Keeping heating on

People make the mistake of using antibacterial products where there is a sceptic tank. Unfortunately, it is
nearly impossible to buy non-antibacterial hand soap. I think Palmolive may be one of the few that isn't or perhaps some bars of soap may be ok. Ecover products are what some people I know with sceptic tanks use and never use antibacterial washing-up liquid. The bacteria in a sceptic tank need to thrive.

As for the question in the OP. We used to have our heating on for a few set hours at different times of the day, and were advised by a gas engineer that it would be more economical to keep it on all the time. We switched to having it come on at 16 when we normally get up, and staying at that till teatime, when it changes to 18, then to 12 degrees at bedtime, temperatures which suit us. I checked the bills when we changed and they stayed about the same, so that has worked for us. If we’re out for most of the day we switch it off.

MerylStreep

Blondiescot
My meaning was obviously lost on you.
I’m sure there are many on here who understand exactly what I mean.

There are, MerylStreep, and of course you’re quite right. The little things all add up. A 2 minute shower gets you just as clean as a long one, or a bath. Not washing clothes too often or at too high a temperature, and not running the washing machine or dishwasher till it’s full make perfect sense, as does hanging out the washing to dry whenever you can. Keeping the freezer well stocked - even with boxes of water to top up - is another one I heard of recently, as it works more efficiently when over 75% full.

Of course there’ll always be exceptions - those who can’t take showers, need clothes washing every day, don’t have outside space for drying, etc - but all of this is just good housekeeping for many of us.

I have worked out the running cost of a basic electric shower, approximate of course but 4 minutes is minimum of 14p

A septic tank is a digester and the digesting bacteria need to be fed and not killed. Anything that would kill bacteria would also kill the biome in the digester. With dead bacteria, you would of course get smells and a non-functioning septic tank

I keep my heating programmed 24/7 throughout the year. A modern new build with programmable digital thermostats in each of 5 different zones, also TRVs on each upstairs radiators, except the bathroom rads, which are the safety rads. I like my living room to be cosy when I get up, so it is higher in that area from 4-5 am. The max temperature programmed in my house is 20 and main is 19 with 18 upstairs overnight. Rads upstairs and ufh downstairs. I don`t heat any unecessary areas ie utility, hall, unused bedrooms. The sun, from the east and later from the west, adds greatly to heating my house

Dettol is used in the bathroom and washing in the machine. The place smells like a clinic at times .

Poppyred

Shandy57

When I was renting, I remember the young couple next door, no children, hanging washing out every single day, I was surprised My Mum only ever did the washing one day a week.

Unfortunately it seemed they were also using unfriendly washing powder/conditioner, as the communal septic tank started to pong and the landowner knocked to say it would have to be emptied.

What is unfriendly washing powder/conditioner? Why would it make the septic tank pong more?

Bleach is the disaser in sceptic tanks.

DD2 is a nurse and wears mufti. Due to covid protection they have to wash all clothes and wear clean ones every day. This has been since pandemic began. It means she has to use machine a lot more than before. If they have a covid patient they wear PPE.

Callistemon21

Shandy57

You can't use biological powders/conditioners as it kills the bacteria in the tank. They occasionally put their giant empty box of biological powder on top of the recycling bin. I had seen it, and so had the landlord who lived next door to them.

You can't use any chemical toilet cleaners down the loo either.

We don't have that problem with a septic tank, which just collects 'stuff' which is then pumped out. Not unlike the old cesspits. No problem using chemical cleaners. However at our last house we had a Klargester treatment plant and it was necessary to take care not to put anything in which killed the bacteria which basically ate the 'stuff'.

I have impaired mobility and am a non driver so am home most of the day so going out for long periods isnt an option for me.

I used to have my heating set to turn off at night and to turn on about an hour before I got up. In really cold weather the house didnt really warm up until evening and I was miserable with my arthritis. I now have the heating on all the time in winter - just turn it down to about 15 at night and up to 20 during the day. I dont have the heating on upstairs as the heat from down stairs rises and heats the house.

I dont drink or smoke or take expensive holidays so my "luxury" is to stay warm and comfortable.

I think it depends upon how you use the heating.

