Preparing for winter IV

lobbyludd

external washing machine pipes cut back to 6 inches and have a plan involving a bird box stuffed with insulating material to lag the rest. new rads in hall and dd's room and system balanced: hurrah!

kboss2010

Mammy0f4 wrote: »

Hi! I'm feeling very depressed at the moment. We finally had a new vent fitted at the front the house this summer so that we could have our gas fire reconnected (it was disconnected a few years ago as the old vent didn't meet the updated requirements). I now wish I hadn't! The wind howls through there and the room is colder than ever. It's currently 15 degrees in the livingroom (19-20 in other rooms) so I dread to think what the place will be like when the cold weather arrives Is there anything I could do to minimise the effects that isn't dangerous?

I hate to sound patronising, but of course the guy that fitted it would tell you there's nothing wrong, he doesn't want to fix it at his own expense!

Get a second opinion. I have a gas fire which was fitted in an old coal fireplace and it doesn't let any gusts of wind in at all. He's talking cods wallop! I don't care if you've got a gas furnace in your living room, just because you need a carbon monoxide/O2 vent doesn't mean you need the equivalent of an open door in your room!

Also, buy a carbon monoxide alarm. It's as important as a smoke alarm if you have gas fires/CH and it could save your life. They're only a few £ from DIY shops. Remember, you can see/smell/hear fire, CO is a silent killer with no smell or warning signs.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Thriftkitten

Good morning Preppers,
Just a quick update to say that we did ok through the storm here in Cornwall, only ended up losing half of the chicken coup roof, however the chooks we sleeping in the outhouse attached to our kitchen so they were unhurt and nice and snug all night. The weather was pretty blustery again last night with big gusts of wind and heavy bursts of rain, but all calm this morning. I woke yesterday to find the neighbours 13 ft trampoline hanging over their wall which is about 6 foot... I made the decision to move the car (on street parking) up the road as yesterday I traded the car for a newer smaller more economical one.... ok ok as my dad calls it, a Rollerboot (fiat 500) :rotfl: I will feel over joyed come tax time when I get my tax disc and the cost is £0 and looking forward to seeing how much I can get out of a full tank, DD1 and DD2 think I'm the coolest mummy alive as we have a car that we can talk to and it does things hahahah! one for the mummy victory. I hope all in the South East faired ok in the storm, thoughts for the families who lost loved ones. Have a joyful day prepping peeps xx :T

dandy-candy

Mammy0f4 wrote: »

Thanks pigpen. Unfortunately it was the gas fitter who put it in for me. I rang him today about it and he thinks it's because it's so high up that it's causing the 'draft'. It's 4 ft off the floor on the outside as our house is raised up higher than the garden. I'm gutted. I'm thinking we could try and find a tall plant or two to use as a windbreak out front but that'll cost us more money again I'm sat here almost in tears because it just feels like I've left the front door open. The heating has been on for half hour and the thermometer next to me is still saying 15.5

When the gas fire isn't in use can't you just cover the vent on the inside with a bit of cardboard or something, to stop the draft?

pollys

Not sure if this has been mentioned but home bargains have some extendable snow shovels in for £3.99. B&Q have rock salt for £4.99. Not sure if these prices are reasonable or the snow shovel is any good but the information might be useful.

The roof man came this morning, went up on the roof with his iPad and the leak is just where I thought it was , it is quite a big job so not looking forward to the quote. They are a good company though we have used them in the past and as the leak is causing damage in the house it will have to be sorted ASAP.

The heating engineer is calling this evening, we know we need a new boiler so that is another big expense, they all seem to come at once.

The boys bedroom is coming along slowly. They now have new winter duvets, brushed cotton sheets and cosy fleeces for their beds. Think we might camp out this winter in their room it will be the cosiest in the house.

Restocked our toilet roll supply from hb and got some disinfectant whilst there.

Phew this is a busy half term.

Stay safe everyone we are forecast some more wet and windy weather for the end of the week, but not like we have just seen. It looks like it is going to be colder too.

Pollys

Cheapskate

I've spent this afternoon starting the dejunk in the kids' room - one full bin bag for the CS, one bag for the tip, loads of stuff for the green bin, several vital bits of paper found - quite a productive day! Need to do lots more, so we can shift furniture, paint the walls, get a new carpet and put in bunk beds. DH wants to get a decorator in, but will take him ages to sort, choose paint, etc., so am just going to do it myself on the quiet! . Littlies have plenty of warm pyjamas, fleeces, HWB and so on, new wellies, snow boots.... Just the rest of the family and house to do.

In the dry spells I've pruned what I can in the garden, far too wet to mow, may not get done now, but all outside is tidy-ish. Want to plant some daffs and/or narcissi, rasp canes if it's not too late, then that's it for the garden.

Still got 2 door curtains to make, and something for the landing and bathroom windows, plus draught excluders, jobs for another day.

A xo

mardatha

Where did you get the material for the door curtains??

singlestep

Hope everyone is safe and unharmed after the storm. I was well out of harm's way but had a bad few days with a horrible cold that turned in to something much nastier.

Thank goodness for advice I've had here. I've said it before but I mean it. I've been snuggled up in winter slippers and fleeces I've bought at bargain prices in summer (it hadn't really occured to me before); I've had a stash of lems*p and hankies and cupboards were well stocked for just me.

A few things became apparent, though.

* It was lucky for me that I'd just been to the doctor to restock repeat prescriptions.
* I need to keep some clear soup and smoother/easier to eat soup. I can barely swallow any of the HM stuff I have (although I am a bit behind in the batch cooking, especially in soups). A few packet mixes won't take up much room.
* I'm so used to being the person who 'sorts' things now; I need to make sure somebody is available to check up on me. I live alone, the neighbours are elderly and/or housebound, mum doesn't 'do' technology; friends were away or out and about and I was very lucky things didn't turn out worse.

Will need to restock on a lot as soon as I'm out and about again.

hollieinbloom

singlestep wrote: »

* I'm so used to being the person who 'sorts' things now; I need to make sure somebody is available to check up on me. I live alone, the neighbours are elderly and/or housebound, mum doesn't 'do' technology; friends were away or out and about and I was very lucky things didn't turn out worse.

Good grief, lucky you were OK then!.


Evening all, It's freezing this evening so once dinner is done and eaten, I think I will go and have a shower and get into some warm pyjamas so I don't put the heating on. It's so cold but I need to learn to not put it on if I can wrap up instead. We will light lots of candles so it warms the room up instead.

went into town today and got a few bits I needed to add to my prep. Got some childrens ibuprofen medicine, packets of tissues, couple of boxes of ibuprofen tablets and some more batteries. I have lost my torch (well DD "borrowed" it and it's missing) so will have to go find one in town tomorrow when I go with my nan. Also picked up some tinned foods at the weekend so we have plenty to get on with.

Garden prep needs finishing, got to sort the BBQ out as it's still outside and getting full of water and need to prune the lavender back. DD has a cold this week so I got her some new vests to keep her warm and some nice thick winter slipper socks in home bargains. They are only 99p so I got her 3 pairs.

Fingers crossed for holding out on putting the heating on tonight. If I feel too cold, I will just have to go to bed early Not sure what I'm going to do without great british bake off....that was my tuesday night TV fix! xx

kitschy

Don't worry Hollie - there's a masterclass on tonight, so you'll get your Hollywood fix! x