My card meter was fitted and ut's eating my money...

Lemon_Tree

that's the one floss 'economy' being the biggest lie in living history (almost)!LOL

kizzykizzywizzy

I used to have economy 7, rubbish couldn't control it boiling in the day ( for about 7 minutes, where the "7" comes from ) & freezing at night when you really needed it!
it eventually packed up & we got an oil filled radiator, was really warm, but i think expensive & a calor gas fire, found this to be cheap, BUT made the flat a bit damp.
Moved into my house 1999 & this is the first place i've been warm since leaving home in 1985!! & that was only after we had it insulated & a big radiator put in the bathroom, which was freezing.
I really feel for you, used to be so cold in my flat ice INSIDE the windows & wore layers of clothes to bed, bed felt constantly damp yuk & I live in the Sunny South!!
Good Luck:A

lazy&indebt

Thank you everyone for your help.

I have purchase one of those timer thingies where you can control when an electric appliance is turned on and off as I figured out that it was the radiator using the electric (turned it off for a day and the meter hardly moved, although the flat was FREEZING!)

I haven't even got valves on the radiators to turn them on and off (I think he took the handles off so I will invest in a pair of pliers) and the front door is made of wood, but there are gaps big enough to see through in the bottom panel of the door which I guess is letting a lot of cold air in!

OliveOyl_2

you can buy a sort of sticky backed tape of insulating foam for round your door. Stick it to the door and trim the foam with a pair of scissors if the door wont close.

I know I haven't described this very well but I can picture the reels of the stuff my Mum used to buy for our old draughty house

GingerSte

In that case can you put something in front of the door as a temporary measure?

I had the same problem when I rented a flat near Birmingham a couple of years ago. The only heating was supplied by a gas fire in the lounge and a few portable electric radiators. Plus the place was barely insulated at all: 15 minutes after turning the radiators off, the place was freezing again.

The only advice I can give in the short term is to find the draughts and plug the gaps. In the medium term you should be complaining to your landlord. In the long term it might be worth looking for another place to rent when your contract is up. That's the way I sorted my problem (although technically I bought a house).

GingerSte

I forgot to mention.

Depending on the power usage of your radiator, using one of those plug timers might not be recommended.

lazy&indebt

GingerSte wrote: »

I forgot to mention.

Depending on the power usage of your radiator, using one of those plug timers might not be recommended.

Why is that?

GingerSte

lazy&indebt wrote: »

Why is that?

Those things are rated up to a certain wattage. One that I had was rated to 1kW, and was not recommended for use in heaters or washing machines. I imagine if too much power was passed through them it may lead to an electrical fire, but I may be wrong.

floss2

Why not find a thick curtain in a charity shop, and hang that in front of your door? Even better if it's too long as it will keep lots of draughts out.

Or make a "sausage dog" for the door?

I agree with Gingerste - but if you don't get anywhere with your LL, try the Council - they should get it sorted out for you.

Skint_Catt

Sorry to hijak, but our new rental house has a boiler timer for the Centrl Heating and Hot Water. Central Heating is fine, but how long should I heat the hot water for? We have an electric shower so only need enough to wash hands, faces and the breakfast washing up.

Thanks Catt xx