Mother in law and radiators

gillia

My MIL has just moved in and she is driving me crazy with turning up the radiators.

Whenever the radiator cools down because of the thermostatic valve she turns it up because she thinks it is broken.

To her, if the radiator is not hot the heating is broken.

Our gas bill has shot up and when we come home the house is like a hothouse and the windows are open because my MIL is too warm because the radiators are on all the time.

We cannot get her to understand that the radiators are meant to cool down and heat up.

She never had central heating it was a coal fire then a gas fire so there was always a source of heat.

Our heating is from a back boiler, luckily the gas fire has been disconnected or she would have that on as well.

There is no room thermostat, the heating is controlled by thermostats on the radiators and has worked OK for us for the past 10 years, then she comes to stay.

The only other control is a mechanical time clock with segments to control the on/off times.

Any suggestions?

nick74

gillia wrote: »

Any suggestions?

Put her in a home ?

You have my sympathy. For years I shared an office with someone who also failed to understand the concept of thermostatic valves. He would complain it was too hot in the afternoon, turn the valves completely to the off position and open the windows. The following morning he would come in, complain it was cold (as the rads were still off from the previous day) and turn the valves up to 5. By the afternoon he was too hot again, so would turn the valves back to off, and open the windows........this process was repeated every day, every winter, for several years. My explaining how TRVs worked did no good, he just couldn't get it. If I turned the valves to a more sensible setting I would find that next time I left the room he would turn them to off or 5 again while I was gone :mad:

geri1965_2

Why is she living with you? Does she pay rent? If not, I think I would be inclined to tell her that since she is costing you extra money, you would like to be reinbursed the extra heating costs!

gillia

Why is she living with you? Does she pay rent? If not, I think I would be inclined to tell her that since she is costing you extra money, you would like to be reinbursed the extra heating costs!

Not very helpful reply is it?

Evidently you don't have a widowed MIL who has no money and no where to go.

Put her in a home ?

Don't think I haven't tried.

I'm working on it.

I'm trying to palm her off on to another SIL but need a reason for her to go there, then forget to take her back

victor2

Given that you can't educate her in the workings of the heating system, could you install a wireless room thermostat and have a master control of the boiler that way? If the sensor was hidden away, it would at least give you some sort of control, plus being wireless you could move it around if necessary.

shegar

Well at least she will get the WFP, so she can give it to you to help pay your huge bill....:D

Owain_Moneysaver

gillia wrote: »

My MIL has just moved in and she is driving me crazy with turning up the radiators.

You can get lockable/tamperproof TRVs.

pinkmami

Poor you! My MIL (sadly passed away a few weeks ago) was like this! Radiators on all day every day even in the summer, gas fire on all day every day - again in the sumer cos "I like to see the flames".....her fuel bil was horrendous. She just didn't understand the concept of a thermostat! We just gave up in the end & left her to do what she wanted. Difference here is she lived in her own home & you have her with you.

I don't have any advice but I hope you sort it out soon. You're not alone! x

Pincher

Max/Min Alarm Thermometer

£8.99 inc VAT

http://www.tomsgadgets.com/products/details.aspx?pc=FF210-52

gillia

Max/Min Alarm Thermometer

That wouldn't help.

If the radiator is cold it is broken, therefore she turns it up.

She even figured out how to turn the boiler on continuously even although it was on timed.
Anyway the problem might soon be solved,:j one of her daughters might take her in as she is always moaning that I don't like her staying (true) and her beloved son is also complaining that she is nagging him all the time.

She was only supposed to stay a few weeks anyway.

mbga9pgf

Turn the main gas valve off when you go out and buy her a jumper. Tell her CH only goes back on when she learns to behave or is paying the bills.

Would it wouk out cheaper to ship her off to a home?