Preparing for winter II

mardatha

Cnadles turn out quite a bit of heat.

bluebag

On cold but sunny days you can use a heatcatcher in any sunny window to help add to the heat of a room. I make them with a big sheet of cardboard, usually about half the window size. I cover one side of the card with a black bin bag( must be black) held on with selllotape and cover the other side with tinfoil.

Place in the window with the foil side facing into the room, it's surpising how hot the foil gets and how much heat it generates for pennies.

angelaloveschocolate

OMG Blue bag that is brilliant I'm defo gonna try this

[Deleted User]

I have a problem with osteo-arthritis and if I get too cold my joints seize up so I like to keep my little house as comfortable as possible during the winter.I have had the walls insulated and double thickness lining my loft plus I had a new boiler fitted several years ago.I have found that I only have my hot water on two hour timing every morning and switch my CH as and when I need it.for an hour at a time I have found this cuts down on the heating bill no end as once my house warms up it seems to stay warm for most of the day so an hour first thing in the morning then as and when if it gets too chilly.I have a small electic fire in my sitting room that I have only ever switched on twice in the past three years so my system seems to work o.k. I do shut my curtains as soon as its dusk and have a blanket that I knitted to go over my knees when watching t.v. thick PJs and fluffy socks and a good thick dressing gown complete my winter evening wardrobe . usually if there is not a lot on the box to watch I have an early night and have a read in bed snuggled up with my thick duvet.Last winter was a long one with all the snow and ice and my winter gas CH bill was only £125 which considering how cold it was I was very pleased with .Being a pensioner and having a walking impairment it means that when the snow and ice is around I don't get out much anyway as its too dangerous and a fall will only put me in hospital where I will clog up the system so I stay indoors in the warmth and saftey and watch everyone else wobbling about as they go past my window .At my age I don't bounce as well as I used to so common sense prevails.I have smashing neighbours and two DDs locally if I needed anything urgently I am a very lucky person in this respect.

lizzyb1812

Hi JackieO

Through trial and error I've found that I only need to have the water on for half an hour each day - enough for a quick shower and the washing up. Might need more if you bathe rather than showering. Oh, and it's just me here, would be different if there was more than one person

Lizzy

freudianslip

Anyone know where I can get a thick blanket, a blanket like I used to have on my bed as a kid. really heavy. (i remember it have a satin edging round it and was dark pink..... like that will help you get what I mean!lol)

I can only find fleeces right now. Could go with a thicker, bigger blanket.

Anyone know where to get tealights/candles cheap at the moment?

LittleBrownFrog

I find the best place for proper old-fashioned blankets is the charity shops -you need to keep your eyes peeled though & be patient. You can buy them new, but they're BIG money. My mil was baffled when I laid claim to all of her mother's blankets after she died - they were going to be thrown out:eek:

abaxas

LittleBrownFrog wrote: »

I find the best place for proper old-fashioned blankets is the charity shops -you need to keep your eyes peeled though & be patient. You can buy them new, but they're BIG money. My mil was baffled when I laid claim to all of her mother's blankets after she died - they were going to be thrown out:eek:

We got ours from ebay.

I'll not post an ebay link in the forum... but I can easily PM the seller.*

* who is a nice lass about 10 miles from us.

LittleBrownFrog

ooh - abaxas, please would you pm the details to me?

lilme

Hi all, i'm wondering if you can help me.

My boiler is in my garage and it got so cold last winter my pipes froze. This meant I had to turn my heating down low and keep it on 24/7 to keep it from happening again. My gas bills were £125 a month over the winter :eek: I was thinking about getting one of the 1kw panel heaters to put out there this winter but I as they don't give off much heat I was wondering if it would be a waste of time or do you think it would help keep the temperature above freezing. I don't need it to be warm out there just warm enough to stop the pipes freezing again. Any advice would be much appreciated