A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you for all of the above.

Our bedroom is heated by a small radiator in the bay window. It never gets warm in there because the radiator is behind the curtain so we have to leave the curtains open to allow the heat out which fights the cold coming from the vast amount of glass in the bay window! We have given up and now heat it with curtains closed and electric radiator on first thing of a morning and just before bath/bed.

My children's bedrooms are extremely cold and this is where I am sure the cost is coming in. They are part of an extension and I feel a poor extension. Even with the radiators set at 6 they never heat the room to the point of being toasty never mind boiling hot (actually I wonder if they need bleeding! Thank you!) The floors are laminate floors which are cold anyway. I really don't know what to do in those rooms and feel like I'm throwing money away just trying to heat them a little..... but they're my childrens rooms and I have to try.

I have thermal linings on their curtains but I do need to get rugs down in there. We have since last year put wooden strips along the skirting boards to prevent the draughts coming form the gaps but it hasn't seemed to made any difference. There are double glazed windows in there so all I can think of is there is no insulation at all on the walls.

We just have to plod on huh. I will ask DH to look at bleeding the radiators in there tonight.

Well it's always worth making sure that the rads are working, but two things immediately spring to mind, can you shorten the curtain over the radiator to window-ledge height, then at least you can close the curtain and have heat, and also...I might be tempted to swap rooms with one of the kids if that were possible? but the one that needs the heat most in the warmest room, or the one in the coldest room?
You could bung an electric blanket on your bed in there, as we've always found that made all the difference to an unheated bedroom.

Kate

Hobsons_Choice

It's OK ladies - all our problems are solved!
The supermarkets are having a price war with...............champagne!!!! Oh goody.:cool:

fuddle

They are the LL's GQ but it wouldn't work anyway as the curtains pull straight over the bay window leaving 4 metres of space behind it, where the radiator is. I tried to install a curtain track to go around the window last year but it came down as there's only the plastic of the window frames to get a grip in. I was thinking net wire and fleece curtains. That would be lighter but to be honest I think I'd rather just keep the gas rad off in there because the electric one is doing the trick and at a level I can afford.

Rugs are definitely the way I need to go in the children's rooms. We've asked them if they would share a bedroom over the winter, so we could just heat the one room but they don't want to. Kids! It might come to that if I can think of a good bribe. It would make sense. I have been looking at rag rugs, as I crochet, but I think they would end up costing me a fortune getting the 'rags' to do it

fuddle

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

ETA Fuddle - I had your curtain problem and solved it by making what I've called a rad-guard. You need a piece of stiff cardboard/MDF/hardboard long enough to balance on the radiator brackets and deep enough to tuck the curtains behind. I used card and covered it with a fabric that matched the curtains in colour (an old sheet) but board would be a lot better. When the curtains are closed they are tucked behind the rad-guard and the heat can't escape to the windows behind the curtains. The rad-guard also gets warm and helps to heat the room. Mine is at my front windows and has made a real difference in that part of the room.

Shortening the curtains would help otherwise - if they are not yours they could be safety pinned up. I found though that the heat still escaped behind the curtains a bit although at least the radiator would be uncovered and therefore heating more than just the curtains.

So I would pull the curtains back on themselves, trapping the cold air in that space while the warm air escapes from underneath that. That might just work, I'm not sure if there'll be enough leeway as the window space is quite deep but I'll definately have a look at it. Thats a realy good idea. Thank you

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

They are the LL's GQ but it wouldn't work anyway as the curtains pull straight over the bay window leaving 4 metres of space behind it, where the radiator is. I tried to install a curtain track to go around the window last year but it came down as there's only the plastic of the window frames to get a grip in. I was thinking net wire and fleece curtains. That would be lighter but to be honest I think I'd rather just keep the gas rad off in there because the electric one is doing the trick and at a level I can afford.

