Preparing for Winter

nippyone

Rummer wrote: »

Sorry folks, I just found this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8273960.stm

:eek::eek: THANKS, Just what I wanted to read! Great start to my weekend - NOT!

Strapped

nykmedia wrote: »

Downshifter, I'm interested in how you get on - I'm in a rented house with landlord who won't allow solid fuel heating to be installed, but I don't think he'd object to a log burner as long as it was fully removeable if/when we leave here and if it didn't affect the chimney or fireplace.

Got my fleece blankets today for the window and friend said they had dropped price to £1 each in Pr!mark as they were about to change over stock. They're ideal, can't wait to get my velcro and get them fitted.

How would it not affect the chimney - I suppose you could pay to have it swept at the end of your tenancy, but tbh I wouldn't expect your LL to go for it. He'd have to be certain that the chimney was fully functional (not leaking) too, which is an additional expense.

downshifter

Strapped wrote: »

How would it not affect the chimney - I suppose you could pay to have it swept at the end of your tenancy, but tbh I wouldn't expect your LL to go for it. He'd have to be certain that the chimney was fully functional (not leaking) too, which is an additional expense.

Obviously I don't know about anyone else's landlord but mine is more than happy for me to do anything that improves his property :rolleyes:. (I've installed a shower, carpeted, floored, - oh a million things in this house) and obviously I have the chimney swept every year as I use the open fire. If I had to have the chimney lined then I'm resigned to leaving that behind if ever I move - well obviously - but it would be nice to be able to remove the actual stove. Depends on your landlord, but I think that it works differently out here in the sticks than how a tenancy would work in say London. I pay a reasonable rent for a house in a stunning area that was a total tip when I moved in nearly 8 years ago. The landlord can be a bit of a pain about things like coming round - I don't see or hear from them for 5 years then they want to come round the next day, but on the whole with a bit of give and take it works ok.

So I need to get a few months extra work, then I'll start thinking about stoves! Or maybe there are some comps around.

DS

downshifter

KatP wrote: »

Where in the peak are you??? I'm just down the road in the derwent valley! Not been too chilly just yet for us.

I'm on the Staffs Moorlands/Derbyshire Dales border. Mild and lovely tonight, the door is wide open into the cloudy night, - hope the camping goes well, I'm very jealous, would love to go camping while the weather is like this, but have to work tomorrow.

Acquired a pallet and spent some of today cutting it up - it seems a bit of a waste as the wood is so good - but it will give me some lovely fires. Had a power cut earlier on - that's not so nice!

DS

daska

citroennut wrote: »

For anyone thinking of having a stove installed, try getting the advice of a good chimney sweep before you go ahead. It's not always necessary to have a metal liner. Our chimney is not lined and we have no problems with it at all. This could mean a considerable saving of dosh!

Personally, having had to have a chimney rebuilt because the previous owner thought it would be fine to stick a stove in, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

The reason it's a problem is that stoves are designed to push more heat out into the room than an open fire so the chimney stays cooler. As a result the gases don't rise far enough and the tar and other impurities from the fire gets deposited in the chimney. As well as reducing the diameter of the chimney and thereby reducing the 'draw', these deposits are corrosive and will eat away at the bricks and mortar. The end result if you get it wrong is a leaky chimney, a compromised structure and a substantial fire risk.

You should still get your flue swept every year as you would an ordinary chimney.

citroennut

While it is true that some chimneys do need a metal liner, it is also true that some do not. This is why it is essential to have a good chimney sweep's advice. We have our chimney swept and checked regularly to ensure it is in good condition. We are very fortunate to have a regular supply of kiln dried wood to burn which may be a helpful factor for us.

