Temperature controlled Climates

[November]

I keep thinking about other places and how adaptable humans are to other climates. What is the heating and cooling system like in your home? What insulation methods are used? Have you got a set temp you need to hit before turning the heating/cooling on, or do you adjust your climate to suit you needs (adding or removing layers of clothes)? How cold is too cold to be a comfort to you and how warm? What is your preferred method of heating or cooling - a beach, wood fire, maybe snow and sauna? Any local practices?

I have been arguing with myself over putting the heating on today. I have put it on - but it won't need to be on all night. I wonder if I should have lit the fire instead and which is more economical and efficient but google is a rabbit hole that I get distracted in.

 

[GwenRaiden]

No cooling system, not needed here as summer doesn't exist, just gas central heating. Double glazed windows help keep out drafts and noise too; as soon as autumn hits here the high winds start. This flat actually doesn't have an active thermostat, so I just turn the heat on at the boiler directly and can adjust the temperature from there, but tbh I hate the horrible dry heat in houses from central heating, I'd much rather put fluffy jumpers and socks on instead when I'm feeling chilly.

I used to live in a very cold ground floor flat with only stone and wood floors and it was a nightmare to heat. Luckily the main room had a lovely gas fireplace and you would heat up in minutes. The place I just moved out of was terrible to heat too, because the windows were one pane sash windows. This place has been he easiest to heat, because I'm up high the heat from the apartments below rises to here and I have hardly had to put the heating on at all. Preferable. I can much easier deal with cold than heat anyway, I think I'm one of those reverse-SAD people, because I love winter (not my daughter, she's terrible).

 

[The Bronze]

No cooling system, not needed here as summer doesn't exist, just gas central heating.

Same for me. Although England is a little more sunny 🙂

I try to avoid putting the heating on for as long as possible. We've just had new windows at the back and a new front door so I'm hoping that'll keep the place warmer anyway. Also got a smart system for turning the heating on and off and setting times with a phone which should be helpful this Winter.

 

[November]

Im interested in smart systems @The Bronze how do they work?

The heating concepts are foreign to me! I hate the dry heater/ heat setting on the air con too @GwenRaiden. Does heating go to every room through vents?

My house is quite drafty. During 'renovations' ive stuffed some gaps with hay then newspaper. Duno how good this is but it was a cheap way to seal the gaps between the floor and wall, block the mice out before I poison them. Im trying to keep mozzies out too...

I have a tile fire and will have access to smaller bits of wood next year. It has a fan on it and i think having it running all the time over winter will help keep the house consistant. I got way too cold. I am glad to have cooling in one room at least. I will see what summer brings! Seems a 'top' of 12c for a few days is when I cave to using heating.

 

[GwenRaiden]

Does heating go to every room through vents?

Yeah, every room, there's a radiator in every room. Hot water system. Water pipes under the floors.

 

[The Bronze]

Im interested in smart systems @The Bronze how do they work?

There's a few different systems out there offering various levels of control. My one is pretty straight forward as I don't think the more complicated ones are necessary in a normal size house.

An engineer comes out and fits a new WiFi enabled receiver to your boiler. This will turn it on and off as instructed. You also get a hub, this plugs into the mains, connects to your WiFi and can sit anywhere in the house. Mines behind the TV with everything else. This is the brains of the operation and will tell the receiver when to start or stop the heating.

The third piece of kit is a thermostat which is also WiFi enabled. This measures the house temperature and you can also use it to turn the heating on, off, up or down etc.

Once all that is set up you simply download an app on your phone and tell the system when you want the heating on. Simple on and off options. Ask it to come on if the temperature drops below a certain number, ask it to start or stop at anytime of the day. It's really flexible and simple to use. Mine works by turning the heating on I'm every room but there are options to control different radiators or house zones.

 

[November]

Ah now this is even more interesting!

Thanks for more info. Are the radiators too hot to touch? Could you dry washing on/near them or is it more a maintainance heat? How long can it take to heat a chilled space or do you just not let it drop too low in the house? Is the heated water in a closed system or does it get cycled out? Like - I use boiling water to kill weeds, is this something that can be linked to a home heating system? Are the floors warm too? I used to live in a place with heated floors but they were electric.

 

[TotallySpiked]

Gosh, these all sound so fancy.

I have a spilt system reverse cycle air conditioner and a ceiling fan in every room. Nice and easy at my house.

