No hot water - tips for living with it until the boiler is fixed

Tiddlywinks

The boiler broke down yesterday (why oh why did it have to do that to me on a bank holiday:mad:) and we are now without hot water.

Realistically the repair or replacement is going to take a while (I haven't even been able to find someone to have a look yet because it's the "holidays") and so I'd be grateful if anyone had any helpful top tips on how to manage best without the luxury of hot water on tap.

Yes, I know people in other countries do it all the time and it has made me appreciate it all the more BUT I'm essentially an idle pup and would like some advice on the easiest methods for coping - in the meantime I'm boiling the kettle and using pans on the stove.....

u_r

ha ha-we in a similar but better situation.since end of last winter season we are with out central heating.has been cold last few days. and hot is sort of part time.decides to go whenver feels like!!!!!!!!

having no hot watert all a is dificult, but like u said billions do it around the world.u're alreadu boiling the kettle and using pans so........waht can i suggest.

if u are not tooo tight on money.....for eating use disposables, when u do wash up, fill the sink with hot water boiled in kettle and soak the dishes in that with washing liquid, then i am afraid cold water to rinse, wear gloves to reduce the cold!!.
guess the washing machine does not mind using cold water.

thats all i can think of the momemnt

Lube

Your doing all you can using kettle and pans

I use to take pan of hot water to sink in bathroom and put cold water in first then gentle pour hot water in until desired temperature

Its fine for a few days but obviously no good for bathing and full body wash

C_Mababejive

This is why combi boilers are a bad idea. I cannot understand why they have become so popular.

Far better to have a high efficiency system boiler and if you can run to it, a pressurised HW storage vessel with an immersion heater.

ailuro2

Once you have used the water in the pans if there is any left over pop it in a thermos flask, or stick the lid on, it will help to keep the cost of heating more water down.

The kettle is quicker for heating just a bit of water.

Keep lids on the pans, or stick a baking tray over them, it keeps the heat in and uses less fuel to heat the water.

Leave pots and pans of water to sit in the sun to heat up a bit rather than using cold water straight from the tap, room temperature water will heat in less time than cold from the tap.


We have an electric shower for this reason - if one goes then the other means we can still get washed.
check out your local swimming - do they have any offers on for cheap swims - take your shampoo with you, and your shower gel!;)

Oh, and take abasin of water into the bath and have a wash with that, then use it to wash your hair. Rinse your hair with cold water, it will give it a lovely shine.

Tiddlywinks

C_Mababejive wrote: »

This is why combi boilers are a bad idea. I cannot understand why they have become so popular.

Far better to have a high efficiency system boiler and if you can run to it, a pressurised HW storage vessel with an immersion heater.

In my old house the water heater had a booster switch that allowed it to be used without the boiler - unfortunately I don't have this option now.

Even the shower requires a feed from the hot water tank so I had to use cold to wash my hair and then a couple of large buckets (from the kettle) and a scoop to "shower" - if all else fails we'll be off to my mum every day for a shower on the way to work - and that will be hell :rotfl:.

To add insult to injury, it's now getting a bit cold as well........

LittleMissAspie

When I lived at home my parents were on holiday once and their boiler broke so I was nearly a week without hot water. Luckily it was summer. The only thing you NEED hot water for is the washing up and you can boil the kettle for that. After a couple of goes at trying to fill the bath to a decent level with water from saucepans/kettle, I gave up and just had a cold shower every day. You get used to it. Start by standing away from the stream and splashing bits of water on yourself and gradually acclimatise your skin so you can stand under the water. You don't need hot water to wash your hands or face so it's really only the showering once a day that you have to do.

gas4you

I'm surprised you haven't been able to find someone to come out and look at it.

I've been available to my customers, especially yesterday, after all it was only a saturday.

It may be something simple that doen't need parts.

aboard_epsilon

for a bloke a cold shower can be very painful.

all the best.markj

Canucklehead

Hi,

Do you have a combi boiler or a boiler and cylinder arrangement?

What leads you to believe that it's terminal ?




GSR.

Tiddlywinks

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi,

Do you have a combi boiler or a boiler and cylinder arrangement?

What leads you to believe that it's terminal ?

It's a combi and made by Potterton - apparently that's bad. It was last repaired (new PCB) in 2008 and is the original boiler from when the house was built around very late 90's.

It's probably got to the point where it's better to replace rather than try to resuscitate it but I'll know more when I can get hold of a tradesman.