Heating/ME/illness

7roland8

Hi - we have a large multi fuel log burner type heater that runs on coal and heats our water and central heating (its our own house).
I have ME, am 54 and on DLA mobility - hubby always did the fires (he's on incapacity benefit) - but he's had emergency op and still in hosp - when comes out he won't be able to do anything much - so the fire jobs fall on me. I find them way too exhausting and sat in a coat all day today as I couldn't relight the thing.
Just trying now at 8.30 as son brought more sticks and fire lgihters - but can't see this going on indefinitely.
Anyhow I was wondering if there was any scheme whereby we could change to oil or something?
My sister seems to know of people who have had this done - but its always someone else and never us!!

richard9991

7roland8 wrote: »

Hi - we have a large multi fuel log burner type heater that runs on coal and heats our water and central heating (its our own house).
I have ME, am 54 and on DLA mobility - hubby always did the fires (he's on incapacity benefit) - but he's had emergency op and still in hosp - when comes out he won't be able to do anything much - so the fire jobs fall on me. I find them way too exhausting and sat in a coat all day today as I couldn't relight the thing.
Just trying now at 8.30 as son brought more sticks and fire lgihters - but can't see this going on indefinitely.
Anyhow I was wondering if there was any scheme whereby we could change to oil or something?
My sister seems to know of people who have had this done - but its always someone else and never us!!

This link maybe of help
http://www.warmfront.co.uk/

7roland8

Thanks - that looks great - not sure if it would apply in Wales though - we tend to have stupid differences just to confuse - but its a good starting point to follow up - thank you.

Tiddlywinks

In the meantime.....

I used to have one of these coal fires and some coal would take an age to catch and I became a bit of an expert .

I used to use those white/cream coloured fire lighters (they smelt a bit like petrol) - the instructions used to recommend one or two but I went for four or five (lit up like a nuclear explosion sometimes ) and used some cardboard as kindling under the coal.

The choice of coal is also important - the bog standard really hard stuff is cheaper BUT is really tough to get going. Try asking your coal man for some of the coalite sort of fast burning stuff - it's pricier but better to get started. You can then feed the fire wth the cheaper stuff.

I know how depressing it is to let the thing go out and have to spend a long time crouched over, praying and swearing until it takes - I hope you sort things soon.

richard9991

7roland8 wrote: »

Thanks - that looks great - not sure if it would apply in Wales though - we tend to have stupid differences just to confuse - but its a good starting point to follow up - thank you.

ok here is the one for wales

http://www.heeswales.co.uk/

hvd201

Not an ideal answer, but have you thought about some storage heaters, the oil filled ones are great, warm up the room quickly and are turned on/off at the switch of a button. Not too expensive to buy and you might even be able to pick one up on eBay.

7roland8

Thanks for all your advice - will follow up and apply but in meantime am stocking up on firelighters and those sticks from garage!
Did think of plug in heaters but as our immersion out of action we'd have no hot water either (!) - didn't matter when fire in all the time and it saved money with boys wanting baths all the time!!
Anyhow got it going last night and fine now thanks - think the coal we get in the anthracite stuff - about £13-14 a bag.
Anyhow thanks all for chipping in - it was just one thing too mcuh yesterday!

TOBRUK

7roland8, I also have M.E. and on DLA. I applied to hees and received full grant - I had a new combi boiler (I had a very old boiler and hot water tank in the attic), had walls insulated and the attic was also insulated (topped up) and the old tank was removed, so it is worth applying.

7roland8

Thansk Tobruk - that all sounds very positive.
Cheers

TOBRUK

Well if I were you I would apply A.S.A.P as I have read somewhere very recently that 'warm front' is either ceasing and/or they are passing this on to energy suppliers - not sure about HEES.

They will arrange someone to come out to make an assessment and they will tell you what they recommend should be done and what you can have done.

Oldernotwiser

I don't really understand why you're having to relight your multifuel heater all the time. We used to have one of these and it's easy to keep them in overnight if you bank up with coal before going to bed - we only had to light ours if we were away for a few days.

Changing systems might obviously be a better bet in the long term as you both have physical problems and none of us is getting any younger!