Discuss the 'Heat the human not the home' guide

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

FelipeArbusto said:

This will cook the food in the bottom saucepan and heat the water in the top saucepan ...

Yes, but in doing do you'll use more energy than you would have done otherwise. It's the opposite of insulating a pan; instead, you've added a heat sink (the upper pan full of cold water) to it.

k_man

FelipeArbusto said:

I use this method in conjunction with a flask/s. My set allows me to heat 1 litre of water at a time, but depending on the quantity of hob use I can heat more, but I use a 1 litre rule, as safety comes 1st.. 

Whether you fast boil or simmer - this method should work out in the same manner as it does for me.
Suffice to say, you'll heat less if you fast boil vs a simmer. If making a casserole, this method could yield you loads of heated water  


1) Place whatever you are going to cook in a saucepan but DO NOT USE A LID.

2) Instead of a lid, place another saucepan on top.

Please ensure that the saucepan on top is secure, so it can not dislodge and cause you any mishaps.
For safety reasons, only you can judge the correct quantity of water to use. 

3) Fill the top saucepan with some water (as above, safety first)  now use a lid.

This will cook the food in the bottom saucepan and heat the water in the top saucepan which then can be used to clean the dishes or to make hot drinks or even go as far as placing some of that hot water in a builders bucket which you'll shower in (using the electric shower to only rinse yourself down)  then use that grey water to flush the toilet either directly into the bowl or via the cistern.  

Investment in a flask or two would be very beneficial esp the type that guarantee to keep it warm for say 24 hours.

I hope this helps someone. 

**

How did you find the info? Very informative.
Was it useful? Yes
Do you have any other tips you'd add? Above post

The lid on the saucepan stops warm air rising out of the pan, so insulates effectively with lid + air (low heat capacity, poor conductor).

Adding a pan of water (both very good conductors of heat) creates a heat exchanger, which will mean the main pan will lose heat much faster than just the lid, and possibly faster than no lid at all.

To achieve the same 'cooking rate' in the main pan, more energy needs to be input (as for lid Vs no lid)

FelipeArbusto

lizum213 said:

I'm a chartered engineer specialising in the design of buildings, including heating. Your warnings about the advice are good but I think there needs to be more information as some essential information about the impact on health of cold homes is missing.

I'd recommend buying thermometers/temperature sensors so that people can check the air temperature in their rooms.

Public Health England recommend a minimum temperature of 18degC, both during the day and overnight, although healthy people can reduce the overnight temperature. 

As you said, lower temperature can affect health due to damp but misses out other health and building affecting issues. Mould grows on surfaces that are below 14degC  (which is possible even in a warm home) and can have a major impact on health and your house. Damp conditions are also good for growth of dust mites, rots and beetles.

I understand that the guide is for people in a desperate position but it shouldn't be used by those that can afford to heat their homes as the impact on their health and house could be disastrous. 

If heating is at a premium, would having enough ventilation help?

FelipeArbusto

Donna0926 said:

I would like to know more about the cost efficient ways of stopping your home deteriorating through the lack of heating. It is our fifth year of not being able to heat the house properly and the mould is growing and as we own our house I worry so much about the year on year damage the damp must be doing. Is it cheapest to just put the heating on, or to buy dehumidifiers? Lots of tips to keep warm which is great, but we struggled for years to be able to afford our house and in the winter the walls are turning green and I am wiping the condensation off the windows every morning . I will be getting out the hot water bottles and stocking up on blankets when it gets to winter but honestly the amount of damp in our house is scary 

My heating only goes on sparingly usually in the late evening if at all, even in the coldest of months.
I primarily rely on my dehumidifier during the night and ventilation ie doors and windows open during a good portion of the day.
The dehumidifier during the night (colder months) collects so much water (which is great) which would have only been suspended in the air, making the rooms even colder. Best condensed as water than in the air.as moisture.
It does not totally eliminate the condensation on the front bay windows, esp when there is a frost esp a hard frost over night.
ps If the house is too cold, you might find that dehumidifier does not work efficiently.
This could also help, when cooking, keep doors to the other parts of the house closed and kitchen windows open.
There are condensation traps that are cheap to buy. (picture) they consist of a plastic tub filled with an absorbent material. I have found these do work. Just remember to peel away the film barrier before use.

