Preparing for winter III

Confuzzled

saverholic wrote: »

I need your help peeps.

I'm due to move house on Monday, went to pick up the spare keys today and took the opportunity to have a nosy around again. The window in my bedroom is buckled and so you end up with quite a big gap.

Its really b***** noisy with traffic noise and I imagine could get quite cold. Any suggestions of how to block it up?


Thanks

the bubble wrap and fleece are good ideas, i have this same issue with warped wooden frames and what i have done was to buy weather stripping (foam draught excluder), the kind with a peel of backing and used a butter knife to poke it into the gaps. one area had to have a few stripes, some just the one, but that peels off easily with no damage to my wood framed sills and it works well without looking too bad.

don't know if this is the cheapest, just did a quick ebay search to give you an example, i bought a few rolls last year and have enough left for this winter too

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-DRAUGHT-EXCLUDER-WEATHER-STRIP-DRAFT-SEAL-DOOR-WINDOW-/390278227660?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Decorative_Accents_LE&hash=item5ade6526cc#ht_500wt_1066

just re read your post and i realise you also have an issue it not fully reaching the top, you may be able to use some spray foam insulator http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXPANDING-FOAM-FILLER-AEROSOL-GRADE-GAP-FILLING-INSULATING-SPRAY-BOND-IT-750ml-/150804478681?pt=UK_Crafts_Cardmaking_Scrapbooking_Glue_Tape_EH&hash=item231ca5bad9#ht_1890wt_1049 for example, i would recommend going into b &q etc, explaining your problem and asking if it would damage the frames if you were to carefully remove it when you leave

technically your landlord should fix a window situation like himself, however just moving in i can understand you don't want to upset the delicate relationship just yet. i have used spray foam before on wooden sills and have used a putty knife to carefully remove it in spring but i'd check with someone at the shop first (you can always come home and buy it off ebay later if it's cheaper) they should be able to tell you which would work best for your situation

Rainy-Days

Possession wrote: »

I'm sorry I must have missed this. There is a bed in there so will definitely pull it out. There's mildew/mould at the top of the blind, and a few spots on the ceiling. It comes off with mildew remover but eventually comes back. Mildew also grows on the upvc windows.

Get it pulled out, air the whole room off, find the mould spores and use a thick solution of bleach and hot water (use gloves to protect your hands) and leave the room well vented for about five or so hours (Sunday is forecast to be a good day with no rain and clear weather). Then if you can leave the window on vent (if you have that facility) but make sure you shut it and lock it if you are going out. Ideally the bleach will kill off the mould spores but if you have to put the bed back to the outside wall leave a good gap between bed head and wall for the air to circulate. Mine - touches wood - has not been back since so hopefully I have seen the back of it. You will also get it on a North facing wall or a wall that doesn't get sunlight. Kim and Aggie used this method on several house they did for How Clean Is Your House? so it's tried and tested especially by me.

As for this winter - I just don't know. All the signs were that last winter we were in for a bad one. It only came the last week of January and first week of February. Got to say those two weeks were cold, but on par with 2009 and 2010 winters it seemed a mere blip! Will it be a return this winter to 2009 and 2010 - I don't want to speculate. I went all out like a ruddy loon last year. OKay all the preps we did have lasted us well into this year and stuff like painting of the gates etc will not have to be done for a couple of years; but I did feel a bit plonkerish IYKWIM about telling everybody to get their acts together. I don't regret doing those preps - please don't get me wrong - but I felt kind of let down by so called experts who extolled the notion of a bad winter ahead, which is why I am more muted with my warnings this year.

Having said all of that, I am still going to be making sure that all the things that need to be done are and that in the event of a bad winter we are tickety boo, but without being smug into the bargain. My feeling is that we are probably going to at least have snow, how long and how prolonged it will last I just don't know. The one thing I have learned though is that you can never be too prepared, so even if we don't have a really harsh winter, you can still be able to sit back and know tat all the jobs you wanted done are done. Even if that means washing a few coats and scarves it makes it worth the while.

So, in conclusion, prepare for the worst; hope for the best. Just be prepared!

Ellie83

Confuzzled wrote: »

actually it works better for older stone buildings as it allows the stone to act as a thermal mass that builds up heat over the summer (ok maybe not THIS summer :rotfl:) and then continues to absorb the constant low heating and radiate it back into the home

if you allow the stone to go cold it radiates cold into the home!

well insulated homes only need top up heating as the insulation buffers the cold from outside whilst retaining heat to a degree from inside, depends on how high your R Values are

So what did I do wrong ast winter? Maybe it was just a lost case for us :rotfl:

darkrev

hey folks , long time no see xx
just wanted to give the heads up, Very have a sale in flannelette sheets, (see claribels post here) also.....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4070039

they are buy one get one free and click and collect means no postage so you can pay them a little at a time or outright according to your needs ,
also add a very treat street code for yourself for free

http://www.very.co.uk/web/en/treats.page

darkrev

Wee_Pilsbury wrote: »

Unxigirl, with no drying area, I spent almost 3 years in my current flat trying to find ways of drying washing without getting an evil tumble drier - I tried a dehimidifier, Dry Buddy thing and I even resorted to switching on the heating on days when really, it wasn't needed. I finally gave in last month and bought a tumble drier and it's heaven! I spent more money trying other methods than it would have cost to buy and run a drier!

Admittedly, I'm on my own so may not have as much washing and drying as many others but it's worth it for the joy of not having wet washing draped everywhere :T

Other benefits are no condensation or dampness - I dread to think how that would have impacted on my flat over the years.

So, tumble driers - not for everyone but maybe worth consideration in some circumstances.

have you thought of heated bathroom rail and if you have an airing cupboard using rails in there ? just a thot x we do that instead for cheapness

quintwins

i seen those sheets early but i'd forgotten about them thanks for reminding me, 2 sheets and a free lipstick for £5

bossymoo

Ellie83 wrote: »

Thanks, I will have to organise a trip there Do they do them for men as well? I would like to buy a pair for the husband.

I only looked at ladies ones.

karen_g

Not sure about preparing for winter...could do with getting stuff for next summer if its like this one...new wellies!

Pips_Mum

Thanks darkrev - I looked on ISME as I have an account with them and they have them in the sale too. Got 4 sheets for my little boys room, 4 for our room, 6 pillowcases, a double fleece matress protector and also a single fleece matress protector for £30 :T
Admitedly didnt mean to get 4 for each room, misunderstood and added 2 to basket but have since read that you only need to add 1 to get the 1 free, never mind for that price I dont mind and they will last me for forever!!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Really wanted the flannellette duvet cover sets, it said they were in stock but refused to let me add to my basket. Anyone else had the same problem?

Anyone wanting cheap umbrellas dotcomgifts has a great sale, these handbag umbrellas are £12.95 reduced to £1.29 :eek:
http://www.dotcomgiftshop.com/folding-umbrella-pinkwhite-spot?all=1&price=0-5&ctid=5187&pos=214

Oooh and 8% topcashback too!

Petlamb

In the ultimate 'prep for winter' - we should be moving! It's all under way at the moment, can't wait till everything's signed and we have the keys (rental to rental, so not a long wait).

How this is so significant for the winter is:

- it's a first floor, over retail, instead of a groundfloor. Yay for heat rising!
- they're perfectly fine with our calorgas heater (current place isn't).
- It's further into the city centre where roads/paths are gritted
- It's not at the bottom of a ridiculous hill. Which ices over.

Also, as we can decorate:
- CURTAINS

And
- it has a bath!