h ago
I do not, but can find out and get back to you!
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u/Ok_Compote251 19h ago
Thanks!
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u/Financial_Edge1084 19h ago
If I don't get back by next weekend, nudge me!
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u/petamaxx 14h ago
Nudge. I’d like to know also. I’m considering switching from oil. Burner is 11 years old. Not showing signs of death but I don’t want to be relying on kerosene for many more years.
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u/Thanatos_elNyx 1d ago
How was the switch over? Been thinking of doing the same but from LPG which is so expensive!
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u/Financial_Edge1084 22h ago
Flawless. I literally have done nothing except play with the thermostat temperatures a bit (still figuring out what I want!)
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u/gbish 23h ago
How are you finding it? Old house here still on oil so will be something I look into.
(Previously had a new build with heat pump and it was great)
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u/Financial_Edge1084 22h ago
So far it's remarkable. The house is consistently warm and cosy. But I'm excited to see/feel the difference in properly cold weather.
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u/gbish 22h ago
I loved it before in my last house, but that was A rated so not sure how well it will work in an older house like this one.
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u/Financial_Edge1084 22h ago
My house is 20+ years old; I upgraded the insulation first, recently the heating and solar, next is doors and windows!
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u/Upper_Ad8786 19h ago
It's hearing your water, surely. But it also depends what your thermostat is set at in each floor... and if you have windows open and drafts going through the house.
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u/LittleStoneBear boards.ie refugee 23h ago
Not yet. I closed the window the night of the high winds a few nights ago. I added an empty duvet cover to the top sheet, which itself only went on the bed two or three weeks ago.
The "not turning on the heating until October" has never been easier.
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u/Medical-Meal2871 17h ago
My apartment is a new build so it sits at about 26.5 degrees in the summer and about 22 in the winter with no heating. So I don’t ever turn mine on 😂 I spend most of my year trying to reduce the temp
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u/DoubleOhEffinBollox 14h ago
Well for ya
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u/Medical-Meal2871 14h ago
You wouldn’t be saying that if you were stuck in an apartment that’s 29 degrees 🥵
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u/redditor_since_2005 7h ago
I moved from an apartment like that to an older house. I need heating now but at least the hot days are no problem. Couldn't bear the heatwaves!
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u/John__Delaney 23h ago
Nope. Barely even hit jumper temperature yet.
Using the oven, heat pump tumble dryer & dishwasher keeps things around 20/21 degrees.
Small terraced bungalows are the best
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u/HomoCarnula 20h ago
I think it depends on where you are and what build your accommodation is.
I'm in Mayo, on a hill with no "shelter" (trees or so) from the winds, and the (rented) house is a bungalow with abysmal insulation, and those vents that when wind blows cause 'amazing' air circulation.
It's currently 14°C in the house 💀 so yeah, have the heating on once in a while for an hour to boost myself into some warmth. And the heating blanket toasts the bed before I get in in the evening. 🥶 I had maybe two weeks this year where the whole house felt warmer. Half of it is south facing so warm when the sun is out, half of it, including my 'office' is north facing so...cool to cold.
Started to squirrel away oil in like 300l batches since February right before the Iran thing fully started. By now I should have 1000l or so. But again, the insulation in this house is shit, so I might just barely get through the winter if even.
Other than that: those very thick blanket hoodies they had for a while in Dunnes, I'm living in them (bought three). Got a heated throw which tbf only comes out in the winter. A woolen blanket on me in the evenings (also because the cat demands it to be on me while the cat is then on the blanket oO he weird). Woolen socks, winter slippers which are fleece lined, thermo long sleeve etc.
(And because I'm traumatized from last year's one week outage in January which left me with no heating at all due to oil heating needing power... USB rechargeable (so with powerbank) hand warmers, USB powered heated back / neck warmer, USB heated foot warmer ... The trauma is real)
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u/hangsangwiches Resting In my Account 17h ago
This sounds exactly like our house. Very jealous of people complaining they're too hot still!