Oh dear!
Bedrooms are set low, living rooms higher of course

You should also make sure your house is heated evenly, heat rises so your upstairs could be much warmer than your downstairs. This is why many upstairs radiators have their own thermostats. No point your upstairs being really warm when you are downstairs.
All our radiators have thermostats - it's a good idea.
Bedrooms are set low, living rooms lower.
In fact the one in our bedroom is set lowest because we don't like a warm bedroom but there is a radiator in the ensuite.

Shandy57

You can't use biological powders/conditioners as it kills the bacteria in the tank. They occasionally put their giant empty box of biological powder on top of the recycling bin. I had seen it, and so had the landlord who lived next door to them.

You can't use any chemical toilet cleaners down the loo either.

My DH heard a piece on the radio about how young people on average spend 7 minutes in the shower so he came home and showered and timed himself. He said two and a half minutes was more than ample (he doesn't have much hair so washing it is minimal!). I wonder how much power gets used in long showers and baths?

I do agree that items of clothing don't necessarily need to be washed just because you've worn them but each to their own on this particular front.

Shandy57

You can't use biological powders/conditioners as it kills the bacteria in the tank. They occasionally put their giant empty box of biological powder on top of the recycling bin. I had seen it, and so had the landlord who lived next door to them.

You learn something new every day! ?

You can't use biological powders/conditioners as it kills the bacteria in the tank. They occasionally put their giant empty box of biological powder on top of the recycling bin. I had seen it, and so had the landlord who lived next door to them.

I was wondering that too Poppyred ?

Shandy57

When I was renting, I remember the young couple next door, no children, hanging washing out every single day, I was surprised My Mum only ever did the washing one day a week.

Unfortunately it seemed they were also using unfriendly washing powder/conditioner, as the communal septic tank started to pong and the landowner knocked to say it would have to be emptied.

What is unfriendly washing powder/conditioner? Why would it make the septic tank pong more?

It makes sense to me but don't know if it's right or not. My dad always said it was more economical to keep the immersion heater on all the time, rather than heating the entire contents from lukewarm or cold.

Germanshepherdsmum

We have an air source heat pump too oldnproud and it’s set to be on all the time. However we don’t use the water heating component but have an immersion heater instead which is better for us as we don’t use vast quantities of hot water.

That sounds useful.

I was thinking only recently how much more economical an immersion heater might be at some times of year, and depending on how little hot water is used.

It is important though to mention that our house is very insulated. Also we were having a lot of problems with damp and mould, if there is moisture in the walls that will also lose heat so that why the on all day method works for us, especially as the temperatures are lower than most would find confortable. We adjusted

Our boiler man recomnended keeping heating on, it's especially important for older people that your home is not below 16.

So ours is set to 16 at night and when we are out and 18 in the day when we are home.

You should also make sure your house is heated evenly, heat rises so your upstairs could be much warmer than your downstairs. This is why many upstairs radiators have their own thermostats. No point your upstairs being really warm when you are downstairs.

We have a really old system sadly so our water is on or off and can be set with a timer but no 1 hour advance. A huge waste as people forget it is on and it doesn't go off until next timed episode.

MerylStreep

Blondiescot
My meaning was obviously lost on you.
I’m sure there are many on here who understand exactly what I mean.

There are ways to cook without putting the oven and hob on every day.
We've got a steamer, I can do several veg in one go rather than put 3 different saucepans on the hob.
We've got a slow cooker too and I know there are other devices out there including the humble pressure cooker which will speed up cooking.

There is a world of difference between sitting around stinking in dirty unwashed clothes and bathing, hair washing every single day and changing every single item of clothing every day too unless you have a particularly strenuous, dirty job and live in a hot climate.

Perhaps we should all keep a primus stove handy just in case. And candles.

MerylStreep

Blondiescot
My meaning was obviously lost on you.
I’m sure there are many on here who understand exactly what I mean.

I assure you it wasn't...

Blondiescot ? yes maybe we should all just do that and recycle ourselves while we’re about it eh?
It would be “good for the planet and cost nothing. ONLY JOKING, obviously.
Stuff that for a lark

When I was renting, I remember the young couple next door, no children, hanging washing out every single day, I was surprised My Mum only ever did the washing one day a week.

Unfortunately it seemed they were also using unfriendly washing powder/conditioner, as the communal septic tank started to pong and the landowner knocked to say it would have to be emptied.