Preparing for winter IV

Confuzzled

greenbee wrote: »

As for insulation, I find that bookshelves full of books make a great insulating layer!

we did this years ago, we lived in an old house that wasn't overlooked, the back wall of the house was north facing and seemed to get the brunt of the wind so we closed the curtains over that window(left the trickle vent open for ventilation) and just put bookcases all along that back wall full of books and it made such a difference to the warmth of the room

if i ever renovate or design a home i will be sure to have as much cabinetry and bookcases and cupboards etc etc on the north side of the home as possible, why pay to heat the coldest portion of the house when you don't have to!

Uniscots97

Confuzzled wrote: »

we did this years ago, we lived in an old house that wasn't overlooked, the back wall of the house was north facing and seemed to get the brunt of the wind so we closed the curtains over that window(left the trickle vent open for ventilation) and just put bookcases all along that back wall full of books and it made such a difference to the warmth of the room

wondering if I would get away with something similar in our dining room its always freezing! Due to huge patio doors. I have blinds and curtains up but wondering if anyone would notice if I bubblewrapped them or is that going too far?

Confuzzled

unixgirluk wrote: »

wondering if I would get away with something similar in our dining room its always freezing! Due to huge patio doors. I have blinds and curtains up but wondering if anyone would notice if I bubblewrapped them or is that going too far?

i'd bubblewrap them, why not, unless you are closely overlooked no one will know, it will just not look as clear as they might expect, they won't be able to see WHY it's not totally clear

Uniscots97

Confuzzled wrote: »

i'd bubblewrap them, why not, unless you are closely overlooked no one will know, it will just not look as clear as they might expect, they won't be able to see WHY it's not totally clear

I think I will as the room is just so cold. We rarely use it anyway. OH already thinks I've flipped making buttons out of milk and vinegar! . He wants an open fire in our livingroom but its a new build and the design of the room it just isn't possible to have furniture at opposite ends of the room as radiator is at one end and door to dining room at the other. Door to hall on opposite wall.

RevolvingDoor

Reading this thread is making me feel colder.:eek:

I have gone to get a blanket and hot water bottle to warm up. I have a habit of leaving doors wide open instead of closing them to keep warmth in so I have to remedy that.

greenbee

mineallmine wrote: »

Definitely recommend an energy monitor. They highlighted a very thirsty kitchen light which we hated anyway. Changed it to a fluorescent light and that made a lot of difference.

Does the bathroom extractor fan have an external switch, outside of the room, as well as the light pull switch? So you could turn it on when required.

I've done this - I turn the fan on AFTER my shower or bath too, so there is no draught while I'm in there. We have underfloor heating in the bathroom and it works well to heat the bathroom up before you use it - the rest of the time it can stay cold (particularly when you're out and about so don't need the central heating on between waking up and leaving the house)

unixgirluk wrote: »

wondering if I would get away with something similar in our dining room its always freezing! Due to huge patio doors. I have blinds and curtains up but wondering if anyone would notice if I bubblewrapped them or is that going too far?

I've done this before - bathroom window, downstairs loo, utility room, front door. I don't think anyone notices.

RevolvingDoor wrote: »

Reading this thread is making me feel colder.:eek:

I have gone to get a blanket and hot water bottle to warm up. I have a habit of leaving doors wide open instead of closing them to keep warmth in so I have to remedy that.

That's something I've started retraining myself to do, after spending the summer leaving doors open to air the house!

Rainy-Days

Kittie posted that Piers Corbyn mentioned about Christmas being very mild. So todays report that the UK will have a mild but wet Christmas seems to have come right. It will be interesting to note what will happen beyond that and into the early new year.

I might now even think about buying Pier's weather reports because he is coming quite right on a number of things.

oldtractor

There some very good ideas on here I particulaly like the books and bubble wrap ideas.

redlady_1

I have just received a very frightening electric bill and I only live in a 2 bed cottage. Where can I get one of these energy monitors please? I need to nail down exactly what is sucking the energy. I think it may be the modem and phone but not sure.

sandieb

redlady_1 wrote: »

I have just received a very frightening electric bill and I only live in a 2 bed cottage. Where can I get one of these energy monitors please? I need to nail down exactly what is sucking the energy. I think it may be the modem and phone but not sure.

Not sure if you can do this where you live, but many libraries loan them. I guess you might be able to check on your local council's (library's) website?