I have bad circulation too due to a medical condition so that doesn't help the issue at all.
I think it's easy for people to say just layer up and not realise that some people already are wearing the max you possibly can. Even with all the extras like hot water bottle etc it's not always as simple as wearing another jumper for some people.
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u/Challlaaa 23h ago
Not yet. I love it cold. Although I live in an old brick building on the 4th floor and there’s a pub/apartments below me. So all that heat rises and keeps me toasty all winter. Which is nice because I spend barely any money on heat in the winter. But during summer, I have fans on 24/7.
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u/Exact_Government1874 23h ago
I'm going to try hold off. It depends on my kids and how they feel I suppose.
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u/AdBoring9620 23h ago
Crossed my mind yesterday evening, didn't bother though. The winter Duvet is back on the bed however.
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u/FattyAcidBase 23h ago
Yes ATW heat pump as well. We have ours set to 20.5 degrees. It starting to water more. Will get my lovely winter bill soon)))
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u/Impressive-racoon 23h ago
I probably won’t start putting mine on until November. Far too warm at the moment!!
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u/sartres-shart 22h ago
No, we only have cail and timber stove to heat the house, hasn't gone on yet although im tasked with cleaning the chimney today so won't be much longer now ...
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u/feck-off 23h ago
Nah just throw on a hoodie
Whenever you get cold do 10 pushups or 10 squats - get winter jacked
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u/goffers92 22h ago
The Annual 1st of October “better make sure it’s working” has happened successfully and it has been followed in a similar fashion on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th !
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u/thewizord 23h ago
Mine seems to come on at around 4am for an hour now. Its air to water. Thats about 1.5 kwh of usage. Hot water takes up most of my bill. That and the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher. They all run once per day.
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u/TranslatorOdd2408 23h ago
Nope, I still have the summer duvet on. Temps up again this week so will be holding off with the heating and changing to the winter duvet for another while.
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u/cobhgirl 22h ago
I haven't closed the windows yet, I've not eve started wearing long sleeves. It's way, way too warm to even think of heating the house yet
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u/Irishlad-90 22h ago
No, live in an apartment, think we must get heat from above and below.
Still have windows open and summer duvet on. But I'm weird, I like a bit of a chill.
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u/81_MousePatrol 22h ago
Not yet. I haven’t seen the temp inside the house drop below 21 degrees yet. Still sleeping with just a sheet as a blanket. We only really notice the house getting cold when it’s very dark and wet - as long as these sunnier days keep up we shouldn’t have to pop on the heating for a while yet.
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u/bathtubsplashes Saoirse don Phalaistín 🇵🇸 21h ago
Trying to make it to the budget to order oil, tough with a Brazilian in the house though
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u/PapaSmurif 20h ago
The legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen slept with his bedroom windows wide open during the bitter Norwegian winters as a child to condition his body for future polar exploration. It would have been around -20°c. That's what I'm telling the kids!
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u/hoedontdoitohmygosh 20h ago
Yes, ours automatically kicks in when it drops below a certain temp (19°C) and tries to get the place back up to that. I've woken up a few mornings this week to it on.
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u/stuckwithglue 19h ago
Yeah , pretty much been on non stop since start of September in one room or another
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u/Scared_Comparison_22 18h ago
It shared between our units and the landlords turned it on this week. My rads are off and I'm still waking up sweating because of it 🥲 windows open, rads off , sleeping with a sheet instead of a duvet and still roasting.
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u/greenstina67 13h ago
No, but the heating where I am right now is a thermal mass rocket stove and not needed yet. Gets very hot with a fraction of the wood use of a conventional stove.
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u/PremiumTempus 1d ago
I just leave my house set at 21 degrees. It’s been on for like total of 15-20 minutes a couple of days over the last few weeks.
