Preparing for winter IV

aligerdie

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

ALIGERDI we had cavity wall insulation about 8 years ago, we're both retired and our local council had an offer for pensioners for cavity wall insulation and loft insulation for £250. It really has made a tremendous difference to how warm the house stays and it keeps us cooler in the summer. To the point where we now only use the woodstove for heating never the central heating. We only heat water with the boiler now, and that is for 1 hour twice a day. As your little one has a medical need it might be worth enquiring to see if there is any sort of financial help available to have the cavity walls filled, I'm sure it will help keep you warmer and reduce heating bills. Cheers Lyn xxx.

Ahh thank you for your reply, the new house already has cavity walls done as the old lady who lived here had it done before she went into a home. We've not lived in a house before which had it, so it's good to know it makes a difference Unfortunately we now have aluminium windows which seem pretty drafty

We've had quite a large drop in income recently, our fuel bill is a big drain each month so we're trying to cut back without our little lady suffering. Hopefully the cavity wall insulation will make a difference x

boultdj

Tiglath wrote: »

You'd think we could use them for extra warmth in bed, but no chance with the fighting/hissing/growling/screaming, space-hogging, under-duvet tunnelling, pillow-sleeping, claw-padding, farting, snoring, scratching, hair-chewing, eyelid-licking, ear-dribbling ... my best tortie girl likes to jump high into a wardrobe and then turf all the jumpers out to make a nest, but I put a stop to that when she missed her step on the way up and brought 100 paperbacks down on my head. Too much hassle!

I'm glad I'v only got the 1.....and don't forget the claw's in the possteria when they decide that they want you up, like right now!

rising_from_the_ashes

tori.k wrote: »

Thank's everyone we have a portable gas heater that we used last year, but suffered horrible condensation which is why we thought a nightstorage ticking over would be a better option with having cheap night electric, we don't have gas mains unfortunately didn't even cross my mind about oil filled radiators, i had a small panel heater once in a previous house but it soon packed in with being left on overnight.

I would put night storage heaters ahead of oil filled radiators - and, yes, I've had to rely on both as a single source of heating!

If you can get the hang of the storage heaters, they can actually keep the chill of a place OK - I had one in the living room of my old (massive) flat and that was the only heating in the place!

The trick is to charge it fully overnight when it's cheap BUT keep the output very low - turn it up slightly before you go out and then full when you get in (remembering to turn off again before going to bed) - it's a pain until you get used to it

Mum & Dad have several around their (very old and cold) house as they have cheap elec overnight and it certainly helps keep the house from getting really, really cold

Oil filled radiators are OK but you really need the ones with a timer and I found it took AGES to heat the place & cost a fortune!


Does anyone know where I can get cheap HW bottles?

Went for one night before last (cold in the living room!) and the top had disintegrated on mine :eek: TIA

FairyPrincessk

Rising, I usually have good luck finding cheap hot water bottles in the locally owned pound shops--the sort of shops with all of the plastic stuff like storage boxes and watering jugs outside and a random assortment of stuff on the inside. I'm not sure if you have any near you but might be worth a look.

Uniscots97

For cheap hot water bottles try Home Bargains or if you have a metal flask use that (I did in an emergency last winter to heat the bed up).

Getting really bad condensation on my bedroom window again. The vents are open at the top but our room has the shower room attahced to it. I ran my little dehumidifier whilst I got ready but worried about the cost. Is there anything else I can do to reduce the condensation? Saw Damp traps in Mr A for £1, or would a bowl of salt do? I bought those dehumidifier eggs last year and they're ok for very small areas (cupboards etc) but not for rooms.

PRINCESSX87

We have a small fairly modern one bedroom property. But we suffer with loads of condensation all over each of the rooms. I truly believe its because (We‘re back to back & has one connected side neighbour) we’re the only property without CH. Sounds daft I know.

I am considering speaking to the EA about having CH installed. Over the past 2 winters the old boiler keeps packing up. The house is continuously cold and damp, We also think that we have very cheap and basic wall insulation.

Our stuff in the attic and our bedroom wardrobes are also getting mouldy too where damp is appearing quicker than we manage to clear it.
We’ve had the storage heaters for 4 years now and we have never learnt to get on with them. Now their never used. Candles are far cheaper and give off more heat.

hollieinbloom

I used candles last night and it was lovely how much heat was in the living room. I used tealights but they are cheap and only last about 5 hours if that! lol. I must get some more to stock up on incase we cant get out. My daughters room was FREEEZING last night and this morning. She's 4 and shes always kicking her blankets off so I had to put her onesie on her. It's a bit small as it has feet so i might have to cut those off and give it some cuffs. Next job is going to primark and finding lots of warm socks! xx

happydays89

unixgirluk wrote: »

For cheap hot water bottles try Home Bargains or if you have a metal flask use that (I did in an emergency last winter to heat the bed up).

Getting really bad condensation on my bedroom window again. The vents are open at the top but our room has the shower room attahced to it. I ran my little dehumidifier whilst I got ready but worried about the cost. Is there anything else I can do to reduce the condensation? Saw Damp traps in Mr A for £1, or would a bowl of salt do? I bought those dehumidifier eggs last year and they're ok for very small areas (cupboards etc) but not for rooms.

I read online that if u wipe over a car windscreen with surgical spirit it stops the moisture building up,I wonder if it would work on your bedroom window?

Lucy5781

Found the bath hot tap had been dripping!! (Me not managing to shut it off properly whilst in the bath) Been like that two days and would have been running hot for the couple hours I had the rads on to help dry my double load of washing (had windows open to let moisture out)

My bath is in an alcove at the end of my bedroom, external walls to North and East with the cold tiled wall on the North... It gets cold lol

Karchered a full bottle of water off the windows this morning (six foot 1912 wooden sash) and have put a little damp trap on the top of the bottom casement, the de-humidifier on the windowsill and left the bath extractor fan running for the day to try and dry the place!

Argh lol
Lxx

Uniscots97

happydays89 wrote: »

I read online that if u wipe over a car windscreen with surgical spirit it stops the moisture building up,I wonder if it would work on your bedroom window?

I'll give anything a go. Thank you!