Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

Imelda

Hi all,

I have loved this thread and have taken some tips on board, no heating on as yet (aim: 8th November- I am away with work for the week before). How is everyone else doing?

SeldomSensible

I'm not happy - have succumbed and put the heating on the last couple of nights - but only for an hour or two to take the chill away - my double glazing is appalling and the house gets quite draughty.

Must make a trip to Wilkinsons and get some more draught excluders!

EagerLearner

I'm still managing with no heat - nightlights in the living room add extra warmth and atmosphere, then later double-whammy of fluffy waterbottle & husband!

freakshadow4

Prudent wrote:

My house was like that when I bought it. Improving the loft insulation made a massive differnece as did bleeding the radiators. I hope you find a solutions because its just so miserable being cold. I used to go out for long brisk walks to warm up!

Apologies if this has already been posted - I don't have time to plough through all 11 pages in my lunch hour!

Have thermostatic valves fitted to your radiators - they keep the temperature from going up too high, just don't use them in the same room as the thermostat! They're a few quid to buy, sp I'm not sure what the payback period would be, but I suppose you could do it on a rolling programme if necessary.

Bleeding the radiators works if the radiator is hot zones at the bottom but cold at the top. If your radiator is hot at the top but cold at the bottom, the water might be whooshing through too fast, so try slowing the flowrate using the knob at the other end from the thermostatic / temperature valve. You might have to use pliers for this bit. You might also have to experiment to find the sweet spot - I started by closing the valve, then counting the number of turns it took to open fully, then back tracked halfway.

It really helped for my radiators!

I'm not a plumber though, so don't take this as gospel!

newleaf

No heating on here yet! Today's actually a really lovely day, very sunny and my laundry is out there making the most of the opportunity!
I haven't felt cold at all yet, so I'm quite confident about making it to at least 1st November.
I have put the 'winter' duvet on the bed this morning though, at OH's request.

nicki_2

I'm trying to resist but my OH keeps complaining that it's too cold and puts heaters on or the gasfire. I've told him to layer up instead.

The problem we have is our house is damp and regularly has mould/mildew on the walls upstairs, especially in the bathroom. Airing the rooms works to some extent, but the windows need to be left open for a couple of hours which then makes it cold! If I have washing to dry as well I need to have the heaters on to get the stuff dry as quickly as possible so as not to encourage the mould/mildew so I end up with the windows open a bit for ventilation and the heaters on the lowest setting. Even then the house can get too damp and I have to go around with a bottle of bleach to get rid of stuff.

Last night I lit quite a few candles I have and watched TV by them. My OH sat in his dressing gown and PJ's so he was happy as well. Not had a bill from Powergen yet so I'm not looking forward to the bill since the meters were read on the 11th.

buxtonrabbitgreen

not feeling too cold yet. In fact I have only just shut the window. i think we have been very lucky with the temperature so far this year. Though I have started wearing socks and found my slippers, I much prefer bare feet, but not cold feet.

pollys

No heating here yet, but I did wear socks in bed last night, I cannot cope with cold feet. Husband has been working away this week though and he feels the cold much more than me, bet the gasfire goes on when he comes back.

Annie021063

No heating for me. Have resorted to socks in bed and a long sleeve top downstairs in evening though.
Where can I get the cheapest hot water bottles from?

sammy_kaye18

Annie - poundland did have some nice ones in and they had the covers -thats where i had mine from eitehr that or wilkinsons i guess - they are always pretty good.

Am startign to prepare myself now as it looks like the house move will be goign ahead before Xmas - both forms have been handed in, so it should be 2 weeks form today that we should have been visited by housing officer, and then they have 42 days to make up their mind if we can or cant swap which should take us to the 13th December so it might be a last minute move before Xmas. Just praygin we can get in there then adn start a new year , new hosue, new start (debts being paid off now - yey!) so we should all be happy