Preparing for winter IV

bossymoo

Am definitely feeling the benefit of the foam tape I've added to the windows, both insulation-wise and noise-wise!
Left the bathroom window open last night, and a neighbours alarm went off (1am :mad:) I'm not sure it would have woken me had the window been shut as I barely heard it after... :T

Heard a rumour there may be more snow next week :eek:

Becky_2

I know this has been posted on here before but I cannot find.

Anyone having any ideas how to stop cats using our front garden as a toilet? Ideas gratefully received.

Fruball

Becky_2 wrote: »

I know this has been posted on here before but I cannot find.

Anyone having any ideas how to stop cats using our front garden as a toilet? Ideas gratefully received.

Cats hate our urine as much as we hate their waste.

Fill a jug (morning urine is best) and sprinkle it around your garden - the cats will be disgusted and go elsewhere!!! Seriously, it is the only thing that I have found that works - and it's free!

Eenymeeny

Not sure if this is the right thread to use but sure that my preparing for winter friends can advise. I've actually had a touch of Spring madness and cleaned windows and louvred blinds this morning (I know, it was the sunshine on the mucky windows that did it!):eek:
Anyway, I've discovered some signs of condensation on the frames in the corners. When I try to clean it off the sealant threatens to come away too. Would I be better to just clean lightly and remove and renew the sealant when the weather is better and could anyone recommend a better sealant please?
Hope that everyone's enjoying some sunshine,we do have snow too!

angelaloveschocolate

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for three winters now, and have decided to come out of lurkdom to ask a question about your wood burners. I have a similar system but mine is for smokless coal, a parkray (rayburn), some of you maybe familiar with them. Do you think I could burn wood in it? I have a concern that the flue for a parkray may not be suitable for burning wood, but I'm not sure. Any thoughts appreciated

Rainy-Days

It sounds like you have a multifuel burner in which case you can burn wood in them.

If you have just a log burner that means you can only burn logs because they burn at a lower heat variant than coal does. If you put in coal the coal burns hotter for longer, hence the reason why there is a difference between multifuel and log burners. The composition of the metal in these burners is different.

Providing that you check with Rayburn/parkray regarding the flue - they will give you free advice on their telephone line it should be okay. It depends on the width also of your flue of course. This is why you should check with them and they will ask you what style of burner you have and that will give them the knowledge of what diameter flue you have fitted.

The other thing you need to check is are you in a smokeless zone? If you are then you can't burn wood because that will give off smoke!!

Rainy-Days

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Would I be better to just clean lightly and remove and renew the sealant when the weather is better and could anyone recommend a better sealant please?
Hope that everyone's enjoying some sunshine,we do have snow too!

You can try Dettox mould and mildew remover bu to be honest they don't make that much difference. It's caused by mould spores and the breaking down of the plastic sealant. It happens to just about all of us. The only thing that you can do is buy an antifungal type sealant which will give you breathing space for about 3 /4 years or so but again once the sealant becomes porus.......

angelaloveschocolate

thank you Rainy-days for your reply. I've learned more from you than from the many hours that I've searched the web. Good advice which I can get onto now, much appreciated

MaddyWaddy

Hello all,

Whilst some of you will be preparing for Spring and Summer (well I am too) I will be also starting on next Winter ... My fuel bill came in at £382 for 70 days of fuel (now I am at home 4 days out of 7 and my little one has just turned 1) - still £5.45 a day for heating :eek:

The thread moves so quickly I barely keep up but in preparations I will be skimming this thread for ideas. I recently purchased a sewing machine and got free some thermal curtain lining ... That has gone on my projects list for next year - Thermal lined curtains and door curtains.

I have also bought some wool and plan to make some home made jumpers - maybe the heating can go down a notch or 2

I look forward to having some good ideas to keep warm as cheaply as possible

Eenymeeny

Rainy-Days wrote: »

You can try Dettox mould and mildew remover bu to be honest they don't make that much difference. It's caused by mould spores and the breaking down of the plastic sealant. It happens to just about all of us. The only thing that you can do is buy an antifungal type sealant which will give you breathing space for about 3 /4 years or so but again once the sealant becomes porus.......

Thanks Rainy-Days, that was quick! Nice to know that we're not the only ones. We're renovating the property a bit at a time and a lot is planned for this summer. I thought it best not to pull a long strip off the frame although very tempting! I'll just clean carefully for now and replace it in summer, when it comes!:T