Is your heating ON or OFF?

Unity

zarazara wrote: »

re scrap wood and old trees. remember the wood needs to be seasoned before its used as it will affect the chimney and /or chimney liner and its very expensive to have a chimney re-lined, £800 to £1000.
So its best to collect the wood, store it somewhere dry for 12 months then burn it. also dont burn painted or treated timber as that released carcinogens into the atmosphere.

We always store ours in a dry place for at least 18 months to be on the safe side and at the end of every wood burning season we use the CCL (Chimney Cleaning Log) to clear any creosote build up - which is compatible with all flue pipes, masonry chimneys and catalytic converters. It's worthwhile also noting that it isn't always necessary or preferable to install a chimney liner (depending on the chimney).

Two particular types of wood that should not be burned are decking and roofing lathes as these are treated with preservative sometimes containing arsenic :eek:.

Raspberry_Swirl

our bills are half yearly now instead of quarterly so we won't get a meter reading done till April.

Unity

fedupandskint wrote: »

The thread and board inspired me to keep the heating off as long as I could on some of the v.cold days we have expereinced. My gas bill came in a bit less than I expected, probably about a tenner under but it is the next quarter's bill which is usually the higher one for me.

I wish I could afford to have a wood burning stove in the lounge and I would switch off the radiator in there. I have only used my gas fire once as it is rubbish and I can't feel any heat from it and watch the flames go up the chimney!

You might possibly find some reconditioned stoves available if you search around a little - especially once spring is here. You may even (if you are very lucky) find one on Freecycle if someone is doing a complete renovation and if it is only for the one room, you can probably get away with a very small one - hence less cost.

The good news is that the first companies have started decreasing their prices for fuel this week, so hopefully it should continue.

Good luck for the next quarter and pray for an early, warm, spring :easter:

Olliebeak

Not sure where we stand at the moment, it's the next quarter that I'm really concerned about though I have been far more careful this year than last. The thermostat has been set at 21C ever since the heating was switched on during October - I tried my best to hold out to Nov but it wasn't to be!

We have an open-plan living room with a front-door that opens directly into it. Upstairs never feels cold even though we don't use the rads up there at all. I keep taking a peek at the room indicator and it's usually around 18C even tho the thermo is set at 21 - bet that's to do with the staircase funneling the heat upwards!

rockie4

We had our gas bill and half yearly review form EDF yesterday.:j

I was pleased to see that my DD is to be reduced by £12 a month (from £49 to £37) and they put a graph thing on there which shows I used quite a bit less gas this last quarter compared to the same quarter last year

Unity

rockie4 wrote: »

We had our gas bill and half yearly review form EDF yesterday.:j

I was pleased to see that my DD is to be reduced by £12 a month (from £49 to £37) and they put a graph thing on there which shows I used quite a bit less gas this last quarter compared to the same quarter last year

Crumbs that's excellent! Well done Rockie4 :T:T:T - have you been really cold, or have you used alternative heating? I'm always interested to know how others manage the cold as it's something I live in fear of :eek:. I'm sure I was probably left out on the ice to expire in a previous life :rolleyes:.

spugzbunny

Following from the wonderful 'how many of you have turned your heating on' thread ... how many have turned it off again? I have been sneakily reducing my timer when nobody is looking but it is still coming on for an hour and a bit in the morning and 2 in the evening. I'd personally like to turn it off now but I live in shared house! TBH I could live without it all together!

When do you guys plan/hope to have it off again?

(original thread located: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=276410&highlight=how+many+of+you+heating)

Barneysmom

No - you scared me then - how brave you are

I'm such a wuss mine probably won't go off till at least March.
I'll go and have a look though and take half an hour off the timer. Oh dear me this is hard

spugzbunny

My friends call me Don Spug - the mafiosa of heating! My motto is - you are not cold until you feel it through your vest, your t shirt, your jumper and a blanket!

nesssie1702

I've turned it down, but not off just yet! It's just a little bit too early for that, plus where I live I'd probably end up with damp problems if the house isn't getting some degree of heat.