Preparing for winter II

NualaBuala

Will look into those, hadn't considered them. Have horrid memories of an old gas fire but I'm sure they are better. I don't drive so getting gas might be a nuisance though. If it's dear, I won't bother as this is just a short term measure.

bluebag

NualaBuala wrote: »

Will look into those, hadn't considered them. Have horrid memories of an old gas fire but I'm sure they are better. I don't drive so getting gas might be a nuisance though. If it's dear, I won't bother as this is just a short term measure.

I found an oil filled radiator to be excellent when my central heating was being replaced. They do take a little while to warm up but then the thermostat turns it on and off to keep the temperature level.

I know they do them with thermostats and timers if you wish to go to a little more expense.

My mum uses a small one all winter to keep condensation at bay in her small conservatory.

The running costs are the same for all electric heaters, but the thermostatic control means it isn't on all the time.
Just make sure you choose the right size one for the area you are heating, most have three heat settings so it would be better to get one a little more powerful and turn it down.

I still have it, just in case.

shegar

NualaBuala wrote: »

Will look into those, hadn't considered them. Have horrid memories of an old gas fire but I'm sure they are better. I don't drive so getting gas might be a nuisance though. If it's dear, I won't bother as this is just a short term measure.

Well they are approx £85 to buy, some companies deliver the gas, and you can have them on 1.2.an 3 bars depending how much heat you want, like the other member said they do cause condensation, my son have his small window about 2 inches open when fire is lit, he gets dry throat with it..........but they soon warm a room up,

NualaBuala

Thank you folks! :A I used to have an oil filled rad but gave it away to my sister and can't borrow it back cos she broke it! it did the job just fine. A possible drawback for that or the gas heater is portability ... the advantage with a convector is I could easily bring it upstairs if need be. My oil rad one was pretty heavy I remember! But how often would I need to move it ... hmmm, not sure. I think I will have to revert to my favourite decision making method and make a list of pros and cons.:)

muffin_man_7

NuaBualala there is an oil heater for half price2kw til 23 nov 415/2277 £27.49 or convector one is on offer til 7 dec 415/2198 £17.99 with timer and thermostat thats cheaper than the basic one hope that helps

bluebag

NualaBuala wrote: »

Thank you folks! :A I used to have an oil filled rad but gave it away to my sister and can't borrow it back cos she broke it! it did the job just fine. A possible drawback for that or the gas heater is portability ... the advantage with a convector is I could easily bring it upstairs if need be. My oil rad one was pretty heavy I remember! But how often would I need to move it ... hmmm, not sure. I think I will have to revert to my favourite decision making method and make a list of pros and cons.:)

I find a coin toss very effective and far faster.LOL:)

The gas bottles on the portable gas one's are very heavy.

alice-mary

I don't often post but am a regular LURKER, reading and absorbing as many of the tips as possible! As a result, last weekend I finally blocked the gaps around the pipes in my bathroom (its an extension onto the back of the kitchen so is a one storey, flat roofed ice box with 3 exterior walls...brrrrr), put some foil behind the radiator and some old pillows underneath the bath, behind the bath panel! I also finally fitted some carpet tiles to take the chill off the floor and this morning was so much warmer, in spite of the heavy frost outside... the only thing to complain about is the cold toilet seat!

This evening I also pegged an old, thin single quilt to the existing net curtains in the kitchen as there are no curtains or blinds in there. It doesn't look pretty but as this is a victorian terraced house, the only person apart from me who will see this is my neighbour.... if he is hanging out of his bedroom window! It is dark when I leave home in the morning AND when I get home at night so I don't have to worry about it blocking out any sunshine (if there is any at all) either! I use a coal fire for a couple of hours in the evening and have the radiator thermostat set to come on if the temp drops below 10 degrees... very low I know but I live by myself and make use of hot water bottles, fleece blankets and lots of layers etc so am only worried about stopping the pipes freezing. Having said that, the heating DID click on for about half an hour at about 7pm so I think I will be scaping the car again in the morning! Keep the tips coming, I'm sure that like me, many, many people read and learn from them all, even if we don't post about what we have done or plan to do! Thanks to everyone who has inspired me to make the small changes that make a HUGE difference!

Alice
xxxx

NualaBuala

Thanks a mill Muffin Man, will check those out.

bluebag wrote: »

I find a coin toss very effective and far faster.LOL:)

The gas bottles on the portable gas one's are very heavy.

My sister and I tease each other about decision-making: I'm a lister and she's a coin !!!!!!!
I suspected as much about hte gas heaters - that is going on the Cons list!

Alice-Mary, welcome out of lurkdom!

mystra

oooh this chilliness has really kicked in at our flat!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

We don't have central heating, just those stupid electric ones - they're fine in the bedroom but our problem is our living room

We live in a rented flat, the living room is upstairs (the only room up there) and it is huge with a high ceiling, 2 windows at normal level (one facing the front, the other faces the back) and they are so draughty! They're double glazed but we have to block up the little gaps with parcel tape . Then we have 6 massive windows in the 'roof' (sorry i'm explaining this hopelessly!) we can't reach them and they are very draughty (you can see the blinds moving!). We have one heater thing in there and it does nothing as the room is so big and would take forever to heat up (but it doesn't because of the draughts!) and there isn't a door for the room either you just go from the hallway, up the stairs and there's the living room!

The short of it is....we're bloody freezing! Even with layers on and lovely snuggly blankets and hot water bottles, our faces are ice cold!

Does anyone have any ideas or tips? We're forever asking the letting agents to look at the windows and they keep saying they've been and nothings ever any different either

Eenymeeny

Sorry I can't offer any practical advice Mystra except keep nagging those landlords! I've read on here of people hanging quilts etc on the walls, would that help? Maybe dividing spaces up so you can warm one area? My sister moves into her kitchen in the winter (low ceiling) as she has a mezzanine floor, (lovely in summer, but draughty in winter) and hangs long curtains wherever she can, puts big rugs out, fur-type throws on her chilly leather suite. She lives in a Mediterranean country by the way but those tiles etc can be very cold in winter.
Welcome Alice-Mary I know that I've found this thread so helpful too. I suffer from 'coldtoiletseat' too and have taken to lighting a night light in a lantern if it's a really frosty night! Might help prevent frozen pipes...:)