NKSK version 2

After a week of 4 degree nights, my house has not been a pleasant place to spend a night.

Please can anyone tell me why it is colder in my house than outside? It's now 10pm and it's exactly that - I should be sleeping out in the garden.

And before the Australian apologists for shocking build quality tell me that it's because Australian houses are built for the long, hot summers let me tell you two things:

1. Perth winter nights can be very cold; they are now and winter probably won't end until October. It ain't just a quick few weeks and then back to hot, hot, hot.

2. My house was unbearably hot in summer when the temperature hit 40.

Anyone want to give a view? Maybe the builders union has something to add to the debate...

Pollyana

My personal view is that most Aussie houses were built without insulation - therefore in winter any heat built up indoors seeps through to outside, and the cold air comes in , and in summer the opposite happens - heat flows in, cool air-conned air flows out. I'm talking of older houses here - I've got no experience really of newer ones, except one with very high ceilings/split level rooms - very very hard to heat!
Gaps under doors, ill-fitting windows, wooden houses with thinner walls than UK people are used to - all adds up. (Doesn't help having a husband who leaves all the doors open at 10pm with an outside temp of 9 degrees while he searches for his phone either, but thats my problem not yours )

NKSK version 2

That's my house!

Pollyana

Thats freaky cos its mine too.......did you have a man outside earlier on yelling "I know its in here somewhere"............

northernbird

and mine too. my living room has vaulted ceilings and its bloody freezing. My windows might as well be Glad wrap!! However there is light at the end of the tunnel for me. I have just bought my own place which has a woodburning stove and reverse cyle aircon. Don't move in until end july so plenty of chilly nights to come. Karma sent to keep you warm.

Mrs Jackaroo

Same here too in NSW!! Flamin freezing. We've bought three heaters and still I go to bed with pj's, dressing gown and socks!! :scared:

Ozzidoc

You need a hot water bottle!

Mrs Jackaroo

I know! Cant believe I left my microwavable one in the UK believing I would never need it in Oz!! :scared:

madsad

Its unbelievable just how cold it gets!,this is our second winter here, well prepared for this one,even the dog has her jammies on
Ive even resorted to putting towels across the gaps at the bottom of the doors to try & keep the cold out & the heat in

I miss the lovely warmth of gas central heating

Donna.

BadgeIsBack

It's not a view, it's a fact. Insulation is crap.

Have to admit, I don't like to sleep in warm rooms. I can sleep in a room that is 12 and be quite happy.

Hels

I'm nice and toasty in my house!! And it got to -3 here the other night!!

mand8002

I too am sleeping in my bed socks. My mum is visiting in a couple of weeks and I have told her to make sure she brings her winter nighties as it gets cold and she thought I was being stupid till I told her it gets down to about 7 degrees. Her comment was that it gets that cold in UK and she is ok but then I mentioned the fact that her house is insulated and also has central heating. I still don't think she will believe how cold it gets till she is here.............may need a visit to Target I think.

Tiawamutu

Why haven't they thought of something before now, to improve house temperatures?

What is the best type of air conditioning to have to keep you cool when it's hot, and warm when it's cold?

Paul&Nic

The Aussie teacher at our school found it hilarious that Nic was sleeping with all that on + the hot water bottle. We went out the other day and bought an EXTRA quilt (or Doona, whichever you prefer to use) and we have 2 on the bed ...lol.

It's nice and warm now, but forget getting up for a pee, that can wait till the morn when it's ....... err ........ just as cold! ...

DOES warm up tho by about midday and then we have it warm till err ..... about 4pm ...lol

Electric blanket is what most people advise, but it won't help the temp of the lounge in the eve.

Reverse cycle air con ...

Can't wait for the next electric bill ...

Hels

Personaly, we have a Rinnai gas heater and 2 split system heater/coolers in our house. In the summer the split systems cool the place nicely and in the winter, the gas heater and one of the split systems is enough to heat the house. The gas heater has a timer on it that we set to turn it off after we go to bed and it turns on before we wake up. House is definatly warm enough and we get some pretty extreme temps here in Bendigo.

Ultimately though, I want to put in the in floor ducted heating and the ceiling ducted evaporative cooling. But that cooling doesnt work very well at all in the humid climates.

My bills might be a little higher with the way we have it at the moment, but thats because its how the house was when we moved in, but I am not cold in here at all and we only have single glazing and only half the house has in wall insulation.

H