Preparing for winter III

ExTrolly101

Wonder if someone could advise me please? It was mentioned about pipe insulation, I have recently had fitted a new boiler and the pipe runs on the outside of the house I know that many people have had problems with the condensing pipe freezing up, when it was fitted the guys told me just to run a kettle full of boiled water over it. Would it be better to insulate it first to hopefully prevent rather than act after the problem has occured? Thank you in anticipation.

Fruball

toottifrootti wrote: »

thats great - I like them because they are so safe - I decided to turn mine just a little while it was on and the moment the little sensor button thingy on the base wasnt in contact with the floor it cut out - brilliant - so you know if it is knocked over it will have cut out before it hits the ground!! I am glad puppy dog likes it - thats the important one - he cant go and put on an extra sweater:rotfl:

off shopping [STRIKE]tomorrow[/STRIKE] today for boots and a longer jacket/coat for when I am on my wheelchair as I found it quite cold this last couple if days.

Oh really? This dog seems to think differently



Poor thing looks really embarrassed! (actually, more humiliated and ashamed tbh)

prepareathome

Frugal wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


Why the chalk type of litter?

I heard about this many years ago and so actually put it to the test oh about 20 odd years ago, as the house we lived in then only had one toilet, only house that did and never again, and it started to leak by the floor so had to turn the water off to it and of course could not pour water down, so as I had this idea written down from some library book I used it until we could get a plumber, was over Christmas holidays so we must have used this for about 4 days and it worked brilliantly, at that time we did have a cat so had plenty of litter, now no cats just dogs so I have cat litter in just for this emergency. -

I forgot to say plastic bags to line the bucket. Then you add the cat litter and I found the chalky type is much better at stopping smells - you put some in bucket ( that is lined ) then when it gets wet you can either scoop it and put in dodgy poop bag, or if bags in short supply just add fresh litter on top, it will not smell, but I found the woody type cat litter does smell and doesn't clump as well, falls to bit. For anything solid of course you do scoop out and put in bag.

When you think about it, those that have cats you do not put down fresh litter every day, you scoop it out, and no smells, but you do not need to buy the most expensive, cheap chalky will do.

It sounds awful but basically no worse that when you visit places abroad.

Bucket can be any type that fits inside toilet, its only to hold the cat litter, just remember to line it so that bag can be removed tied up and thrown away. You can easily see ( and smell) when its time to do this, for one person up to a week, for a family might be daily.

I know its laughable but it made life so much easier for us - there were 5 of us at the time, now just hubby and me. Kids did go yuk I am not using that, but as there was no where else for them to go short of asking neighbours to use theirs, which they found even more embarrassing they soon got used to it.:D

prepareathome

All this talk of pipes reminds me I have still not protected outside tap, cannot switch water off to it as need to water new hedges when they arrive every week if it stays dry, even if freezing, so as its nice today will move myself, been so busy reading posts here since 8.30am that apart from opening back gate for guy who cuts my grass ( hoping its the last cut but can still see me paying out another £35 in a fortnight) I have done zilch.

About if it snows, remember snow is a great insulator so if you home is surrounded by it, it will help keep it warm. Snow on my roof last year lasted longer than anyone else's by me so guess loft is well insulated, but if any pipes up there freeze they freeze as cannot get up there now, but had water tank cut off from main house a few years ago as wanted fresh water in bathroom and emptied so no water should be flowing up there. Outlet for combi boiler in wall should be ok unless it breaks down as heat will be coming out of it a lot - if very cold we leave thermostat on 16 at night for dogs and bathroom trips. Last year we never usually went above 21 ( I think we did put it up a bit higher a few times if there were strong cold winds), and that was coldest days usually high for us is 20 - hubby when he complains of cold is usually sitting in short sleeves so he is told not to touch thermostat and put on a fleece ( he loathes jumpers).

Bedrooms radiators usually stay on frost protection except maybe for an hour or so before bedtime for hubby and if I am stuck up stairs mainly in bed but can sit up, so will if really, cold put radiator up a bit, but then it gets stuffy so open a window, so defeats object of warming me up.

Hubby has put his winter duvet on his bed and last night I throw my light quilted throw over my summer one as had window open and cold air was coming in but couldn't bare not having it open, kept me warm anyway.


I found when we had CH fitted 2 1/2 years ago my energy bills took a nose dive after just having gas fire down stairs and electric heater upstairs, still paying less now even with price increases, but of course not got that cold yet, so waiting to see what the costs are now.

In case anyone is nosy - hubby and I in separate bedrooms now as I spend so much time upstairs and up a lot during night and hurts to much to sit on chairs rather than propped up on bed, and I was disturbing him so much and very often he has to be up at 5.50am for work so he moved into small bedroom, now our big room is my living room, bedroom and everything in between, have just about everything I would want - apart from cooking facilities - in here did invest in a teasmade, for me safer than a kettle as hands tend to do their own thing now and again. Dogs still share my room and bed, room is crammed with furniture with all my bits and bobs now, am sitting in bed at moment with dressing gown on and light quilt over my feet as still have window open but sun has gone in and its getting colder but nice and snug. Hoping this winter I will not feel as shut in, in the room as have past 4 as always more bedridden in the winter for some reason, but now all bits in here including emergency supplies in case of power cut.

Today also must copy some audio books to cd in case of powercut and mp3 player runs out and also copy music for hubby, although have done most of his now. I buy audio books as mp3s.

Right jeepers where has past two hours gone, better get a move on.

Stay warm

Spiggle

Hello,

I just wanted to say what an interesting and inspiring thread this is. First time I've looked through and I've picked up some tips and added a couple of things to my list e.g. fuses, for when I pop out soon. I just wanted to say thank you, excellent thread.

All the best,
Spigs

System

Ive never had one before but i am on the hunt for a bedspread to go over my quilt. Last year i resorted to wearing almost as many clothes in bed as i wear during the day. My electric blanket broke the year before last and i really missed it last winter but i'm determined not to replace it.

prepareathome

Judi wrote: »

I bedspread to go over my quilt. .

Try BM if you have one near you, that is where I got mine about 2 months ago and was about £10. Its technically a very light weight quilt -having 3 layers, but perfect over the bed, looks good, and handy to pull up over main duvet, last night it just added the extra bit of warmth I needed with summer duvet.

:j

shirleymarye

This thought came to me this morning,if for any reason I couldn't get out due to illness or poor weather (snow) and some one offered to get some food in for me or my fur babies I probably wouldn't have any cash on me! I usually pay by card everywhere so I have resolved to keep at least £50 in my house for emergencies!

System

Excuse my ignorance but BM?

shirleymarye

Judi wrote: »

Ive never had one before but i am on the hunt for a bedspread to go over my quilt. Last year i resorted to wearing almost as many clothes in bed as i wear during the day. My electric blanket broke the year before last and i really missed it last winter but i'm determined not to replace it.

I saw one in a charity shop the other week for £7 and it was beautiful,black and silver, I didn't buy it as I thought my fur babies would rip it to shreds once on the bed! Wish I had bought it now as at that price it wouldn't have mattered would it? I am still using a 4.5 tog duvet,my flat is very warm,I often wake up and the duvet has been chucked off! I used this 4.5 duvet through last winter as well so just washed it and put it back on the bed for this year,if it does get really cold I have a large 10.5 tog I can use instead.