Preparing for Winter

mardatha

I'd like to know where to get that plastic window stuff as well.

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

I'd like to know where to get that plastic window stuff as well.

Wilkinsons stock it in their shops all year round but only put in on their web site in the run up to autumn. Comes in 2 sizes from what I remember.
Off to my local one on Friday, will look at prices whilst I'm there and report back.
Have you got one near you? well by near you, I mean beyond the sheep, over several hills, past quaint villages and then a town somewhere on the horizon!

mardatha

Erm...maybe too far over the horizon... - isnt Wilkinson an English shop ?

annie123

never thought of that, just had a quick look on their store finder and the closest I could find to you is motherwell, which is no where near from looking at the map! I will still get prices and sizes, just in case you need info, I can always post it to you;)

Its great stuff made a massive difference to my living room north facing windows and to my sons massive and drafty sash windows:D

muffin_man_7

Beingfrugal the one we use is from a***s 4159201 the end of sale has this one 4150475 at half price. The kids have it on in summer house for two hour and then turn it off they even tell me to put heating on in house when it's already on so it must be good hope that helps it costs me 20p for two hours cos i round it up just in case they do leave it on a bit longer

mardatha

Ok annie, thank you. A price would be great ty. I have swapped the rooms round and we are now in the front room. The bed is right under the window, which is 6ft long, and in winter the draught is hellish. Let me know when you find out the details, thanks pet x

ab7

Doubt it will make a difference marthada as I dont know how many hills you need to climb to get to a town but I've know there's a new Wilkinsons opening up in Livingston in Sept? Scotland is getting the good shops, slowly but surely. Bathgate has a home bargains! :rotfl:

twiglet98

Winchelsea wrote: »

I also plan to look for some cheap fleece in white or a pale colour, to make some inner curtains to thread on those spring-loaded poles meant for nets. I tried this before, and made a quick quilt specially, but it was too heavy and fell down, so used some cheap bed sheets from the dry cleaners (who also have a commercial laundry). These did keep some heat in, but would like to try fleece - I think it should be light enough.

The quilt by the way became a throw on the sofa - very nice to snuggle up with!

I couldn't get the spring-loaded poles to stay up either. Eventually screwed cup hooks onto the hardwood bit of the frame (they are aluminium windows) and just rest the pole on them. This is using the thin plastic net curtain poles. I have heavy full length lace curtains at the french doors in my bedroom, and they have a sturdy (and wonderfully cheap!) garden cane threaded through the top heading part, also suspended on cup hooks!

Muffin man thanks for the explanation on the cost of electric radiators, I need to look at my bills and do some maths I reckon it could be cheaper than the oil heating if they're used cautiously and strictly just to dress and undress by, BUT my tribe of grown up offspring don't like being cold, and are only slowly grasping the idea of keeping warm with more layers or more activity, rather than cranking up the thermostat. They'll move out one day (though I'd love them here forever) and then I'll definitely wrap up and do without CH!

ixwood

Electric heating is always 100% efficient (electrical waste is heat), so it's not possible to have one electric heater that's more efficient than the others.

If you have a 400W heater, you'll get 400W of heat.

For what you want, Halogen might be way forward. The same amount of heat is produced, but it's radiated heat (like the sun), which heats you directly, not the air in the room like other (convection) heaters.

It's also worth bearing in mind that electricity is usually around 3 times the price of gas, per unit. It's likely to be cheaper to have the CH on, than run a couple of standalone electric heaters.

Winged_one

This may seem like a stupid question, but does having a cover make a difference on a hot water bottle? we never had them growing up, but DH's family use them a lot. I am getting out my sewing machine for lots of stuff over the summer, and can add in a couple of covers if they would be useful.