2023 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

Thanks @Debsnewbudget

Something like that might be an option - and I'd never have thought of it

There's a plug socket on the outside side wall of the airing cupboard I could probably run a cable in from - but I'd have to change it to a double socket as it's currently powering my 'mesh' (wi-fi extender gadget) which is turned on 24/7.    I wouldn't want the heater on all the time, so I'd need a different switched socket for it.

Might actually be better than a radiator, as I wouldn't have to run the boiler which would also heat a minimum of 7 other radiators as my system stands at the moment.  The house has 12 radiators now, but only 5 have thermostatic valves which that was something else I've been looking to extend - so will be chatting to the installation team about that as well.   I need at least 1 more installing as I rarely use my dining room which doesn't have one, meaning I currently have to crank it off and then put it on once in a while to keep the damp at bay!   The kitchen also doesn't haven't one which has always struck me as odd (I'm not bothered about trying to keep that room warm in the evenings after I'm done with cooking).   The hall and landing are supposedly controlled by the hall thermostat, but I then also have 3 in bathrooms (cloakroom, en-suite and family bathroom) that don't have.    The family bathroom is another rarely used room that could possibly do with one.

The chap who came today suggested I ask the next 'visitor' (who works out exactly what materials they need to do the job) if they could install a radiator for me - at my cost.   I'll ask to see how much it would work out at as I still think it could be a safer option in the long term - but I'll weigh the two options up before deciding.   Timing wise I should be able to afford to install a radiator if it's done as part of the work (likely to be cheaper than bringing someone else in to do it later), as the bonus that was attached to our pay deal is due at the end of next month.  I can't see the work being done before then because it'll have to be scheduled for when I'm off work!

Debsnewbudget

We have a wire mesh basket over ours just in case one of the towels falls onto it.  Similar to the ones on the outside wall for a central heating flue. 

Its on all day every day, and dries our towels thoroughly after every shower. 

Forgot to add…. We have the bathroom towel rail plugged into electric as well, so we can switch that one on to dry the  hand towels in summer if they need it without turning heating on.  That might be another option for you, a dual fuel towel heater. 

cw18

I'm liking the idea of a cage over it    I have one over my flue after I was told at several annual inspections it needed one.   The following year I made some comment about not getting a 'black mark' for that any more, only to be told the rules had changed (again) and my system no longer required one !!!!

I wouldn't be looking to run it full-time.   Just when I need to dry some washing quickly - and probably a couple of short burts a week to stop things in the cupboard getting musty, in the same way as I currently run my water tank.

New_in_the_fens

cw18 said:

Had a chap round to do a full energy survey on my house today - part of the new boiler application.

Sounds like I don't qualify for any additional cavity wall or loft insulation, but he 100% confirmed my boiler qualifies.
I've heard nothing back on the paperwork I submitted (pay slips and such), so assumed that was clear - but the chap today said the system has me down as an NHS referral due to a medical condition    He's marked that as a query, but I think I'm going to get in touch with the guy who signed me up for it so see if he can also get the office to rectify that - and check they they don't need any more paperwork from me.

Got confirmation from him that it will be a combi-boiler    I absolutely HATE those things (only ever used them when visiting other properties, but none have worked well), and it means I'm going to have pay someone to put a radiator into my airing cupboard as I rely on the heat from my water tank to dry my work uniform during the winter (can't be washed until Saturday evening and I normally do it first thing Sunday, but it has to be dry for 6:30am Monday!).   Still, one new radiator should be a LOT cheaper than a new boiler.   But, if the system's anything like the others I've used, I'm going to have to get into the habit of collecting the water I have to run off before the hot comes through the taps (and possibly the shower too!).  I'm on a water meter, and I've wasted loads of water at my daughter's house trying to get the hot through to the kitchen sink or bathroom basin, so it's fortunate she doesn't have a water meter.    But my Mother does, and she's been having problems getting hot water from her combi-boiler too.

I had an oil radiator in my airing cupboard. We had to have a socket put in, but it worked a  treat 😀

New_in_the_fens

And it had a timer on it, so only on when you needed it!

willow_loulou

I have heated airers and towel rails - one of them would fit perfectly in our airing cupboard if the emersion tank wasn’t there. All of mine have an on/off switch so I only have them on when I want. 

I use them to keep the rooms above chilly so the damp doesn’t start. I didn’t have one in my bedroom last year (hot flushes ) and it got damp so I could smell it! Not allowing that again. 

QueenJess

roundtuit said:

@cw18 and @willow_loulou thank you for the welcome.

I've paid the electricity bill today - first payment needed since the government credits went on the account as the credits were more than my monthly usage. Part payment of £12.62 was required to clear my account. I've taken onboard what you said about paying by DD being cheaper, but I'm sticking to payment on receipt of bill for now....that way I'm in control of what's paid and when. Paying the electricity by DD would save me less than £1 a week so I'm not tempted to change.

Can’t you do both? I pay by variable DD, so each month I read the meter, they calculate the bill and it comes out automatically by DD. That way I only ever pay for what I’ve used as I always find their estimates of my use to be laughable.

cw18

New_in_the_fens said:

I had an oil radiator in my airing cupboard. We had to have a socket put in, but it worked a  treat 😀

I've used an oil radiator in the past, but I'd never buy one.   It took forever to heat up, and never did more than take the bitter chill out of the air in the room it was in (though I guess it would have done better in a smaller space).   Although I'd consider it a suitable option just for airing the towels and bedding kept in the cupboard, when it comes to drying washing I'd sooner have something that heats up quickly.

New_in_the_fens

cw18 said:

New_in_the_fens said:

I had an oil radiator in my airing cupboard. We had to have a socket put in, but it worked a  treat 😀

I've used an oil radiator in the past, but I'd never buy one.   It took forever to heat up, and never did more than take the bitter chill out of the air in the room it was in (though I guess it would have done better in a smaller space).   Although I'd consider it a suitable option just for airing the towels and bedding kept in the cupboard, when it comes to drying washing I'd sooner have something that heats up quickly.

I can’t remember why we got it to be honest, maybe heating for a shed, but I only recall using it in the airing cupboard, and given the small size of the area, it was perfect. 

willow_loulou

New_in_the_fens said:

cw18 said:

New_in_the_fens said:

I had an oil radiator in my airing cupboard. We had to have a socket put in, but it worked a  treat 😀

I've used an oil radiator in the past, but I'd never buy one.   It took forever to heat up, and never did more than take the bitter chill out of the air in the room it was in (though I guess it would have done better in a smaller space).   Although I'd consider it a suitable option just for airing the towels and bedding kept in the cupboard, when it comes to drying washing I'd sooner have something that heats up quickly.

I can’t remember why we got it to be honest, maybe heating for a shed, but I only recall using it in the airing cupboard, and given the small size of the area, it was perfect. 

I’ve heated my whole house with them before. When my burners glass broke. The larger ones are extremely effective for a small living room - just expensive.