Preparing for Winter

annie123

Mooloo......Its your landlords responsibility to have the chimney swept if you have to use it as a heating sauce. (if they provided a gas boiler for heating, that would have to keep that in good working order etc, ) If he/she has told you not to use it as its not been swept, then its up to you to get it swept.
At least that is what I was told I had to tell our landlords/tenants by the company I used to work for.

Justamum

I was thinking of making this http://www.kwiksew.com/catalog/cat_detail.cfm?pid=3712

or this
http://www.kwiksew.com/catalog/cat_detail.cfm?pid=3711

or even both! Should be quite cosy

Patchwork_Quilt

debidoodle wrote: »

Rummer we had our loft insulation and cavity wall insulation through Warm Front, they have grants and also reduced prices for people that are not entitled to a grant.

Our local council was funding grants for anybody at all to get loft and wall insulation done.

Just be careful of extras. Our wall insulation man suddenly wanted another £50 for putting in a vent that we didn't need. Needless to say, DH sent them away. The loft people were lovely, though

Rummer

We are getting a quote in the next few week and the price will include the discount so fingers crossed it won't be too expensive! Does anyone have a really easy pattern for a draught excluder? I know it is just a tube but I am unsure how to finish the ends? Also would it be okay to fill it with bubble wrap as I have a whole load of it after a delivery.

Gigervamp

Rummer wrote: »

Does anyone have a really easy pattern for a draught excluder? I know it is just a tube but I am unsure how to finish the ends?

If you stitch the ends using running stitch going around the tube, you can then pull the thread to close it and finish with a couple of stitches to hold it in place.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I use polystyrene pipe cover used by plumbers to insulate pipes as draught excluder.
It's cheap and it comes in lots of thicknesses and you can cut it with a sharp knife to the exact size to fit the door opening.It does'nt even need to be moved if you put it on the opposite side of the opening to the door.(outside doors excepted of course)
All you do is cut it to size and measure your fabric to go round plus a couple of inches extra all round.You then just tuck your fabric in the slit and finsh off by neatly stuffing the ends.
No sewing and it does the job because it's insulating material anyway.
I've had mine for years and they still look good as new.

Rummer

Thank you for the draught excluder tips. Looks like I will really need them this year since I am currently typing from under a a big furry blanket and it is July!

annie123

Rummer wrote: »

We are getting a quote in the next few week and the price will include the discount so fingers crossed it won't be too expensive! Does anyone have a really easy pattern for a draught excluder? I know it is just a tube but I am unsure how to finish the ends? Also would it be okay to fill it with bubble wrap as I have a whole load of it after a delivery.

MrsM made them last year using bubble wrap and a sarong wrapped around it, closed the ends with hair bands, a sarong easy to remove and wash if needed. reported that it worked well
I will be trying myself this year.
hth

sandraroffey

i always used to use the cling film method for draught proofing but always had to use a good sticky tape - parcel tape, gaffer tape - to keep it there. worked a treat. my grandparents always had a home made wooden frame, with thick builders-type plastic over it, which fitted into each window. do it yourself secondary glazing!!!

Confuzzled

sandraroffey wrote: »

i always used to use the cling film method for draught proofing but always had to use a good sticky tape - parcel tape, gaffer tape - to keep it there. worked a treat. my grandparents always had a home made wooden frame, with thick builders-type plastic over it, which fitted into each window. do it yourself secondary glazing!!!

i had a look for some of the instant double glazing which i may buy this winter but... i don't have a hairdryer, i'd have to borrow one

hmmm the neighbours i talk to are old, doubt they have one i can borrow, maybe i can pick one up on freecycle!

i managed to pick up 2 free wool blankets from there, the woman even delivered them as her mother lives on the next street over... they aren't the comfiest of things so they may become door curtains...very festive though, red and green!

i also don't think i can get away with putting rods up here (i'm renting( but i suspect a few cup hooks holes can be disguised when i move so i may just do that... i don't care what it looks like as long as it's warm!