heating advice please

mummy_dumpling

this is our first winter in our new house and we're having a few issues and not sure of the best solutions

firstly, the central heating has no room or radiator thermostats which means that it only comes on and switches off when we flick the switch on the boiler. what is the easiest/cheapest fix for this please? we live in a 5 bed house over 3 floors

secondly, there is no radiator in the kitchen and it is so cold in there now, I am dreading it as winter progresses. we have tiled floors and big windows and it sucks the heat out of the livingroom when the door opens. would fitting window blinds help with the cold or not? what sort of heating is going to be most cost effective in there?

thanks

keith969

For the first part, you can fit either radiator valves or a thermostat, the disadvantage of the latter is that without zone valves the entire circuit is controlled by the temperature where the thermostat is.

For your kitchen - window blinds won't make much difference, some removable secondary glazing would be better. Also check doors/windows for draughts. There's often a draught where the waste pipes go out through the wall - the holes can be filled with expanding foam.

Could you fit a radiator in the kitchen? Otherwise you could get a fan heater to help.

Robbo77

OK, here goes. It sounds like your heating system is a fair age if there are no controls. I'm assuming there is a programmer or timer but as you said you flick the switch to turn it on, this might not be the case. Easiest solution is to have a wireless programmable room thermostat fitted. The timer function and room stat are combined and, as above, wireless. They arent exactly cheap, but probably cheaper and easier that having to get a room stat wired in.

Regards your second issue, i have a conservatory that has no heating. Handy for keeping drinks cool at new year but a nighmare if the door is left open. I fitted blackout blinds on each window and use a small portable oil heater. The timer kicks on for a couple of hours per day, seems to do the trick.

Hope this is of help.:)

mummy_dumpling

thanks for the replies

think we'll get some blackout blinds and an oil heater for our kitchen - I'll get OH to check for draughts too but cos it has big windows on 2 sides and no heating it gets sooo cold

where do we find out more about getting the thermostats from? is it something we can fit ourselves or do we need to get someone in?

thanks

paddypaws101

My plumber - or Central Heating Engineer - fitted my wireless digital room stat. I had a manual one before and it really felt like heating was very much ON or OFF, ie very little control. Now the whole house stays at a much more even temperature so I am pleased. Not cheap, but it did seem to be quick and simple so if you are handy I would give it a go maybe.