Get a grip woman!

themadvix

It sounds like that was a worthwhile trip, despite doing it twice.

Suffolk_lass

Been for breakfast this morning with some beekeepers (a public service to let us chat among ourselves and stop boring our neighbours and relatives!). All good fun. 

I am exploring which machine to replace my 2012 iMac with and must sort that this week. I need to practice for my exam and cannot load the software onto the current machine.

This afternoon though, the sun is shining, it is warmer than forecast and my garlic is going in, and I'm planning to plant some wildflower seeds in little modules so I can plant out next spring. I also need to move the geraniums to the greenhouse. I'm going to encourage DH to feed the bees at the farm too.

Suffolk_lass

In similar mode to others I thought I would briefly fire up the heating this morning as it was 14 upstairs and 16 in the sitting room after a fire last night. The aga is still off, for the timebeing.

Our boiler thermostat has to call the boiler from two rooms away (with three quarters of a ton of cast iron and a central double thickness chimney between the thermostat and the boiler) so I always walk the thermostat to the boiler and whack up the temperature to get the boiler to fire. This morning I could see the bluetooth flash, hear the click of the receiver in the boiler cupboard, followed by... nothing. A new record as the boiler service was two weeks ago tomorrow. I texted the boiler man to tell him and say it is not urgent and if he wanted my to tap something (the CH pump jams, normally due to lack of use but it was all tested 13 days ago), I was up for it. I went back to the cupboard 20 minutes later to get the laundry basket and the "overheating" light is flashing. Texted again to say it might be urgent, after all.

Every blooming year, at least two, if not three visits to get it working for winter. I regularly nurse it along by re-pressurising it too. The joys of rural oil boilers. In an old 17th century cottage an air source heat pump is not an option, I am told. 

beanielou

That's not the best.
Hope you can get it resolved.

themadvix

So frustrating for you SL! And no, an Ahsp/ghsp probably not an option due to leakiness and lack of efficiency. I can’t think what it was called now, but there was something we were considering as an option when we were planning on moving to Norfolk… it was new to market and basically a big thermal store. If I remember, or Mr MV does, I’ll let you know.

trix-a-belle

Sorry to hear that SL.
Over the road had solar panels installed earlier this year & their place isn't thatched like you but is old enough that it doesn't have proper footings & previously had a wood fired back boiler (not even oil like others in the village), which they have kept & now seem to have a good balance running on solar during the summer & solar topped up with wood in the back burner for heating in the winter.
Even in my house (12ish years old) I don't think ashp would be a good option.

Suffolk_lass

Overnight update... at 0530 this morning the boiler pressure was zero so I turned off the boiler and went back to bed! Our boiler man has just called me and I had to:

1. Repressurise the boiler to 0.5
2. Unscrew the black cover on the right hand side of the control panel and press the switch underneath (which is apparently the overheat reset)
3. Turn on the boiler (and it fired), then lifting the pressure to just under 1 bar and we have hot water
4. Then if the heating doesn't come on I have to take the top off the boiler and press the red "switch" on the CH pump and bodge a connection if the plastic switch has failed
5. Update the boiler man.

I have done all except 4 & 5 as the heating came on - DH found this when he went to the toilet to find the radiator (which is too close to the toilet) was hot against his leg. Fingers crossed it is OK. Not sure why it overheated but our man is hellishly busy and he knows I can take instruction so I'm happy we have water and some heat.

I've got nearly three loads of wet washing to get dry (hopefully most outdoors) but the prospect of no warm boiler cupboard meant we rigged up an old clothes airer like this with a convector heater underneath and I pegged the underwear to it last night. It warmed the back of the sitting room and has dried that washing. The T-shirts are now back in the boiler cupboard, all on hangers on the GNU (or "clothes maid") style airer. This is one of my best ever purchases! allbeit the low ceilings here mean it is fixed height and not on the traditional pulley you get in lovely high-ceiling houses.

It reminded me of how hard it was when I was a girl. We had an open fire in the sitting room and a paraffin heater in the bathroom (used on bath night!) . That was it until I bought a fan heater which I used to sneakily turn on for a bit when I was in my bedroom, "studying". When my great aunt died and left my Dad a bit of money we had some storage radiators but they regularly failed because the element of coiled wire, running through the bricks would have a hot spot and burn out. They were great for putting an airer in front of when they did work though. I think we forget how fortunate we are in the 21st century.

Right, time to get dressed and get the towels and sheets out to dry!

trix-a-belle

Glad you're sorted, I think the black switch is often a reset on anything as my pressure bottomed out earlier this year & I had to press the black switch on mine to reset it (no overheating)

beanielou

Positive vibes. 

Suffolk_lass

Ommm! It worked @beanielou, all is well and the heating is periodically doing its thing. I need to make time to reprogramme it, now we have both retired! I bang it on manual and obviously forgot to turn it off again yesterday!! DH casually mentioned he heard it making noises in the night. I thought I was having a night sweat but it was the heating, lol!

Today I am expecting delivery of the thin walling material we have ordered from BnQ to do the walls in our downstairs cloakroom and our son's too. The boards (like shower boards but thinner) will be cut down and surround the three walls around the toilets. Up to half height. If there are any off-cuts the area above DS's wash hand basin will get that as a look of tiled splashback will help. It really is the dingiest space. I have a replacement toilet coming here on Friday too. If it is OK it will either replace his or ours. Ours has a pathetic flush, his is beyond help. I just fear the attachment to the soil pipe might be in the wrong place. Our semi retired plumber neighbour may be called upon here.

In addition, I think I mentioned I need to upgrade my computer. It works fine but is 11 years old and the OS is no longer updated. Rather than spend on a new one, I have ordered a refurbished model from Music Magpie and it is going to be delivered today (it was sent Monday, Tracked 48 but arrived after 24, and we were out!) it is about 60% of the prce of the new ones and will let me take my exam on it.

In further spendiness I have to buy two gate posts to accommodate the oak gate we have acquired. Not cheap but necessary. And delivered early are the low push-in panels that will go under the hedge to stop our dog visiting next door. DH is outside now, wire brushing the metal gate posts and gates to act as a boundary and stop dog going into the field behind us at will. I am indoors, waiting for deliveries, determined not to miss them!