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u/dkeenaghan 22h ago
Nope. It’s still 22°-24° in the house and that’s now in the morning before any sun heats the place up. The living room hit 27° yesterday because we were out and didn’t open the windows. Still shorts weather outside anyway.
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u/RavagedCookies 22h ago
The heat recovery is no longer on bypass but the heat pump hasn't been on yet bar for hot water.
Going to be our first year with this so am curious as to how it will go
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u/Responsible_Teach701 21h ago
Just the Dyson fan for a few mins in the bedroom, but the blanket is back on too (lowest setting!). Yesterday got nippy in the evening. The winter duvet will be making a reappearance today. It has been lovely and mild though! I am a bit worried about the heating bills at home but more so at work where we are a school that still runs mostly on oil. I’m terrified already of the bills as we are normally short and this year is going to be a nightmare when it comes to heating bills. Please God it will be a mild winter. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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u/MattKmusic 21h ago
Not yet. But I did get 500L of oil just before the 1st jump in price after the first attack on Iran and I have plenty left.
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u/No_Lock7945 21h ago
A plug in heater when I’m sitting watching tv. Changed the duvet, don’t need it in the whole house yet
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u/Icy_Pumpkin1207 19h ago
Yep, have put it on a few times in the last 2 weeks, not for long as we have an a rated house so it heats up quick and holds the heat pretty well but definitely need it in the evenings
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u/Crackabis 19h ago
I turned it on for the first time in about 5 or 6 months and I've an issue with the boiler for the central heating, luckily the hot water is fine. Have to try get a hold of my gas engineer now to sort it out!
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u/Standard_Spot_9567 19h ago
I've thrown it on a couple days recently for an hour. This week is fine but there was a couple chilly days last week.
I am definitely much more conscious of it than other years when I'd click it on without a second thought though.
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u/Current-Draft5648 18h ago
I can only put it on for about 30 minutes a day at the moment if i’m cold i wear blankets and hot water bottle (:
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u/No-Echidna4602 18h ago
Maybe turn it on for a moment to make sure you've no issue with the boiler or timer dial. Plumbers will get very busy next month
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u/Responsible_Panic242 18h ago
Gonna put it on to see if it works, but turn it off as soon as I know it does. Can’t be wasting the stuff with these prices.
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u/ellyvan_1314 14h ago
Yep. I can’t stand waking up to a cold house. It’s set for 30 mins in the morning to take the chill out for the last couple of weeks. Makes it easier to get the kids up for school too!
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u/dublingamer44 14h ago
no and as soon as she does shes gettin a suplex in the sitting room im still finding it very mild this year at this time and i dont live in a new build eather
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u/Prize_Mouse7778 13h ago
Turned it on the other night to check it was working. Seems to be. Thankfully!
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u/Turbulent-Ad3603 13h ago
No,but it switched itself on yesterday morning. Still haven't figured out how
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u/Coupleofpints 12h ago
Yes, had to turn it on for 30 minutes for a couple of days this week. It’s enough to get the house warmish!
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u/AhhhhBiscuits And I'd go at it again 12h ago
Nope. Still keeping the windows flying open in the morning.
I have put away the portable aircon though.
Going to see if we can get to the end of October before putting on the heating.
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u/sarahannferrigan 12h ago
No. One of the benefits of peri-menopause. Can't say that my family particularly enjoys having windows and doors open all day though.
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u/Judyy2502 Tipperary 10h ago
Air to water heating on downstairs, no need for top floor to have it as we all rather sleep cold :) first time putting it on since we replaced it so interested in how much it’ll cost to run
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u/_becatron Down 10h ago
Aye but I'm in a very old cold house. But have only needed it on 20-30 mins 2-3 times a week just to take the edge off
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u/a_boring_dystopia 9h ago
My bedroom is still 21c and the window has been open all day. Far too warm for heating yet.
That could change very quickly, but im hoping for 2 or 3 more weeks at least. Maybe that's over optimistic?