Rugs are definitely the way I need to go in the children's rooms. We've asked them if they would share a bedroom over the winter, so we could just heat the one room but they don't want to. Kids! It might come to that if I can think of a good bribe. It would make sense. I have been looking at rag rugs, as I crochet, but I think they would end up costing me a fortune getting the 'rags' to do it

Oh that's a shame about the curtain track...I know they are difficult to get round the bends. I think net wire and fleece curtains would work pretty well, the fleece would be light enough that they wouldn't sag. Do you have double glazed windows, because if not bubble wrap makes a huge difference, not pretty from outside, and you loose the view, but it's noticeably warmer straight away if you have drafty windows.

Kate

Byatt

Hi everyone; you are all such an inspiration. Thank you for the tips and advice, I do feel better today.

Prepareathome, you are so right, I should put money into the electric before food shopping.

I've been recalling how we used to manage back in the 50's and 60's etc when no central heating. Lots of layers on the bed; bed socks, hot water bottles. In recent years I have been spolied by having central heating; now live in a 200 yr old cottage. I am adjusting to the cold however and wrapping up. I have a fleece I use. And jumpers.

xxxxxx

fuddle

Thanks katieoel. They are double glazed, so lucky there but I would still seek to put bubble wrap on them because I have done this on the double glazed toilet room and the difference is noticeable. I'm a bubblewrap fan. I had heard about window film too but haven't got round to sourcing that yet. I would need a fair bit as the windows are vast. I also saw on British Gas site about panel the retract the heat back into the room and not out of the walls. Again, I haven't got round to buying these. I really should! I need to get on the preparing for winter thread.

Infact, fish finger sarnies, a cuppa and a whole read of a lot of that thread are now on the cards for later.

Do kids not feel the cold like adults? My two are wrapped up in socks and jumpers, as I am but my fingers are cold. They haven't complained once. I'm going to crochet wrist warmers after I have finished my hat thats for sure.

ginnyknit

Hobsons_Choice wrote: »

It's OK ladies - all our problems are solved!
The supermarkets are having a price war with...............champagne!!!! Oh goody.:cool:

Oh well we can drink ourselves silly and not care about it all then - sounds like a plan to me:rotfl: Bloody champagne, for gawds sake, yet more stupidity at Christmas. Lets face it if you can keep yourself warm and eat good ( whoopsied) food and spend time or at least talk on the phone to your loved ones you are doing well!! Sorry Im on my soapbox. Just been to Mr A round the corner and got myself a 10p bunch of tiny roses, thats my luxury. Also got some puff pastry for 70p so thats boxing day nibbles for kids sorted, am fairly pleased with myself. there seems to be lots of whoopsied veg about so if all else fails have veg, yorkshires and gravy for xmas dinner - no one will know

lizzyb1812

fuddle wrote: »

So I would pull the curtains back on themselves, trapping the cold air in that space while the warm air escapes from underneath that. That might just work, I'm not sure if there'll be enough leeway as the window space is quite deep but I'll definately have a look at it. Thats a realy good idea. Thank you

I didn't know your window was a bay with the curtains away from it but doing what you say, like creating a tent effect, may work. You may need to weight the curtain bottoms to get them to stay in place or rig something up to tie them to the rad brackets - anything to stay warm without spending anything

greenbee

Don't buy a radiator panel fuddle, just put some foil on a piece of card and shove it behind the radiator it's the same thing pretty much... And how about making fleece blinds by sticking self-adhesive Velcro to the window frame and sewing the other side onto fleeces? Easy to take up and down, and then pull the curtains across at the top, but use tie-backs to hold them back at the bottom... I do this as I have long curtains in front of a radiator with a blind behind, and it looks very cosy with the curtains half pulled across.

Try freegle for some rugs, or carpet off cuts, or even rags for making rag rugs. Remember, plenty of people are decluttering in the run up to Christmas! Our house was unheated when I was a child, and I remember blinds behind curtains, hot water bottles, lots of blankets and getting dressed in bed if your children are cold, give them more blankets or hot water bottles, and try to live in one room for the rest of the time... But do check that your heating is working properly!