I hope this helps?

Ally_E.

FelipeArbusto said:

Donna0926 said:

I would like to know more about the cost efficient ways of stopping your home deteriorating through the lack of heating. It is our fifth year of not being able to heat the house properly and the mould is growing and as we own our house I worry so much about the year on year damage the damp must be doing. Is it cheapest to just put the heating on, or to buy dehumidifiers? Lots of tips to keep warm which is great, but we struggled for years to be able to afford our house and in the winter the walls are turning green and I am wiping the condensation off the windows every morning . I will be getting out the hot water bottles and stocking up on blankets when it gets to winter but honestly the amount of damp in our house is scary 

My heating only goes on sparingly usually in the late evening if at all, even in the coldest of months.
I primarily rely on my dehumidifier during the night and ventilation ie doors and windows open during a good portion of the day.
The dehumidifier during the night (colder months) collects so much water (which is great) which would have only been suspended in the air, making the rooms even colder. Best condensed as water than in the air.as moisture.
It does not totally eliminate the condensation on the front bay windows, esp when there is a frost esp a hard frost over night.
ps If the house is too cold, you might find that dehumidifier does not work efficiently.
This could also help, when cooking, keep doors to the other parts of the house closed and kitchen windows open.
There are condensation traps that are cheap to buy. (picture) they consist of a plastic tub filled with an absorbent material. I have found these do work. Just remember to peel away the film barrier before use.

I hope this helps?

These don't really work, a properly dehumidifier is so much better and is more cost effective.

powerspowers

I like that there are references to local councils but this is a bit vague as different tier councils offer different support. Eg I live in a county. Help through the household support fund is via the county council but help with the council tax rebate is via the district council who also had some of the HSF money passed on to them. Basically if you are served by 2 councils it’s worth contacting both. 

MalMonroe

Deleted_User said:

Not a good idea suggesting  putting down rugs to help your feet stay warm, these can be a trip hazard for the elderly!!

OR - for anybody! NOT just the elderly. I wish peeps on here would stop it with the age discrimination comments. (Why yes I AM in the 'older' age bracket. But it's really getting to be a real pain in the butt now.)

MalMonroe

I think the whole population of the UK should be revolting (oops, maybe we already are) but yes, revolting against the high charges. We all just sit here (some in gloves, hats and scarves) being told what will happen. I realise that there is an energy crisis because of the ongoing shortage of energy across the world BUT people who can afford to pay will. It doesn't mean that the demand will be less. What when it's all gone? 

I don't want to live in a cold property (we have mould and damp in spite of having windows flung open when we can bear it because there is something actually wrong with the damp proof course where we live. As council tenants we have to wait our turn to be attended to, as usual) where I have to wear my outdoor clothes indoors. We are going backwards to Dickensian times. 

I don't want to have to pay a fortune for energy without my income rising too. In fact, I'm thinking of running away and living in a different country. I feel fortunate that I can do that because of dual nationality, although it will mean a bit of upheaval.

Sadly, the UK is going to the dogs - some would say it's already gone (e.g. yet another murder in my home town overnight - what would have been a shocking occurrence during my formative years is just a commonplace event here now) and I don't want to go with it and I cannot bear the complacency of many of our citizens. 

Dizee123

I wonder if next winter public places that are heated like libraries, council offices etc. will be full of people who are too cold to stay at home?  Either that or everyone will be nursing a refillable cup of coffee in Wetherspoons  

Norman_Castle

dualnash said:

An employer of a TV/Broadband company called into the radio a couple of days ago and said that leaving your TV/TV box/wifi box on stand-by can cost you up to £75 a year in energy

Did the employee (employer?) of the TV/Broadband company say where he got these figures from? The one watt initiate introduced in 2010 limits stand by consumption to one watt reduced to 0.5 watts in 2013.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Watt_Initiative