Preparing for winter II

Eenymeeny

Confuzzled wrote: »

on a slightly off topic note may i say yay to me! i've been really worrying about an issue i've had with the washing machine in my rented flat causing leaking in my hall cupboard. to the letting agents credit they did have a plumber come out but he couldn't see that my machine should leak where it is (i can't either but it is!) i'd def narrowed it down to doing laundry not showers or washing dishes etc. despite me suggesting to the plumber that perhaps something was backing up the water forcing it the wrong direction he wasn't having any of it, though he did even check in the loft (the leak comse through a hole cut in the wall for pipes and collects on the cupboard floor)... anyway confusing and worrisome as winter is coming and troubled pipes are even worse news in winter!

anyway i'd curtailed my washing and had been really dreading calling them back in again when the thought occured to me that my sinks and tub had been really sluggish and foul smelling til i used caustic soda on them... so i thought, i bet i'm right about a clog backing the water up and forcing it around a seal in the pipe in that spot so i did a wash with just the caustic soda and no clothes.

after that wash it leaked much more than before, i actually had a puddle this time vs just a lot of dampness. that was about a week ago, i had to clean up the house and have my daughters birthday party etc and i was planning to call about it today. however i decided to sneak in a wash (desperate for clean clothes) and i just checked and it's not leaked!

my guess is that the caustic soda must have cleared part of the blockage during the initial wash with it and that forced more water through than normal. then sitting in the pipes for awhile and another wash must have cleared the pipes totally!

anyway i've got a second load on to test the theory... wish me luck, that would be one huge worry off my shoulders, i don't want pipes issues this winter and there are no laundrettes anywhere near here (at least 20 miles and i don't have a car!) so no washing machine is a no go for me, and i wasn't relishing them cutting up the walls in my flat to fix the problem!

Well done confuzzled! :beer: I like to sort these things out for myself too. Can I just check that it was caustic soda that you used, not washing soda? I'm a bit scared of using that stuff in the washing machine? (Have used it with great success down outside drains though:D):T

kochi1

mineallmine wrote: »

I'm now sleeping with a fleece blanket as well as the bed covers, do I care, nope! I'm warm as toast!

Know the feeling - put mine on the other night and soo do not want to get out of bed in the mornings!!

Athome1

twiglet98 wrote: »

Hi, do you mind if I ask the make/model and output of your stove? Lots of discussion on the Woodburning Stoves thread on the LPG and heating forum, I'm not at all sure when I'll be able to afford to replace my Rayburn open fire with a stove that has doors, but all recommendations are welcome!

Happy to oblige:) It's a Stovax Sheraton, model 7027. It was supplied and fitted by a small, independant guy who really knew what he was talking about. We had a quote from a big company but was put off by their lack of knowledge and they were so much more expensive! It is well worth shopping around, a friend of ours has just bought a second hand one and is helping the fitter with the chimney liner and general labouring and so has brought the cost right down. Good luck

jeffy22

Hello. its been great reading all your tips on here, i've been lurking for a few weeks now. I wonder could anyone help?
I live in a studio flat and have a very large single glazed bay window which lets all the heat out. Although my curtains are double lined, they hang on a rail about 4 inches off the wall so they let the heat escape around to sides and top. I've also heard of some plastic cling film type stuff that you can line your windows with. Its rented so obviously I don't want to do any damage. Thank you for any help.

caseystar

I've just found this thread and i'll be keeping my eye on it for all the great tips.

All i've done so far is put the warmer quilts on the beds and pulled out the fleecy throws for the sofa. I really need to get organised, last winter was terrible.

elona

We went to B and Q yesterday to get some wallpaper and paint samples and saw they had loft insulation topping at £3 a roll instead of £9.

We know the house we just bought needs more insulation in the loft (survey report) so talked DH into buying it while it was there as it disappears quickly once it is on display in the store. We could only fit 4 rolls at a time in the car, so had to make four trips to get about 16 rolls home . The garage is now full and DH not too chuffed but the saving of £102 was worth the hassle.

Electrician has just called to see about changing a power shower for an electric one as we are fed up of having heating on for ages for the sake of the shower, then DDs complaining hot water runs out etc. Everything seems to be expense just now but it should be worth it in the end and make the house warmer, more comfortable and easy to run.

Confuzzled

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Well done confuzzled! :beer: I like to sort these things out for myself too. Can I just check that it was caustic soda that you used, not washing soda? I'm a bit scared of using that stuff in the washing machine? (Have used it with great success down outside drains though:D):T

yes it was caustic soda... i figured it would be fine since when i searched for it online at asda it came up under drain cleaner EDIT: the bottle says 'homecare essentials drain cleaner with cautstic soda' so you may want to be sure of what you're using first i think i was confusing the laundry bit with washing soda so i remove that part of my post

i used about half a bottle of it. not all of it went down so i had to scoop it out of the tray in the end, next time i do it i'll be sure to have a cup of water and 'help' all of it go down by pouring a little water on it to ease it all into the machine

Justamum

Confuzzled wrote: »

i used about half a bottle of it. not all of it went down so i had to scoop it out of the tray in the end, next time i do it i'll be sure to have a cup of water and 'help' all of it go down by pouring a little water on it to ease it all into the machine

I would be very, very careful - wear gloves as it will burn, and have vinegar ready to neutralise it if you get it on your skin.

If you use a scoop of soda crystals in with your washing it should help prevent any future blockage.

littleowl

PLEASE take care with caustic soda!!! It is great as a drain cleaner and unblocker but beware - you can get nasty burns. After all it is what professional pine strippers use in their tanks. For unblocking drains tip some caustic soda (powder) down the drain and follow with boiling water - STAND BACK - it will bubble and can spit - don't hang over the drain. Also use rubber gloves and wear glasses. DO NOT ever add caustic soda to water - it must be the other way round.
I speak from experience having received nasty burns in the past using caustic to strip wood and not taking enough care.
I would have thought only washing soda (NOT caustic) should be used in a washing machine

Confuzzled

Justamum wrote: »

I would be very, very careful - wear gloves as it will burn, and have vinegar ready to neutralise it if you get it on your skin.

If you use a scoop of soda crystals in with your washing it should help prevent any future blockage.

oh no worries i wouldn't touch it! i cover my mouth and nose with my shirt whenever i use soda crystals or caustic soda, it's horrible stuff on the skin or in the nose/eyes

but good to point out to those that don't know that already! i think i will get some soda crystals for the wash, i've heard good things about them for clothing and you're right it should help resolve this. i get the sneaking suspicion that the last people in this flat were very hard on it, some of the muck i've found ewwww