The dog and I are stretched out in front of a blazing fire just now. Bliss.

daska

Fair point but, having seen the damage it can cause if the person that installs the stove doesn't know what they're talking about, and having had to pay for the remedial work, I think I'll stick with not taking the risk. The liner for the flue would have cost a fraction of having it rebuilt.

loobyloo0302

bluebag wrote: »

I've used an electric oil filled radiator in the past in my big draughty victorian terrace. I have one with a thermostat so it just clicks on and off.
I found it heated the room quite quickly and soon brought the room back to temperature when the doors were opened letting all the bloomin' heat out! I used it when my gas heating was being replaced last feb about -5 in the day brrrr. It's not cheap to run, but the thermostat helps and I worked out heating the one room for ten hours constantly cost about £2.50 a day with electric @8.5 p a unit ,the heater was 3kw.
I tried a calor gas heater first but he condensation was horrid. Hope this helps. bb.

Thank you so much. It's so hard as I'm really starting to worry. I need to maintain a warm-ish temperature in all rooms downstairs so as to ensure that the kids are ok. Trouble is, there are SO many portable heating products available that I have no idea what to do or where to start!

Strapped

downshifter wrote: »

Obviously I don't know about anyone else's landlord but mine is more than happy for me to do anything that improves his property :rolleyes:. (I've installed a shower, carpeted, floored, - oh a million things in this house) and obviously I have the chimney swept every year as I use the open fire. If I had to have the chimney lined then I'm resigned to leaving that behind if ever I move - well obviously - but it would be nice to be able to remove the actual stove. Depends on your landlord, but I think that it works differently out here in the sticks than how a tenancy would work in say London. I pay a reasonable rent for a house in a stunning area that was a total tip when I moved in nearly 8 years ago. The landlord can be a bit of a pain about things like coming round - I don't see or hear from them for 5 years then they want to come round the next day, but on the whole with a bit of give and take it works ok.

So I need to get a few months extra work, then I'll start thinking about stoves! Or maybe there are some comps around.

DS

No need to be sarcastic. Duh. Obviously a LL is happy for you to improve a property, not so happy if you want to just stick in a stove and NOT pay for/organise chimney sweeping, making sure it's safe, etc. I was simply pointing out that installing a stove does affect the chimney, and it's another thing for the LL to "check on".

:rolleyes: <---look I can use it too.

Oh, and the previous owners of this house had been happily using a wood burning stove not realising that the chimney was leaking into the loft, full of tar and a wonderful fire/CO hazard. Maybe they didn't realise that it would affect the chimney.

downshifter

Strapped wrote: »

No need to be sarcastic. Duh. Obviously a LL is happy for you to improve a property, not so happy if you want to just stick in a stove and NOT pay for/organise chimney sweeping, making sure it's safe, etc. I was simply pointing out that installing a stove does affect the chimney, and it's another thing for the LL to "check on".

:rolleyes: <---look I can use it too.

Oh, and the previous owners of this house had been happily using a wood burning stove not realising that the chimney was leaking into the loft, full of tar and a wonderful fire/CO hazard. Maybe they didn't realise that it would affect the chimney.

Oh no! the first time I ever use a smilie in my whole life ever ever I get it wrong. I didn't mean to insult anyone, but reading on the landlord/tenant forum there are lots of landlords who don't want you to do anything in the house, and there are lots of things that constitute improvement - very open to interpretation I reckon. All landlords are different, and mine knows I have the chimney swept regularly and do things right. When I installed the shower the whole electrical system was double checked and some bits renewed, incl the meter, and all paid for by me, incl the safety certificate.. As I said, bit of give and take.
But you're right to be cautious about it and make these warnings, I had a chimney that leaked into the childrens bedrooms once, it was pretty scary thinking they could be sleeping with those fumes. But that was our own house and we paid to have it sorted out of course. In rentals you can never be sure so have to check it out for yourself and make sure whatever you do is done properly. In my case the landlord wouldn't bother to check at the end of my tenancy so anything I do wrong could put future tenants at risk, I couldn't live with that.

Anyway, now need to go and earn some money, it's a misty mild day, so no need for heating for another day. Have a lovely Saturday everyone.

DS