Can't afford oil, what options do we have?

Rikki

pineapple wrote: »

Yes I remember the days when it was not the norm to have central heating - frost on the inside of the bedroom windows! And only source of heating in the bathroom, one of those lights that gave off heat. Do they still do those? If you were really unfortunate, you had an outside privvy....
I have a great little solid fuel stove. Bank it up and it stays on all night. You can even use the top as a slow cooker if you have the right sort of pan. I try not to use my central heating too much. And I'm not above getting under a blanket with a hot water bottle, in the lounge, until it warms up.
Anyhow, with kids I would definitely go for oil filled radiators.

Yes. My parent's house still has that in the bathroom as the bathroom and toilet don't have radiators. Good job we only had two bath nights a week.
My parents had central heating put in, in the 80's. We used to get ready for bed downstairs in front of the fire and take a hot water bottle to bed. Still can't sleep in a hot bedroom.

barbie_babe

We have LPG gas and the last three winters i have been a student then most of this winter been unemployed.(got a new job now)
So gas bottles have been short in supply for us due to lack of money.
Our central heating hasnt been on for the last four years apart from the odd day.
We have a gas fire in front room that we heat downstairs with (open planned) and use oil filled in rads in the bedrooms. We have found this much cheaper than using the full heating system.
This would probably work for you.
Just make sure if your hot water is run by oil you stop using it now to save the oil for that reason only.

bobmedley

I sympathise with your predicament, but ensure you do not run the heating until the oil runs out as that may damage the boiler. Even if it didn't cause damage, it may necessitate an engineer visit to bleed the system to get it running again in the future.

slugger09

bobmedley wrote: »

I sympathise with your predicament, but ensure you do not run the heating until the oil runs out as that may damage the boiler. Even if it didn't cause damage, it may necessitate an engineer visit to bleed the system to get it running again in the future.

Been there a few times, I have now learned how to bleed it myself