sharing, really quite upset

pmg19680

dollparts wrote: »

Hello, only me:)

Miche, I'm sure you have managed to sort your heat issues by now but I thought I would mention to you (and indeed anyone else) that I have recently applied for a warm form grant. They offer assistance with insulation, boiler 'ishoos', and other such help with all things keeping warm.

They do have a criteria that you have to meet and apparently the wait for work to be carried out can be lengthy but it's worth a try and there's always next winter-although this one still has months to run in any case.

Here's the link, hope it helps!

http://www.warmfront.co.uk/index.htm

Thought it may be useful to many as I know there are quite a few of us here that have recently moved.

In the meantime the FABULOUS wilkinsons have solved the problem for the interim, I have bought some sticky draught excluder strips for my front door. Now it's no longer Lapland in the hallway and Africa in the bedrooms:D

It won't last forever but will surely do for now.

Hi Dollparts,
How do them sticky d/exc work then? I have an integrated garage and it is very draughty (in fact it makes the film tornedo look like a summer breeze!!) Just wondered if this might help a little

dollparts

pmg19680 wrote: »

Hi Dollparts,
How do them sticky d/exc work then? I have an integrated garage and it is very draughty (in fact it makes the film tornedo look like a summer breeze!!) Just wondered if this might help a little

@pmg!

Think of it like cushioned sellotape only to say more narrow and it peels off as you travel down the doorframe you are sealing.

Really easy to use, in fact Wilkinsons had a whole shelf dedicated to draught exclusion and condensation etc etc.

Lemme see if I can find a link of the thingies I'm wittering on about.

dollparts

dojoman wrote: »

You should be OK with your application, my friend who is a LL (old terraced house, very very cold) was successful in getting a boiler fitted for his tenant. Hope you manage to get one, especially with the weather getting so cold.

Dojo, ok.....slightly OT here (but hey you know me already)

Do you practice karate or some other such martial art?

If the answer is no pleeeeease do not ask why I'm asking such weird abstract q's......:D

whitewing

You may also want to see if you can persuade the LL to get you a dehumidifier. Taking the moisture out of the air removes a surprising amount of chill (and helps get rid of condensation).

MicheH

Ooooh what a month. Thank goodness I signed up to energysmart so I can see my consumption whenever I like.. actually should have checked sooner! Spent £125 this month on gas :eek: £50 direct debit and £6 in credit so I owe £70, bummer as I never wanted to owe a penny in my life ever again but I suppose I can catch up.

I had the heating on low so when it got too cold the heating would kick in. It wasn't even swealtering, we were still in jumpers, dressing gowns and fleecy blankets, it only ever took the chill out of the air.

So, back to the drawing board. All radiator are off other than the living room one where we're sitting and that is on low, just for the chill really. It's so cold, unbelievably cold but we'll manage, It's only for another month or two eh.

Rads upstairs will go on tonight. I have put both the girls in one room to sleep (actually quite cute and they loved it) and their radiator is on low clicking on to rid the chill over night. I'm seeming to spend my day turning radiators up and down but at least I'm more prepared that last time.

I put up a track round the bay window in our room so curtains up there now and that helps a lot, girls have blankets over their curtains and two people in a small room has to be warmer. DH and I have hot water bottles galore and new dressing gown s for Xmas. I've lined the curtain (with a duvet cover lol) at the front door but it's so cold out there the effect is minimal. As long as the rooms were in are warm then result.

As for the warm front grant application I received a letter saying incomplete information but all they wanted in landlords address so we're right at the beginning of the process but at least if we qualify our house should be warmer next year.

Keep warm people and i'm off for another read of all the great advice throughout the thread, see if i've missed anything. Thank you!

curly04

Micheh I am so pleased its working out for you
dont worry about the £70 as in summer when you are paying the £50 DD and only using £20 of gas it will even its self out

x

MicheH

My worry is they'll call and say they want to put the direct debit up. We just havn't the money for it. Normally £50 a month is fine but this is a bigger, older house and yeah come March to October the gas usage is minimal so hopefully they'll give us the opportunity to build up a reserve in account so to speak.

Are utilities in charge of how much you have to pay direct debit, meaning if they call do you have to do as you're told and up the payments or is it simply a heavy handed request?

curly04

they are normally quite good - wont change it until after 12 months