Preparedness for when

cornishchick

found this re freezing pipes and CH.

http://local.which.co.uk/advice/prevent-condensing-boiler-pipes-freezing

hope it helps, I am reading it, x

jk0

cornishchick wrote: »

found this re freezing pipes and CH.

http://local.which.co.uk/advice/prevent-condensing-boiler-pipes-freezing

hope it helps, I am reading it, x

That is interesting CC. What a mad solution no. 6 is eh? (Putting a 50w heating cable next to the condensate pipe.)

That would use 1.2 units a day, or 438 units a year of maybe 15p a unit electricity. £65 a year in extra electricity for the sake of having a boiler that uses 20% less gas. Therefore unless you use more than £325 worth of gas, you might as well keep your old boiler.

[Deleted User]

I thought the element only ran, when the outside temperature falls to 5 degrees or lower?

jk0

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I thought the element only ran, when the outside temperature falls to 5 degrees or lower?

Yes, I see you are correct Bob. Still, it sounds like a mad idea to me.

[Deleted User]

You would think they could use some of the heat from the boiler, to keep it from freezing.

bluebag

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

You would think they could use some of the heat from the boiler, to keep it from freezing.

I know it's crazy, you are forced to have this type of boiler, but the old sort never had all this stuff. They were just really simple.

I lagged mine with two ripped up old tea towels, looked awful but kept it fine in all that minus stupid weather we had.

In my defense, I didn't have anything else to do it with at the time. I had intended to find a neater solution, but it worked that well I left it alone.

Dippypud

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

One thing I think people need to know in cold weather is if you have a modern boiler, the outlet pipe can and does freeze when it gets down to below about -10. OH got info off the net on how to defrost the pipe, and when its really cold can disconect part of the pipe and let it drip into a bucket on the ledge under the boiler.

In effect most modern boilers are not fit for purpose in really cold winters. We know a gas fitter-who fitted our boiler, who had loads of call outs due to this when we had the really cold weather in 2010. He was showing people how to sort it themselves the next time, but reckoned some gas fitters were just raking it in keep going out and recharging to defrost.

Worth having a look now before things freeze up so you know what to do if you switch the heating on, on a freezing day and it makes a heck of a noise and sounds like its about to explode.

Ali x

NB think this is because they are condensing boilers to be more "green".

GreyQueen wrote: »

You're dead right about the condensate pipe from the condensing CH boilers, ALI. We had no end of trouble with them in this city in the bitter cold of Dec 2010.

These short copper pipes stick out of the wall and if they freeze solid, the boiler will shut down. One gas engineer at the time said they were so rushed that they were just cutting them off with hacksaws to get the boilers up and running in a hurry. You might want to think about insulating them beforehand - perhaps that foam pipe wrapping stuff might help?

Laters, GQ xx

When we had our new boiler fitted, we mentioned this to the fitter, as the pipe would have exited the wall on the side of the house that gets the 'bad' weather...

and they plumbed the condensate pipe in the waste of the sink, (they're next to each other), and touch wood it works well...

fuddle

To run a lightbulb for 6 hours of an evening during a 3 month darker night period would cost around £3 in electricity. Add in fluctuating usage throughout the rest of the year at say an average of 2 hourly nightly usage then add another £3 for the rest of the year. Based on that a lightbulb cost £6ish per year to run therefore a sunnan lamp will take over 2 years to save money but...

Life is about investing, looking after yourself and interests, reducing waste and consumption I like to think so I will be investing in a couple of the lamps

pineapple

fuddle wrote: »

To run a lightbulb for 6 hours of an evening during a 3 month darker night period would cost around £3 in electricity. Add in fluctuating usage throughout the rest of the year at say an average of 2 hourly nightly usage then add another £3 for the rest of the year. Based on that a lightbulb cost £6ish per year to run therefore a sunnan lamp will take over 2 years to save money but...

Interesting. I'm going through similar calculations re the pros and cons of buying things like a pressure cooker - I would prefer a stainless steel one so not cheap. For me, it's not about saving time, it's about saving energy. Similarly have been looking at a proper thermal cooker - I've tried the diy haybox principle but imo it's a palaver and not very efficient.
Still - the way energy prices are rising....

pineapple

betterlife wrote: »

Hi everyone, im quite new to prepping, so was wondering if i could ask some questions please?
i know you are prepping for when the shtf, but what is that for you? is it for rocketing food prices, loss of jobs, economy collapse? and do you just prep as in buying stuff for store cupboard etc or are you trying to become more self-sufficient?

All of the above to varying degrees! I suspect I'm like a lot of people in that the first instinct is to stock up. But then you realise that if you want to build up self reliance and sustainability it's about so much more. I'm still working on the last bit though I think it's more crucial/do-able for younger peeps.