Preparing for winter III

Rose_Crow

Welcome to all newbies!

Bella - It largely depends on where you live, and your circumstances. We're all very different on here for example I live in a newish house in north Essex - relatively tame weather compared to what the guys have to put up with in Scotland. However I have horses which take require quite a bit of winter planning, and also the minute it snows I struggle to get the car out of our road (bottom of an ungritted hill) so need to get heavy stuff in in advance (lighter stuff I'm happy to walk to the town and carry home).

Others as I have mentioned live in Scotland and the north of England, so weather can get a bit shocking there. Singlestep pointed you in the right direction, so hopefully you can tailor your list based on that list. BTW I've only been in my first house with OH for a year, so bit of a noob myself!

Bella2012_2

Hi All,

Thanks for all the help so far - I live in the north in an old house with big windows. Any advice on insulating them - we have curtains but not thick ones (cost comes into play). I have read about bubble wrap - does anyone do this and if so how do you attach it to your window?

Thanks :j

littlecal

NualaBuala wrote: »

This might seem a bit strange (and nosy!:D) but I was wondering if any of you change your bedtime and getting up time in the winter? I know many will have constraints on when you have to get up for work, getting children out to school etc. But for those with any leeway do you get up later as it gets bright later or go to bed earlier e.g. to save having the heating on? I've been waking up before it's bright these days and since I don't have work I find myself loath to get up when it's dark and cold - if I leave it an hour I don't have to put on lights and it's not so chilly.

Made a draught excluder today - one job done out of the trillions that need doing!

Oh and for anyone in Dublin, Boyers have great value flannel sheet sets - reduced from €70 to €25 for pillow cases, fitted and flat sheet.

NualaBuala,my getting up time is still 5am but I find that I'm getting tired earlier,but that may be to do with my SAD,whatever it is,it's almost like my body saying "ok,it's dark - time for bed!!!!"

I try to get out every lunchtime whatever the weather,and this helps a little.

Becky_2

tugrin wrote: »

Becky - have you done all the usual stuff that will help like checked for
raging draughts around doors and windows.
is the double glazing OK
, have you thick curtains
is there an open fireplace
what is on your downstairs floors
Let us know and we'll come up with tons of advice!
Its great that overall the house is warm - treasure it and yes of course do make use of those radiator thermostats.

Thanks Tugrin, upstairs have got carpets and downstairs laminate flooring and the kitchen floor is tiled. Our double glazing is fine and luckily no draughts around doors and windows. We are also lucky that we have got a wood burner in the living room. I think what is making it colder downstairs is that along the house (1 floor only) we have a utility room with no heating and a garage where the garage door is badly fitted. We are only renting so we are not prepared to spend a lot of money on sorting the garage door out. Has anyone got any ideas on how we can stop the draught in the garage? I was thinking if a door runner (is that what they are called?) that I have seen in the shop that you could put by the door to stop the draught underneath. Surely you must be able to use the same on the top? The garage is not used as a garage but is a storage room.

Angelaloveschocolate, I will get my OH to check if we have pump for the boiler. He is the techie one.

Thanks for a great thread though, I enjoy reading all your preparation for the coming winter.

Becky_2

I remember my dad used to keep the boot heavy in the winter when the roads were icy so that the tyres could grip better.

singlestep

NualaBuala, I tend to find it more difficult getting out of bed at this time of year and feel a lot more tired the less daylight I see during the week. However, I must arrive at work by 8:30 and so must be ready to leave before 7AM. When I can, I will have an earlier night but it isn't always possible. I tend not to bother with lights unless I'm reading or working but I've always done that. I'd love to be able to go out at lunchtime but my break lasts 45 minutes, there's usually a queue for the microwave/kettle and I usually spend ten minutes at the start and at the end tidying/setting up for the afternoon. That's when I'm not on supervision duty, running a club or offering supported study. There's only one small window in the room I work in, so I've had to get used to darkness!

HelenYorkshire

Becky_2 wrote: »

I remember my dad used to keep the boot heavy in the winter when the roads were icy so that the tyres could grip better.

Only with a rear wheel drive

tugrin

Becky - rugs on the laminate will also help and in kitchen if poss. They act as a buffer to stop the heat draining way from your poor tootsies!!!
Not sure about the top of the garage door - is it an up and over or ordinary swing out doors - if the gap isnt too big you could improvise draught strip with bubble wrap maybe.

saverholic

tugrin wrote: »

Hi ssver - what do you normlly wear on your feet during the day and do you do a lot of walkin/standing in your job?

hey, I generally just have a pair of normal socks and black work shoes. I have to look semi-smart or would be wearing my bright purple thermals! I'm up and down most of the day. I might look into singlesteps suggestion......

singlestep wrote: »

W
As for socks, you can get thin heat generating socks from M+S that aren't as thick as the other thermal ones. I must have had a pair on the other day and I really noticed the difference. I'll be wearing these or thermal socks from this point on. I also sw 2.3-tog socks somewhere, possibly Matalan, but can't be sure where.

....had noticed the heat generating socks in M&S and wasn't sure if they were a gimmick or not. Now I know that someone else has tried and found them useful they are going to the top of my list

Was quite nippy here tonight and the forecast for tomorrow suggests that, with wind chill, it'll be cold tomorrow. Keep warm everyone

MarilynMonroe_2

I'm going to go stick a hot water bottle in bed now so it's nice and cosy when I go up in a few hours.