Preparing for winter II

[Deleted User]

well done chillout, that is impressive. Sorry about the RA,

re parafin heater, I wouldn`t do it as you have now got your home warm and cosy. Paraffin gives out a lot of water vapour and the last thing you could be doing with is dampness, you need dry for your joints. What about one of those very small electric skirting board heaters or even a portable electric one on low?

I used to have 2 knitting machines, wow they were fab. that is a brilliant new hobby.

dandy-candy

A paraffin heater will still give off carbon monoxide so you will need ventilation in the room (a window partly open) so it might not be the best option.

bluebag

Instead of a paraffin heater...
A small oil filled radiator with a thermostat would heat the room a 600w minii one would cost 6p an hour to run on high. They do have to be on for some time to bring the room to temperature and most have a thermostat and cut out once the room is warm enough and come back on when the temperature drops again.

A halogen heater heats the person and any objects in the room, they are a direct radiant heat and don't usually have a thermostat . Each panel on a halogen is usually 400w costs about 4p a hour, (two or three panels would be 8p or) 12p, they come in two or three panel models and can be bought quite cheaply.

This presumes electricity at 10p per Kwh, you would need to check your electricity tariff.

whiteguineapig

i have bought a snow shovel, after 2 winters with snow and no shovel i have invested lol

Chillout5892

bluebag wrote: »

Instead of a paraffin heater...

Each panel on a halogen is usually 400w costs about 4p a hour, (two or three panels would be 8p or) 12p, they come in two or three panel models and can be bought quite cheaply.

This presumes electricity at 10p per Kwh, you would need to check your electricity tariff.

Hey you guys, THANKS AGAIN.

I didn't realise paraffin heaters gave off fumes, vapor, etc. We all had them at home in our bedrooms, back in the 60s when ch was an expensive luxury. It seemed like a good idea as I was used to using them, (proved by the lace effect scar on my bottom when I backed onto one of the victorian style tower ones with a cut ironwork top!)

I hadn't considered halogen heaters at all! Didn't realise they were so cheap to buy, or run. For the life of me I can't figure out how much my leccy costs as Eon have this strange double tariff that's so much for one lot I use and than another price for the rest and for the life of me I can't figure out when I'm using which. I've asked and I'm baffled by their answers. Gas is even more confusing, why they don't just have a price for a therm I don't know.

One of the real benefits of this site is sometimes, just typing out a message is a bit like talking through a problem with someone else and the process itself can reveal options that wouldn't have materialised if you just think about it in an unfocused way. Well I know what I mean. But getting sensible feedback is brilliant for someone who lives alone, as I do.

Thanks again, I'm very grateful.

bramble1

whiteguineapig wrote: »

i have bought a snow shovel, after 2 winters with snow and no shovel i have invested lol

Now we'll get no snow!!

Kitchenbunny

On a shopping related note, I'm buying seasonal local produce while it is cheapest and freezing it so I can have a taste of it when there's less vegetables about. Likewise, I'm getting a couple of extra tins in per week as stores, and have set them aside. I'm getting a couple of jars of jam in and will add a couple of tins of rice pudding to the list as there's good comfort value to eating a hot pudding that's very quickly reheated (and can be done on a camping stove if the power goes). I've set aside a cupboard for tinned goods and got in quite a stock of rice and pasta when it was on offer at 49p and 9p respectively. I think it's back up to full price again (78p and 28p, I think - this is the Value stuff at Mr M) so I had a teeny smug moment.

Also, for anyone feeling a bit crafty, I was thinking of using old or cheapo pillowcases sewn shut to make my small curtains for the kitchen and bathroom. I didn't get around to it last year and mean to this year as the kitchen is the coldest place in the house when winter arrives. And split in half and stuffed for draught excluders! I was listening to Martin Lewis on BBC Radio 2 this afternoon and it really renewed my sense of "let's get ready for winter!" I am thinking of investing in an LED bulb for our outside light to keep running costs to a minimum.

KB xx

jamanda

Kitchenbunny, if your windows are small enough to use pillowcases, why don't you insert something between the layers to interline them to keep you warm (assuming you weren't already thinking of doing it).

Kitchenbunny

I think I will - thanks, Jamanda! There are 2 small windows - one in my kitchen and the other in the bathroom and they're really not that big at all. A pillowcase with some unrolled cotton wool or some fleece would be perfect, I think. Thank you very much for the tip!

KB xx

LittleBrownFrog

Check your charity shops for old blankets - you might find a damaged/stained one that could be cut up to go inside your pillowcase?