Things that worked or didn't work last winter

Barneysmom

I'm just recapping what we did in the winter (now it's nearly over :cool: ).
Looking at what worked and what didn't, to keep the house warm and dry, and save money.

Did anyone use bubble wrap on the windows, and did it work?

Things that seemed to be ok were;

The thick curtains everywhere, really kept the cold draughts out.
Putting lining paper then wallpapering the hall and putting the thickest carpet we could afford.

Spending £1200 on the porch. A big layout but we could open the inner front door in the afternoon to let the sun through to the hall. The K glass kept the heat inside.

Virkon tablets, supposed to be for use in labs and vets for intense germ, fungus and virus killing, was really good for getting the mould off the bedroom wall and it hasn't come back (you need gloves and open windows for this stuff).

The big let-down was the conservatory. The inside got soaking wet, the whole room had mould growing on it, as fast as we dried it, it got wet again.
So we really need to come up with a solution that will work next winter.

Olliebeak

Barneysmom wrote: »

........The big let-down was the conservatory. The inside got soaking wet, the whole room had mould growing on it, as fast as we dried it, it got wet again.
So we really need to come up with a solution that will work next winter.

Wow what a disappointment for you! Did you get to the bottom of what caused this, Barneysmom? Leaking roof? Condensation? Lack of air-bricks/window vents stopping air circulation? Can you have any come-back on the builder?

Barneysmom

Hello olliebeak, it was purely condensation.
Whenever the patio door leading to the conservatory was opened, all the heat escaped into the conservatory. The heat hits the cold glass causing it.
Just too cold in there to dry out I guess
Also, letting the dog out if it's been raining the water comes in aswell.
Trouble is we have had the conservatory for 5 years and didn't really have a problem before this year.
So, should I make heavy curtains for the windows next winter or will it make the problem worse, I don't want to spend a load of money on fabric if they are going to get mould on them?

downshifter

Barneysmom wrote: »

I'm just recapping what we did in the winter (now it's nearly over :cool: ).
Looking at what worked and what didn't, to keep the house warm and dry, and save money.

Did anyone use bubble wrap on the windows, and did it work?

I used bubble wrap and it was great, but only in the spare room/study as although it didn't seem to cut out light, you couldn't see through, so couldn't use it in any other rooms. I took it down a couple of weeks ago but it's gone back up again now, it's blooming freezing!!!

What didn't work for me was clingfilm on the windows, the first day or two it was great and stopped draughts, but it quickly tore, or came away from the double sided tape at the sides. I used velcro on some of them so they were openable on nice days and that worked better. Thick curtains ok - and I'm v. jealous, I'd love a porch, as soon as the door opens here there's an icy blast right through.

The best thing was the electric blanket, going to bed on snowy windy night with telly, warm dog and electric blanket can't be beat!!! The other good thing was roof insulation, you can feel the warmth upstairs so well.

For next year I've started stockpiling newspaper 'logs' - the briquette type and would be interested if anyone else finds these any good. The other thing is much of my house is open plan and I need to find a way of stopping the heat from going upstairs and having a freezing living room!! It's not easy to do because of the layout but will have to sort it for definite.

Great thread - anyone else?

Barneysmom

Thanks Downshifter.
The reason we got the porch was my secret saving plan. I saved £8 for 15 years. It wasn't too much to put away so I'd feel like I was paying out a huge amount (to be honest I hardly knew it was there) but the £2,200 I got back was bliss! I blew £200 on clothes for me and DH and spent the rest on the porch and hallway.


The clingfilm on the windows i used in my old house, but I think once the house is cold, it doesn't make much difference?

I was given an old but still new in the bag Whitney blanket which I put under the bottom sheet on the bed and it did help greatly but the hot water bottle was best (and the woolly hat).:cool:

Psykicpup

downshifter wrote: »

I used bubble wrap and it was great, but only in the spare room/study as although it didn't seem to cut out light, you couldn't see through, so couldn't use it in any other rooms. I took it down a couple of weeks ago but it's gone back up again now, it's blooming freezing!!!

What didn't work for me was clingfilm on the windows, the first day or two it was great and stopped draughts, but it quickly tore, or came away from the double sided tape at the sides. I used velcro on some of them so they were openable on nice days and that worked better. Thick curtains ok - and I'm v. jealous, I'd love a porch, as soon as the door opens here there's an icy blast right through.

The best thing was the electric blanket, going to bed on snowy windy night with telly, warm dog and electric blanket can't be beat!!! The other good thing was roof insulation, you can feel the warmth upstairs so well.

For next year I've started stockpiling newspaper 'logs' - the briquette type and would be interested if anyone else finds these any good. The other thing is much of my house is open plan and I need to find a way of stopping the heat from going upstairs and having a freezing living room!! It's not easy to do because of the layout but will have to sort it for definite.

Great thread - anyone else?

Have you thought about p[utting ceiling to floor length curtains at the top of the stairs to keep the heat in ? - obviously would have to be carefull if children or elderly around but they could be tied back out the way during the day .....

Barneysmom

Good idea, I've thought about putting a door at the top of the stairs, do you think it would work?

Patchwork_Quilt

I think a door would definitely help but would it be safer to have one at the bottom of the stairs (with the side boxed in, of course)?

I found in this house that keeping internal doors shut really does seem to help keep it warm. We don't seem to have draughts but otherwise, the heat all ends up in the landing.

Similarly, shutting the internal door between the front door and the hall seems to help keep us warm.

Edited to say that keeping all the hedge trimmings, salvaging bits of chopped tree etc has enabled us to have one or two free fires

Psykicpup

Yes a door would be even better but might be expensive to box a whole open plan staircase in...
also draw the curtain on rooms that have had sun all day as soon as the sun moves away from them to keep that free heat in
Leave the door to the kitchen open while you cook - the extra heat generated can really help warm the rest of the house
If you have some warmth even sunshine upstairs it seems to stop the heat being drawn up so much so leave doors open on sunny rooms & close them on cold/dark rooms during the day

downshifter

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I think a door would definitely help but would it be safer to have one at the bottom of the stairs (with the side boxed in, of course)?

I found in this house that keeping internal doors shut really does seem to help keep it warm. We don't seem to have draughts but otherwise, the heat all ends up in the landing.

The curtain at the top seems worth trying, thanks for that idea,Psykicpup. There is a really stupid wide/ high stairwell, I'd love to be able to shut it off at the bottom but if I did that it would eat into the living room too much. And like Patchwork Quilt, my landing's the warmest part of the house too. The door between the living room is shut as much as poss, it also has a curtain as well as a draught excluder along the bottom. Nothing like a bit of overkill, but the curtain still billows out, - the delights of an old house.

By next yr I hope to have double glazing.

thanks for the ideas.

Barneysmom

Double glazing is expensive isn't it, it might be worth planning one or 2 windows per year or something?
That's how we're doing the radiators, did 2 last year and will do this this year and next.
My brother fits them and I pay for him and his brood to have a The Sun holiday.