The biggest shock of my first Korean winter? The heating bill.
Started running the boiler in November. First month's gas bill: 150,000 won. For a studio apartment! I'd never paid that much for heating anywhere.
Complained to a Korean friend. "Get an ondol mat," they said. "What's that?" — It's a mat with warm water circulating inside. You can sleep warm without running the boiler.
Half-skeptical, I bought a Hanil heated water mat.
Electric blanket vs. water mat
Korea has two types:
Electric blanket: Heated by electric wires. Cheap but electromagnetic wave concerns, can get too hot. Water mat: Small boiler heats water that circulates through tubes in the mat. Almost zero EMF, gentle warmth.
I went with the water mat for the EMF concern. Hanil is a well-known Korean heating mat brand.
My heating bill got cut in half
This is the headline. After getting the mat, I stopped running the boiler at night. Sleep with just the mat on, run the boiler briefly in the morning for showering.
Next month's gas bill: 70,000 won. Down from 150,000. That's 80,000 won saved per month. The mat cost under 100,000 won. Paid for itself in one month.
Sleeping on it
First time lying down: "Oh, this is it." Not aggressively hot like an electric blanket — gently warm. Similar to Korean ondol (floor heating) but closer to your body.
Temperature adjusts from level 1 to 9. I sleep at 4-5. Timer lets you set 2-8 hours. I set 6 hours — it turns off by dawn, but the blanket stays warm enough.
Maintenance is simple
Fill the boiler with water once at setup, check water level occasionally (2-3 times per season). Put a cover sheet on top — wash the cover, not the mat. Fold and store in summer.
Be careful of low-temperature burns
Even at low heat, prolonged contact with the same spot can cause burns. Never sleep on it drunk without a timer. Always set the timer.
Essential for Korean winters
Under 100,000 won, pays for itself in heating bill savings within a month. If you're facing your first Korean winter, get one.
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