Temporary replacement boiler - water heater?

going2die_rich

My friend's boiler has gone so she's got no hot water. She's on long term sickness so can't afford to replace it (someone's been out to look at it and said it's beyond repair). She is likely to be able to get benefits through some government scheme in having it replaced but it'll be at least 8 weeks maybe more till that occurs.

She's okay in the fact that it's good weather now so stopped using the central heating weeks back and does have an electric shower. The only real problem for her is washing dishes with cold water for the next 2 months. Not impossible to do, but a bit of a pain with her not being well to begin with.

So are their any temporary measures such as a portable water heater or something I could buy for her (up to around £100 or so) - she's a good friend so I'd like to help her out?

She really just needs something to just warm up a bit of water she can use for the dishes (no space for a second hand dishwasher - which was my first solution), which can be placed by the kitchen sink. She's using the kettle at the minute but that’s always scolding hot and is no doubt costing a fortune to heat up water to that temperature, especially if it continues for the next few months.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Preferably a solution that is portable and requires no installation since it is just for a temporary fix.

Thanks,

jfdi

What about a Baby Burco (?) - the tea urn type thing?

My OH does catering & uses them all the time - should be able to pick a 2nd hand one up quite cheaply - maybe through a catering supplies place if none in free ads etc.

Don't know how £££ they are on the electric, but wouldn't need to be on too long.

HTH

A
xx

rizla155

I would suggest she uses her electric shower to fill the washing up bowl as a temporary measure. I don't consider it viable to have an electric wall heater installed, like the Sadia type. Would guess its well over £100????
I would certainly have a second opinion on the existing boiler, some engineers would say its U/S, because either they can't be bothered with parts or to get a complete new installation out of it.
Good luck.

going2die_rich

Thanks for the replies. She'd had 3 people in who have all said it's beyond repair. It's been on it's last legs for a while now so it's not surprising it's gone.

The problem with the shower is having to go up and down stairs carrying water. Her illness makes it difficult to carry anything slightly heavy as she gets painful cramps in her hands.

I'll have a look for catering supplies to do with tea urn's etc. Thanks for that, I didn't think of catering items.