 

[November]

That's what I thought too @TotallySpiked ! Haha all so fancy! Heating is a problem all over oz in rural areas, especially with elderly in older homes. We don't have much snow but it's still cold enough to warrent affordable heating.

I have ceiling fans in two rooms. I like them

 

[The Bronze]

Are the radiators too hot to touch? Could you dry washing on/near them or is it more a maintainance heat?

You get a good level of control. I'm not an expert so I'm going to struggle to explain it properly but you get to set your boiler temperature and your radiators also have their own valves. Our set up means the radiators are warm without being burning. We also have radiator covers. If you wanted them hotter or colder you'd be able to manage that.

How long can it take to heat a chilled space or do you just not let it drop too low in the house?

Mine is set to come on if the temperature drops to a level when frost could start to effect the pipes. Really not that cold over here that often so it's not a bug issue. How long it would take to heat any given space would depend on the size and individual settings. I think in the winter we'll set the heating to come on half hour or so before we get in and that's normally fine to heat up to a nice temperature.

Is the heated water in a closed system or does it get cycled out?

That one is a bit beyond my knowledge. I'm afraid.

Like - I use boiling water to kill weeds, is this something that can be linked to a home heating system?

It's going to depend on your set up. Ours is a combi boiler so the hot water and heating is always left on. If you use the hot tap the boiler then kicks in and heats the water on the spot. It doesn't keep a reserve of hot water.

Are the floors warm too? I used to live in a place with heated floors but they were electric.

No heated floors is a different area altogether with different companies involved over here. It's not very common, some people have it in the kitchen or bathroom but not many.

 

[GwenRaiden]

Are the radiators too hot to touch? Could you dry washing on/near them or is it more a maintainance heat? How long can it take to heat a chilled space or do you just not let it drop too low in the house? Is the heated water in a closed system or does it get cycled out? Like - I use boiling water to kill weeds, is this something that can be linked to a home heating system? Are the floors warm too?

Oh jah, they are hot. I dry clothes on them too. It's less damaging to the surrounding wall to put clothes on a clothes airer and next to the radiators rather than directly on them, but if I need something dry quick I'll just chuck it right on. I don't have a tumble dryer because not enough space. If I wake up in the morning (and forgot to put the timer on the night before) and it's cold it only takes about 15 minutes to heat the whole house. One of the bathrooms in my Edinburgh place had underfloor heat and it was great but yeah, you need additional piping fitted and all that, and it would depend on the property/floor. I just carpeted my new place with super thick carpets so no need. There's no drafts here.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I dry clothes on them too.

They good for making grilled cheese sammiches on also... Oh!

Did you know you can make a grilled cheese sammich in the toaster?

 

[GwenRaiden]

Did you know you can make a grilled cheese sammich in the toaster?

In those pocket bag things? Not the same!

I actually have a panini toaster and I'm a bit obsessed with it. Toast all the things!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

In those pocket bag things? Not the same!

What pocket things?

I actually have a panini toaster and I'm a bit obsessed with it.

I have a panini check scanner and I'm a bit obsessed with it.

 

[November]

I have the air conditioner on heat again today- I am starting to think I should check the weather a week in advance and plan if I need to start the fire! I did not expect it to still be cold at this time of the year. I figured out that my bits of wood were far too large to start a warm fire with, and I was not able to split them myself at the time. I have spoken to a local guy to start delivering some wood next year already split for me.

The heating systems sound great where you guys are. Makes our homes look like silly little shanties haha. We could certainly improve energy usage by using double glazed glass, sealing the homes and using other more practical methods, like quality carpeting. I was in a very new home last year and it was built so poorly, no wonder our electric bills were out of control to cool it. The carpets were cheap and sucked up heat, the driveway was so hot that they tyres on my car had to be replaced, not from wear, but exposure to the extreme heat, the tiles were freezing, it was just not a nice place to be. I still feel like it was one of the worst summers I had been through even though I had all of the modern indoor perks. Climate affects my health and I cant be the only one that is this sensitive. I am glad I have moved to a cooler area but it is a big change.

This very old home, although drafty, is very well designed. I think stuffing hay and newspaper in the cracks has helped. I haven't had a spider crawl on my face for like 4 days.

GwenRaiden: Gross bag things you can put in the toaster with other ingredients, so they don't drip all over the place. Cheating basically. And tastes rank anyway.

Yes. And if the bag breaks your in the poo too. Bread just dilutes the cheese flavour 😉