What Would You Do If..........?

energysavingexp

Poosmate wrote: »

Tori, (or anyone else really) I don't have central heating so does the central heating boiler need a constant supply of electric to keep it going or is it just to kick start it from being off? I'm thinking if it's just to start it why don't they put a battery pack in as a backup? Or if you know or suspect there could be an electric outage could you set it to run at it's lowest setting so the flame doesn't go out? Or am I misunderstanding gas/oil central heating completely?

Poo

the boiler needs a constant supply of leccy. to run the pump, control panel and gas valves ect.

Poosmate

Thanks ESE. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have central heating but I don't know why but something inside of me keeps yelling not to go down that route. Maybe it's because I've seen so many dissatisfied people on this forum, I mean, it seems to me that boilers nowadays are built to break down within a few years. I desperately need another or a different heat source, I currently have a gas fire in the lounge which isn't very warm and 2 small oil filled rads to top up and subsidise the heat (or lack of) from the gas fire.

My lounge and front (main) bedroom is always cold, unnaturally cold like it's built on some kind of ancient burial ground and is a portal to "the other side" (lol). Anyway, that's a whole different thread!

If the grid went down I'd be huddled over the gas fire and have the gas hob on in the kitchen so at least I'd have some heat in these two rooms. I wouldn't be worried about the fridge or freezer as I don't think power outages would be long enough to affect them.

Poo

lemontart

http://www.outdoorworld.co.uk/portable-gas-heater-4-pack-of-gas great for short term use

also gas cooker option that is very good too

tori.k

Poosmate wrote: »

Tori, (or anyone else really) I don't have central heating so does the central heating boiler need a constant supply of electric to keep it going or is it just to kick start it from being off? I'm thinking if it's just to start it why don't they put a battery pack in as a backup? Or if you know or suspect there could be an electric outage could you set it to run at it's lowest setting so the flame doesn't go out? Or am I misunderstanding gas/oil central heating completely?

Poo

ESA hit the nail on the head, its a daft set up, we are lucky tho because its pretty warm down here so at worse case just means an extra couple layer's we only had the CH fitted 2 years ago we had no heating bar a couple of calor gas bottle heaters and hot water bottles and we all survived. To be honest the money we laid out in extra insulation for the loft made the most instant differrance, that was a job i wished we had done sooner.

lemontart

Over the years we have gotten use to heat on demand, and things at the flick of a switch, but with the state of our finances we are all having to think twice and then think again about how much we use. Not a bad thing in some ways though a pain in others relearning what some of us more mature posters did as children and what our parents etc did before to heat and light our homes and entertain ourselves with out the tv etc.

But saying that I will keep the ipod charged lol and I can always go for a drive to use a wifi hot spot should my internet withdrawal symptoms become unbearable.

macman

Remember that if the power goes off, so will the local mobile networks, as the masts will go down. So no tweeting in the dark...

lemontart

macman wrote: »

Remember that if the power goes off, so will the local mobile networks, as the masts will go down. So no tweeting in the dark...

Only if major one, still make calls on mobiles in power cut. I get calls daily from mobiles saying there is a power cut, but given I work at gas emergency service I can merely advise people to call their electricity distribution company, Land lines and home internet will not work

aliasojo

We would be truely stuffed in this old draughty rental place. Oil tank and boiler (which of course needs electricity to run) so heat and hot water would be off. Not allowed calor gas heaters either so the only form of heating we could access would be huddling under duvets.

We have a wind up lantern and a wind up radio, which along with a pack of cards would provide our entertainment.

Bronnie

Short term power cuts I could cope with at home, taking action as previously mentioned. I too was of the 3 day week, homework by the coal fire, by candlelight generation ! We are just 2 fit and healthy adults at home, so I wouldn't consider any of it a particular hardship on a short term basis as we have a gas fire for heat in one room at least!

Personally my main concern would be that my business would have to close during a power cut. There is only a minimum we could do to reduce usage (turn off a few lights) and our trading hours and customer demand coincide with the electricity peak use period, so even short power cuts of a couple of hours duration would be completely disastrous for us.

Pincher

Didn't we nearly run out of gas two years ago?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/07/gas-rationing-national-grid-factories

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/nov/01/winter-crisis-gas-supplies

"Last winter, the UK was left with only three days of reserves when foreign energy companies started exporting gas to supply their European customers after Russia cut supplies that used a pipeline through Ukraine."

"If its storage facilities are full, the UK has enough gas supplies for about 16 days, based on average demand. France's storage capacity would last a maximum of 91 days and Germany's 73 days."

I have a gas heater and two bottles of Calorgas.
Tea light candles don't need holders.
I like the battery lanterns.

In the event of gas supply outage, I have an induction hob and kettle.

In the event of electricity outage, I can still cook by gas by light the burner with matches or lighter, but the central heating won't work. What I need is a micro CHP that can be started manually, and supply enough electricity in a standalone mode to keep the central heating going.

When the electricity is out, cordless phones don't work,
but corded phones are powered from the local BT exchange.
In fact, I have two landlines, one BT, one Virgin. Resilient configuration.

Power cuts don't have to be national. If your area is flooded or some roadwork cut through your supply lines, you still need to be prepared.