Preparing for Winter V

Pooky

Well we are in our new bungalow now and the boiler work starts tomorrow. Will be replacing an old back boiler with a combi boiler so the resulting mess of the chimney breast is going to be cleaned up and a log burner installed. We were hoping to have new windows and doors before wi yer hits but I need a few months grace from decorating the old house/selling/moving here, cleaning, gardening etc. So will wait until spring. Have already chopped down a couple of trees that can be sectioned up and season off and found a large stack of dry tree trunks hiding behind bushes huge garden so keep finding hidden treasures). Did bring the last of our log pile with us tooso we at least have a start of a pile.

Got some fab lined curtains reduced in B and Q for the new dining room, it will be nice and cosy. Living room ones too but yet to put those up due to building works.

Looking forward to hunkering down for the autumn.

pattypan4

I started with octopus early june this year, they set me an estimated standing charge of £76 pm for dual fuel, price fixed to 2021.They have now had 3 payments and I am already in credit by £159. They have just estimated an annual cost of £800, so my standing order could come down and would, if I contacted them. How much reserve do you like to have before going into winter?



I bear in mind that with underfloor heating downstairs, I will have the 3 of 4 zones downstairs set on 18 minimum 24/7 with daytime boosters to maybe 22, underfloor heating takes quite a long time to get to temperature but in reverse, it takes a long time to cool down, it is good to have a set base temperature with underfloor heating

alice-mary

Afternoon everyone!
My chimney was swept this morning (just after 9am) and then I went back to bed as I was feeling sick. Now that I am up and about, I am resisting the urge to have a small fire, just to cheer myself up a bit! There is nothing actually wrong with me, I am just looking forward to the colder evenings when I can get all cosy.

Alice
x

parsniphead

I don't know why but I always get excited when this thread pops up in the summer.

I've been decluttering massively and once it's finished would like to decorate and possibly get a new fire and fireplace for the winter.

Poor DS was made to try on his new winter school coat when the weather was hot a few weeks ago. He looked so cuddly and it was nice to know he is ready for the cold.
I do like the the summer but being snuggled up in the winter is so lovely.

pattypan4

I think that many of us are ready for the change in seasons, a bit early yet but another 6 weeks and it will be time. I am fully stocked up with winter fuel, just got to get a few bags of homefire ovals for those nights when I want the fire to slumber all night. Who knows what power cuts we get this winter. I am so happy to at last have a heat source that is not electricity dependent

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I’ve checked what I need for winter. It isn’t much, OH has a motorbike so always has a good stash of sweatshirts, jumpers etc and as we were visiting our niece in Canada last year we have gloves, socks and hats we bought last year.
I’ve ordered a good coat while because I’ve got a 20% off voucher and I would of bought it anyway. I’ve a duffle and a waterproof coat with a removable lining but I hadn’t a smart one if that makes sense.
I’ve plenty of clothes too. I tend to layer my clothes so only need again a couple of smart cardigans or jumpers, but again I’ll wait until I get a money off offer for something I like.
We’re moving out of our flat for a month in September for renovations but after that I’ll be restocking my tins and packets ( and I’ll have more cupboard space yay )
Our flats are all electric so in the event of a long powercut we will decamp to our sons who has a gas cooker. But we have plenty of throws etc to keep the chill out. We have plenty of candles and a windup torch ( and matches of course) where they can easily reached.
I’m hoping not to need any winter preps for a while though ( the longer I don’t have to pay for heat the better)
Anyway enough from me
Have a good day preppers
Cuddles

Primrose

For all-electric homes I recommend the purchase of one of those little camping one hob gas burners which are fuelled by gas cartridges. They can be acquired quite cheaply now and are wonderfully useful for boiling a saucepan of water for a cup of tea of coffee or heating quick tinned meals liked baked beans. We often use ours in the garden with a cast iron griddle pan on top for a quick and easy barbecue, which is far less messy than having to handle charcoal.

A wind-up camping lamp is also a useful standby and much safer than relying on candles. Once bought the supply of light it can generate also never runs out, unlike candles which have to be repurchased, or torches which need new batteries and are always dim when youneed them in an emergency!

cuddlymarm

Thanks primrose
We have one of those. It hadn’t occurred to me.
OH has bought the toaster attachment to so we will be fine for jammy toast and tea to tide us over a few hours of a power cut.

lessonlearned

I lived through the power cuts of the 70s in an all electric home. I survived of course but I swore that I would never be the mercy of electricity again.

And I never have.

I agree a little camping stove is handy and I would also suggest either a small bioethanol fire or a portable gas fire, which also run off cylinders.

I have used both and for a sitting room I prefer the bioethanol. It looks nicer. :rotfl:

phoebe1989seb

Hi all

I've not been around for ages either - been busy taming (a little, as we prefer our outside spaces a bit wild, lol!) our garden and trying to write

DH and I love Autumn (he is most keen on Winter/Christmas but each to their own!) and it feels as though it's arriving already here in south Carmarthenshire! The mornings have that distinctly autumnal feel.

We're about to embark on the next phase of work at the cottage as DH is taking a few weeks off from his landscaping/property maintenance business - to do landscaping/property maintenance for us :rotfl:

First up is to sweep the chimneys - although I confess we already lit one of the wood burners when we had a particularly cold, stormy evening. Then it's sorting/chopping logs to put in our two new log stores (the largest of which he built). Like Pooky, we found loads of potential firewood in the overgrown, weed-infested grounds when we bought the cottage last year. We also have a small area of woodland so - as long as we keep on top of the chopping - we should be ok for firewood for the foreseeable future.

During the first week of September we've a tree surgeon booked to slice a massive fallen tree (that must have been down for years) into manageable chunks that DH will then chop into logs.

We've ordered some additional kitchen cabinets - including another set of much needed pan drawers for storing dog food, light bulbs etc - to supplement those DH fitted last year. They are coming on Friday (DH's first day off ) and over the coming weeks he is planning to build a huge matching larder to compliment them. Then we can truly stock up for winter as my current vintage glazed dresser just can't cope!

Other jobs lined up include fitting two new external lights - essential when you live rurally with no street lights, and making space to lay our vintage wool rug in the 'book' room, aka the second reception. Currently the tiled floor in there is lovely and cool on hot days but will be freezing in winter!

The biggest job of all, prepping for winter-wise, is having new hardwood double glazed windows fitted at the front of the cottage. The current (single glazed) ones - circa 1960 - leak like sieves when it rains heavily. I'm currently still in the gathering quotes stage - one took two months to get back to me and has a four month wait - but hope to find someone who can get them built before the weather gets *too* bad.......

Oh, and treated myself to my first new winter coat for ten years on Saturday!