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u/jamesxcii 8h ago
In this economy? You must be having a laugh! Extra jumper and wooly socks for another 3 weeks at least
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u/janessaragblanket 5h ago
It's literally food or heating this year in my house so food and fluffy socks pjs blankets wish I had a open fire still
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u/powpowpowkazam 1d ago
Yep I turned it on yesterday for the first time. My house is pretty badly insulated but it heats up nice and quickly.
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u/Dan_92159 22h ago
Not yet…..just a big hoodie in the evening.
We have oil but also an open fire in the living room, so will use that first.
We sleep with the windows open all year around so the winter duvet is back on my side, but husband still uses his summer one.
Best thing ever is two duvets….no pulling and we can suit ourselves temperature wise.
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u/EstablishmentSad5998 20h ago
Nowhere near cold enough yet. If a jumper keeps you warm enough and you're not fighting dampness then it's not necessary.
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u/No-Echidna4602 18h ago
No. Haven't even pulled out the winter duvet.
If you are cold heat the body not the house.
November onwards we get cold weather
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u/armintanzarian69 Wexford 18h ago
No haven’t ran the oil boiler but we’ve had the boiler stove going a few times.
This year the oil will only be to get to temperature in the morning and when coming home and then the stove will maintain heat through the evenings and into the night.
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u/Suncroft56 17h ago
Yes, and I'm wearing a jumper.
I have been closing the bedroom window at night too, as it's getting a bit nippy.
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u/Subject-Eye-6714 17h ago
Genuinely won’t be able to afford a full of oil this winter. We’ll have to make do with the stove. It’ll be a right pain when we’re home late to a cold house but we have no other option.
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u/Carlosthejakal2 23h ago
Underfloor, it's on 24/7. Had to fill the tank last week €1300. Put all the temps up by 2°c during the week. Feels much warmer
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u/Irishpeanut91 20h ago
Jesus we have under floor I am actully worried about filling the tank, it hasn't been on all summer but anyway day it will b'é going on I say
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u/FigureNo8921 22h ago
I'm on a fixed rate of €45 a month for my heating. I'll turn it on whenever I need it. Haven't done so yet. But I do heat the water with it. Just not the rads. So I use it everyday for an hour for the water. The rads will be used soon though, I feel the cold creeping in lately. Especially in the mornings and late at night.
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u/ohmyblahblah 22h ago
Yes cos it's been cold. I got 500 litres at the start of the summer and still have a fair bit left
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u/P_man21 22h ago
When has it been cold?
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u/ohmyblahblah 20h ago
If I'm cold I'm cold. Whats it got to do with you?
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u/Standard_Spot_9567 18h ago
You're right. All depends where you are in the country, type of house you have and your own personal preferences. Cold is obviously subjective.
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u/its_brew Horse 20h ago
Ooh sassy sundays, sounds like someone needs to cool down
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u/ohmyblahblah 20h ago
Nah. Every year this type of post attracts these hairshirt motherfuckers who seem to view central heating as some sort of moral failing. The same misery misery misery types who would grass you up to the local priest if they saw you holding hands with a boy, in the hopes of getting you sent off to the laundries
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u/Relation_Familiar 22h ago
Had it on just downstairs for an hour, on 2 occasions this week. You don’t want the material temp of walls etc to get too low . Rural house with LPG heating
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u/Obvious_Humor1505 22h ago
I did consider it last night, but used my throw instead, will probably happen this week I would say
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u/TheMoogle420 22h ago
Ya I stuck it on a few mornings for an hour during the week when it was colder (around 7-8C). No need for it this morning though, it's currently 15C outside.
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u/nopenopenope86 22h ago
Friday was the first day, our gas boiler got fixed so the boiler man was testing the radiators. It was so cosy and nice we decided not to switch it off. Will probably regret this with a first bill.
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u/Jumpy_Emu1111 23h ago
I'm guessing it will still be a 'no' for a lot of people if you ask this again in a few week's time as it's €800 for 500l of home heating oil