Electrical heating: Is there a big difference in warmth between 19 and 20 degrees?

JackieChang

I have two of these in the house: https://www.credaheating.co.uk/product/car-aluminium-radiator

Fairly well insulated place, I think the energy rating is B2 (is that good?)

I have the heaters set to come on a few times a day at 19 degrees. I barely notice a change in temperature when they're on. Would it be because the room is actually 19 degrees already? Or is the heater broken?

It doesn't feel that cold because I walk around in pyjamas and a fleece night gown when I'm at home. But I just thought 19 degrees would be "toasty". I'd happily sit outside in shorts in 19 degree weather and drink tins.

Anyway after the missus complains, I turn it up to 20 degrees, and the room gets noticeably warmer. There's a big enough difference between 19 and 20. I don't think I'll ever need to use 21.

Is there like an exponential scale in what temperature feels like with each increase in degree?

Both radiators do this.

Basically I have no idea what I want to know. First time with thermostatically controlled heaters. For folks here with electric heaters, do you notice a big difference between 19 and 20 degrees?

Wearb

With all heating there is a temperature where individuals feel is just right. This seems to differ between each person and (dare I say it) women, which seem to like about 1 to 1.5 degrees higher than men -in general-. It also differs when sitting for long periods or if moving around.

From this comfort temperature, 1 degree lower or higher seems to be noticeably colder or hotter.

listermint

Tbh that's on the cold side. I'd argue average room temperature should be 21 minimum. Yes you would notice 19 degrees.

Markcheese

I think the recommendation is around 18 degrees for a kitchen , or a room you're walking through ,
But it's 21 degrees for a sitting room ..
Not sure what an office gets counted as ...
And personal preferences can vary more than that ..

listermint

Markcheese wrote: »

I think the recommendation is around 18 degrees for a kitchen , or a room you're walking through ,
But it's 21 degrees for a sitting room ..
Not sure what an office gets counted as ...
And personal preferences can vary more than that ..

Office ? It's anything from 16 to 28 depending on who you talk to or who complains last.

Wearb

listermint wrote: »

Tbh that's on the cold side. I'd argue average room temperature should be 21 minimum. Yes you would notice 19 degrees.

It depends on the accuracy and position of the thermostat.



My medical thermostat can also read room temperature and even though the heating thermostat is properly positioned, it doesn't give an accurate room temperature. That's probably down to it being slightly inaccurate and perhaps not enough movement of air around it when we are sitting down.


btw room stat reads 1 degree higher that the average room temperature and its easy to compensate for that.

So a reading of 19 in in one house, might equate to a reading of 20 in another house. Or visa versa.

listermint

Wearb wrote: »

It depends on the accuracy and position of the thermostat.



My medical thermostat can also read room temperature and even though the heating thermostat is properly positioned, it doesn't give an accurate room temperature. That's probably down to it being slightly inaccurate and perhaps not enough movement of air around it when we are sitting down.


btw room stat reads 1 degree higher that the average room temperature and its easy to compensate for that.

So a reading of 19 in in one house, might equate to a reading of 20 in another house. Or visa versa.

True but they'd both be wrong because it should be 21. Living in a cold misers house :P

Padre_Pio

Temperature is very subjective.

Your heater is set to 19 degrees, which probably means 19 - 21 degrees to stop the heater constantly flicking off and on.
Although that's measured at the heater, so the rest of the room might be a different temperature.

Also, outside temperature is usually measured in the shade, so it's much warmer if you're sitting in the sun.

serox_21

I would say 21 should be a comfortable temperature.

To not feel discomfort best option will be to set your thermostat to a default temperature and leave the heating on.

This way your radiators will be on just to top up any heat lost and over a longer period of time heating bills will be lower.