Even though March feels just about in our grasp and it’s almost time to add spring into our step, our living rooms, bedrooms, and everything in between are still freezing cold. With Edinburgh News stating that 50-60% of all households in Edinburgh are affected by the heating crisis, the student population is undoubtedly included in this bracket. The question ‘when can we turn the heating on?’ has been and continues to be hotly contested.
There tend to be two sides of the argument, those who vote in favour of heating and those against it. Whilst this is often a 50/50 split decision, for some reason, those who are convinced fighting the cold with a positive mindset and wearing enough layers to break a Guinness World Record, end up winning the vote. Not to mention, those in said ‘no’ camp are tactically the ones who know how to operate the heating system, leaving the opposing flatmates to get accustomed to Wim Hof’s cryotherapies.
With the interior of the flat home to temperatures in the minus numbers, it is classically the mugs and tea bags that take the biggest hit as the constant cycle of hot beverages makes it nigh-on impossible for the kettle to catch a break. This is only worsened as one may opt to swap out the Dragon Soops for a vodka hot chocolate at pres. And yes, it is as horrible as it sounds.
Some useful tips and tricks that have kept my flatmates and I warm this winter include:
- a hot water bottle that spans the length of your body
- leaving the oven wide open after cooking (allowing any last morsels of heat to waft into the surrounding area)
- constantly wearing a scarf
If you’re more into gadgets and gismos, then an electric heater that turns your bedroom into Dubai and an electric blanket, preventing you from ever having to crawl into cold sheets again, may be on your hit list. However, the last two options also land you with a heating bill that turns your flatmates into enemies, forcing you to ask yourself – is it worth the risk?
Edinburgh flats may look the part with their high ceilings and expansive windows, yet their lack of heat retention seems to be their biggest downfall. Along with this, the game of chicken that is set in motion as soon as the temperatures drop could ironically land you in hot water. As being the last to plead to turn the heating on becomes a battle of the egos, you may have found that the return to uni post-Christmas involved a serious lack of hot water and an invoice for burst pipes. Second, third and fourth years share the tricks of the trade and let the flat-touring first years know to put the heating on a timer over the Christmas break.
But seriously, it is best to be open and understanding when it comes to these awkward discussions. If your lips are still going blue after nursing a hot water bottle and wearing cosy layers, then a gentle nudge to put the heating on for a few hours may be in order.
Remember that it is just as much your flat as anyone else’s, and approaching the conversation from an equal footing is bound to serve you well. Keep an eye on the bills and be open to compromise. Morale is low enough in the winter months to add hypothermia to the list.
If you’re looking for a more bulletproof solution to the heating crisis, check out these links for help with the heating and cost of living.
Image Credit: “Good friends in a cold apartment” by Geir Halvorsen is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.