Ran out of Oil, no money, 5 kids, advice pls

SEE

Padstow wrote: »

If you light a fire keep a nearby window open to allow poison gases to escape. Also if this is the first fire in a while, warm the chimney by lighting some paper or kindling as a cold chimney blows back smoke.
Don't burn anything but wood. You say you have wood in the garage, but if it has glue, varnish whatever, do not set light to it.

Child benefit is just that. No child in this country should be cold or hungry.

Remember though that we now expect so much, whereas we as kids of my generation, knew of no heating apart from one coal fire, No benefits of any kind then. We survived.

Hot water is what I missed most when I was really stuck. recently, I hope you have that.

You live the rural life which is very expensive. Perhaps collect wood from the lanes for next year.

Wood collecting is a good idea. I get my kindling every time I walk the dog and if a roof is being done I ask for the lath.

carebabe

its possible to get say a weeks worth of oil from your supplier. we did this recently as we were waiting on a repacement tank being installed but work was delayed due to bad weather. OH phoned in advance to arrange and just collected from depot in an oil drum he had borrowed. may be worth phoning your usual supplier to discuss.

Ms_Chocaholic

It's no help at this time of night but tomorrow, could you take a trip to the local library, stay there for a while and keep warm. I'm not sure how old your children are so unsure how feasible that is, also whether you have a library within walking distance.

grey_lady

Wood has to be dried before burning. Chimneys have to be inspected regularly. I have a spare carbon monoxide detector/alarm (recently gone from solid fuel to oil, i can post it to you tomorrow if you PM me your address.

uptheleft

Ok, firstly I would like to thank each and every one of you for all you help.
Yes they are my Debts in my signature, I was foolish, temptation was too great, however i am dealing with them, hence the tight budget.

I have some good news, our Mechanic called up this evening, and he was giving us an update on the car. He is going to do the work, and we don't have to pay him until Tuesday, which is payday.

He asked if our heating was broken (its that cold we could all see our breath) and I said No, we just needed the car more than we needed heating, he then told us to order the oil and he would wait on getting paid! I am so grateful to him.

The chimney stands proud of the house and our neighbours houses have both gas fires and coal fires and some even have woodburners.

Someone was looking down on us, or someone said some prayers for us, I am just grateful.

I have a carbon monoxide detector, thank you so very much for the offer!

I am indebted to each poster here, thank you all xx

sandy2210

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

Are those your outstanding debts under your posts??????



First thing, if you haven't done already, put a brick underneath the far end of your oil tank, so any trapped oil in the tank's grooves gets to the burner.

Next, stick the longest thing you have up the chimney to make sure it's free of debris - you might to take apart the fire to get access.

.

Next, start some sort of small fire at the bottom, or something that gives off smoke. Have someone go to each room above through which the chimney passes, and get someone to go outside to make sure a) there is no leak into the rooms and b) the chimney is ventillating the smoke.

Assuming it is working, I, speaking as a non-professional, would say the chimney is good to be used. It would be best if you had a neighbour or relative good at diy or with the tools to help you here
probably the most dangerous piece of advice ever posted on this site

SEE

uptheleft wrote: »

Ok, firstly I would like to thank each and every one of you for all you help.
Yes they are my Debts in my signature, I was foolish, temptation was too great, however i am dealing with them, hence the tight budget.

I have some good news, our Mechanic called up this evening, and he was giving us an update on the car. He is going to do the work, and we don't have to pay him until Tuesday, which is payday.

He asked if our heating was broken (its that cold we could all see our breath) and I said No, we just needed the car more than we needed heating, he then told us to order the oil and he would wait on getting paid! I am so grateful to him.

The chimney stands proud of the house and our neighbours houses have both gas fires and coal fires and some even have woodburners.

Someone was looking down on us, or someone said some prayers for us, I am just grateful.

I have a carbon monoxide detector, thank you so very much for the offer!

I am indebted to each poster here, thank you all xx

Glad to read things are brighter for you today. Don't forget to buy hot water bottles for future use if needed.

Padstow

upthe left, don't forget to make a claim against local authority for damage to your car. They now have decided it's cheaper to pay out than get pot holes filled.
It's a lot milder here today, hope it's the same for you.

keystone

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

First thing, if you haven't done already, put a brick underneath the far end of your oil tank,...........

Nice small tank weighing next to nothing is it then?

.......so any trapped oil in the tank's grooves gets to the burner.

Together with all the carp and sediment thats been gathering there for eons and once it blocks the burners will result in a serious bill for OP to get them cleaned out again. Good advice not!

Next, stick the longest thing you have up the chimney to make sure it's free of debris - you might to take apart the fire to get access.

Good grief!

Next, start some sort of small fire at the bottom, or something that gives off smoke. Have someone go to each room above through which the chimney passes, and get someone to go outside to make sure a) there is no leak into the rooms and b) the chimney is ventillating the smoke.

No! This needs to be done with a smoke pellet designed for the purpose. It should also be done by a professional who knows what he is looking for. This as advised in OPs other thread.

................, speaking as a non-professional,..............

Thats the understatement of the century.

would say the chimney is good to be used.

As a non-professional how on earth would you know??

It would be best if you had .....................

It would be best if you had not posted any of this abject and dangerous nonsense.

Cheers

Greenfires

It's okay advising that the fire be lit, but only with wood etc - but we haven't established yet that the chimney is sufficient to support an open fire!! Many modern houses (the OP said they'd had it from new 6 years ago) don't have suitable chimneys to serve an open fire - if it's been built as many modern houses are, with provision for a gas fire only, then an open fire certainly isn't a safe option. As for the "wood only" advice - carbon monoxide is carbon monoxide - doesn't matter if it's coming from a wood fire or any other sort!