Preparing for Winter V

pattypan4

drat, why on earth cannot the met office give us an accurate forecast in advance, they have got millions of £££s worth of computers. So I got up early and have a very full wash load today and just now I see a rain symbol when there wasn`t one an hour ago. Too late, the wash is on


I cleaned the stove and see a bit of glowing nut, am happy to see that, means in winter when very bad weather then the flue will already be warm and ready to draw. Also glad I am using a metal container to hold the ash until cold, wonder if people still set their bins on fire. The ashcan under the grate is very shallow, I emptied it 4 times into the nearby container. It means that I would have to empty it very hot if I need to riddle the fire. Crafty things, no riddling means less heat, means less overall fuel used. I couldn`t see me topping up with logs inless I riddled first. Its only about an inch deep and I don`t intend to empty it hot, unless I have to

greenbee

Lots need a bed of ash to burn on, so for those just leave the ash in and close the grate to prevent draught from below. For solid fuel you need a draught from below, so regular removal of ashes (and they make more, plus burn hotter).

I was thinking last night that plastic bins used to say ‘no hot ashes’ on them as standard. And we also had a metal bin that had ‘ash only’ painted on it.

Novice_investor101

pattypan4 forecast for here was cloud but no rain, so I got up early to go for a 7 mile walk. It's been torrential rain since I've been up, so I've abandoned the walk.
I think I'll be staying in & giving the house a good clean instead.

DigForVictory

DigForVictory wrote: »

[I sealed before water bathing, as I hope the bathing & citric acid will mean I need not refrigerate but I have labelled the bottles Christmas 2019 so any recipient can form their own judgement as to how old & how safe...]

Whether this has *caused* the hideous layer of sediment, I don't know but giftable these bottles are (presently) not. Ah well, filtered, heated, hot bottled & immediately sealed they should be OK for 3 months & the Christmas 2019 warning will still apply.

pattypan4

I used spray on the glass stove door today, first time after 2 weeks but I couldn`t get the fire to draw yesterday, no wind and the cold air must have been heavy. Stove was full of smoke, so I am trying a different way of lighting next time. Smokeless eggs on their own and just my electric firelighter, then later I will put the lighter fuels on top. I am learning as I go. Base air required for eggs and anthracite, air wash needed for logs and wood. So for eggs I reduce air wash when lit, maybe 25% and base to 50%. When just a thin smouldering layer left I will add peat briquettes or a log and when caught I will reduce base to 25% and have air wash at about 50 reducing to 25.% I ended up at 25% base and 25% air wash yesterday and had a nice hot fire for a long time. It is certainly economical with fuel. One of these very modern fires, A+ efficient at 83%. I am hoping this is my last need to experiment


ohh, meaco 12l dehumidifier is on qvcuk at £10 cheaper than anywhere else and I think they do 3 payments


edit, oh yes I have cleaned the ash pan and am thinking about transfer of hot ashes in deep mid winter, also thinking about keeping the grate clean, There is not a lot of depth so I have found an ember mat, looks like one of those excellent inventions

[Deleted User]

Morning everyone, just keeping myself right with the list I put on here. I have managed to do most of it so far.

Create 'emergency boxes' for mine and OHs car. This is just a tub with 2 blankets, spare hat, gloves and scarf, water and some cereal bars. It's there in case we break down or get stuck somewhere. - Done, other than the cereal bars which I will get this week. Boxes are in the cars now.

Wash winter jackets and cosy blankets for living room (as I dropped a bit of pizza on one of the blankets!!). Blankets being washed today. Jackets still to be done

Make sure the house is well stocked with food basics and baking basics. Look for YS bread to store in the freezer. Recent winters haven't really made this necessary but several years ago I really needed the stocks from the freezer due to prolonged snow and delivery trucks not getting into our town so I still stock up in advance just in case. Almost done but need to add more milk into the freezer. I seem to be going through loads just now.

Top up stocks of fire wood and kindling. OH getting these today and I will stock up more on pay day next week.

Buy Screen wash for the cars. Done

Top up bucket of grit. Still to do.


I hope everyone has a great week. It was -4oC this morning so I am glad my winter preparations are well underway.

mardatha

Pattypan what's an ember mat?? I'm on my own this week with the stove as the hubby is in hospital - and he won't be able to do much for a few months after he gets home so I'll be in charge for a while.
Ours draws ok as it's big and old,. so a few draughts get in. But the ashcan is huge and heavy and has a really awkward silly handle, I'm having to hold a block of wood in my other hand underneath the ashcan to balance it on, so that the whole weight isn't on my wrist.
I just use smokeless eggs with a shovelful of anthracite on last thing to bank it down overnight.
Then things were not helped this morning by a power cut early on, pitch dark and minus 4.
Then the damn propane regulator froze and I had to pour warm water on it and wrap it in a woolly scarf
All ok now though.

Primrose

Probably no comfort to you Mardatha but we had a four hour power at 5 am yesterday and we're in the south east ao the devil is sharing his blessings around. Hope your OH soon recovers
. It,s a depressing time of year to be unwell. At least some sunshine would cheer the dreary days a little. Be careful with that ash pan!

pattypan4

mardatha, I have been reading about your husband being in hospital, my best wishes for a good recovery. In the meantime you will be doing all the work until he gets back to being fully well and healed. Its a difficult time for you both. I read that your fire does all your heating and hot water so yes there is a lot of ash shifting for you and you have to be careful not to wobble the hot ashcan. My ember mat is coming tomorrow, I don`t have your 24/7 fire situation but I still get worried about dropping the hot stuff on the floor. They had a couple of these on ebay, I think I found it by putting embermat in the search box. Cost around £34.
http://embermats.com

pattypan4

forcast for very cold and I forgot to part empty the water butts, just been and done that. I have a hose which is tough to get onto the taps but a bowl of hot water works. Winter is properly on its way. My stove is still nice and warm and I put the last small bit of fuel on at 3pm. 1/4 base vent and 40% air wash. I might just have cracked it. I want warmth but not hot. Done lots of experimenting since I moved in but don`t want to be faffing hit and miss if there is a power cut. Spent a while making old fashioned screwed up paper balls, at least they don`t spit like kindling