Preparing for Winter V

Primrose

Yes, evening ARE slowly getting lighter. We have front lounge curtains which close automatically on a timer and suddenly noticed yesterday they,re closing too early so timer needs adjusting.

 Had to delve into airing cupboard last night and pull out emergency zip up sleeping bag we store there to unzip and use fully spread out as extra bed cover.  Still using 4 tog summer duvet  which is is a bit chilly on these frosty nights!

slm6002

We are currently waiting for our heating system to be mended.  It stopped working on 23rd Dec.  We have lots of blankets / duvets and extra layers, but last night I did go and buy an oil filled radiator just to help heat 1 room a little.  I have found keeping my head covered helps - common sense really that wearing a hat helps.

Food / candles / entertainment all stocked up ready just in case anything happens.

fionaandphil

Oh dear I feel for you @slm6002 it has been perishingly cold these last few days and we have had the heating on for short bursts and the fire going while we are all still at home for school holidays. I hope you manage to get it fixed soon; we take so many of these things for granted now.  I am trying to prepare just in case, we have a weather warning in place for snow and ice so I'm trying to make sure we have things prepared that can be heated with little effort.  Stay safe all

slm6002

Thank you @fionaandphil.  The part has been ordered but guessing it hasn't arrived yet.  Our boiler man was on a well deserved holiday over Christmas which is why the part has only just been ordered.  Fingers crossed that is will be sorted soon.

MrsCD

How is everyone doing? It's still very icy in our part of County Durham and where the snow has frozen solid it's really hard to walk. We've stayed in as much as we could, but had to go to the dentist, and for some milk etc. DH feels the cold more than I do so we had to put the extra oil filled radiator on a bit. 

daz378

I live on top floor of block of flats..gas is some kind of communal heating we top up via an app...in the summer  only used for hot water barely 10 /12 pound a month...this cold snap ..spent £100 pound from 7th December to 7th January.. I'm working...and only have radiators turned on in bedroom and lounge...last years gas bill was 490...wonder how much more this one will be...as I'm only 15 month off 60 maybe starting to feel it more...you all stay safe

Wednesday2000

I had the heating on for a few hours during the day and then had a hot shower this evening, but suddenly felt freezing about 9.30pm. I felt so chilly I had to switch on the central heating again and put on the halogen heater in the room we are sitting in too. I feel okay now. I unfurled the sleeping bag again and put it on top of the bed just in case I feel cold again at night.

I might order a heated blanket tomorrow.

Primrose

Yes an unfurled/unzipped sleeping bag makes a lovely emergency extra duvet on v cold nights.  I,ve done the same and it makes a world of difference to being cosy in bed.

Duchess2

Brrrrr it’s so cold. We’ve been experimenting with heating and have discovered that in our house it’s cheaper to have the heating on low all day than it is to re-heat the house after letting it get very cold, leaving the heating off for 6 hours and only heating one room. I’m afraid that we are too old now to get too cold. We’ll have to do without other things to compensate, but money’s no good to you if you die from the cold.

Auntycaz

I totally agree about keeping the heating on constantly than having it high and then letting it get cold before you turn it back on again @Duchess2. Since having a fall in December and hurting my ribs I have kept my heating on constantly downstairs at about 17/18 degrees, but turning it down to 13/14 overnight. I also turn the heating on in the bedroom for about an hour before bed and use a stone hot waterbottle in my bed.  Fortunately I had a decent buffer from overpaying in the summer months. I even left the heating ticking over at 13 degrees when I stayed at my DD's over Christmas. Another thing I find useful is to make your house as draughtproof as possible by using door curtains and draught excluders at the doors.Its been very windy here lately but even putting parcel tape over the keyhole has made a difference. Stay safe and warm everyone