Why is my house cold or is it just me?

BB78

Has anyone got any ideas as to why my house is so cold??
I live in a one bed ground floor maisonette, built 1983/84. It’s fine when the heating is on (gas fired rads) in fact if the heating is on too long it gets too hot, but generally the temp gets up to 21 degrees in the living room which is fine/great but within half an hour of the heating going off the temp has dropped to 18 degrees and feeling cold and within an hour its approaching 15 degrees and feels arctic. My feet are always freezing and I have to wear 2 pairs of socks plus slippers and sitting here typing this I could gladly put gloves on! I drink hot drinks just to defrost my nose!

I've got 3 exterior walls which I know doesn't help and a concrete ceiling as there is a flat above. I got the double glazing done last year and have thick curtains that I close at dusk. I've got cavity walls & I think I've got cavity wall insulation but not sure, I'm having this checked out because from what I've read if it is there then I've got cold spots in the walls.
I’ve got a condenser boiler that’s about 3-4 years old; I’ve had this checked and its working fine as are all the rads.

I think the problem is the floor because it is freezing! I can’t stand on it without socks and slippers but I don’t know why! Even in the bedroom where its carpet and underlay it’s too cold to stand on. I’ve got air bricks outside so I think that means I’ve got a suspended floor, the floor boards are sheets of chipboard. There seems to be a draft around the floor but I can’t feel where it is coming from.

The living room and kitchen are open plan and in the evening when I open any of the kitchen cupboards I can feel the cold air coming out, everything in the cupboards feels so cold that I don’t think I need a fridge! As well as sleeping in socks I have to put a hot water bottle at the end of the bed otherwise it’s too cold to move.

I get white powdery looking stuff growing on anything left under the bed and black mould grows on the skirting boards and low down on the walls (which I regularly clean off) and at night the skirting boards are wet to the touch. This would seem to indicate either condensation or rising damp but I don’t know which or how to find out?
I don’t dry clothes indoors, I open the window whilst in and after I have a shower, I don’t often boil pasta or veg on the cooker but open the window when I do, I make sure I let some fresh air in and air the rooms everyday and I don’t excessively use the heating.

I have a disability and may be more prone to feeling the cold but I’m at my wits end now, I’ve tried Warmfront, they checked the boiler and are checking the cavity wall insulation.
I can’t afford to run up a huge heating bill, I even volunteered to babysit for a friend last night because I’m sick of being cold!
I’m convinced I’m losing heat and losing it fast or is it just me?

roses

I lived in a house like this before - always freezing! As you have mould growing, it sounds like you have serious damp problems. This is probably what is causing your heat problem. Get some quotes for getting it fixed. It may cost quite a bit but in the long run you will end up saving on your heating bill

totalsolutions

You will catch your death in there... If the walls are wet to touch you need to have it investigated. Ground floor flat?...council surveyer?

Pennylane

I was going to say double glazing - but I see now you have that too!

My house is lovely and warm but I do get plenty of light and sunshine and believe me that does make a difference. My friend lives in a house which gets very little sun in the house and she walks around in fleece jumpers!!

We both have similar sized houses, double glazing & loft insulation and oil central heating. Only difference is we have cavity wall insulation and she doesn't and we get much more light and sun.

Don't know what else to suggest but someone will I'm sure! I do sympathise though because our first cottage was SO cold that by the time it got warmed up in an evening, it was time for bed!

BB78

totalsolutions wrote: »

You will catch your death in there... If the walls are wet to touch you need to have it investigated. Ground floor flat?...council surveyer?

I've bought the property leasehold, will the council survey it?

I spent all day yesterday trying to check out damp proof specialists but there didn't seem to be many that offered free estimates. They say they charge because too many people get the estimate and then do the work themselves.
There also seemed to be alot of warnings about people diagnosing problems incorrectly just to get your cash!
I don't know anyone who has had damp proofing done to have a company recommended?

Might be a stupid question but will the cavity wall guys be able to diagnose the problem?

I haven't got much money but I am willing to spend it on whatever needs doing to warm the place up!!

savemoney

Could you not ask the council environmental health to come and advise?

We had them many years ago in our old house as we had black mold growing on a external wall, ceiling next to external wall and part of a internal wall.

It was condensation, this was caused by a poor job of a contractor insulating a loft and not going to the end of the property. We also had this to some extent at the other side of the house. We went up and id the job ourselves by pushing insulation back with a stick into the gaps.

Sounds like something inst right, if the temperature drops so suddenly when heating is off.

savemoney

If you own your own home you may still be able to get a grant, Home Repair Assistant Grant, but it would depend on various factor, income, how serious the work, funding etc

Try you local council. Be warned it could take years to get one.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/GrantsFundsAndStandards/DG_10027032

maninthestreet

Stick some tin foil to the wall with sellotape, make sure it is sealed around the edges, leave it for a week - if it is damp on the outside then it is condensation, if it is damp on the inside then it's damp coming through the walls.

wildbri

three outside walls will make your flat lose heat very quickly on windy days if the walls
are not insulated, if you are over sixty I believe warmfront will do it for free.
Look in your kitchen base units you may find that the rear of them dont run up to the worktops, fill this space with bubble wrap or old woollies, In the bed room if you pull back the carpet you may see a gap between the chipboard and skirting where the floor has settled, quick fix is tape or sealer. I live in a detached bungalow and two of the bedrooms have three outside walls and the insulation made a big difference

regards...bri:cool:

BB78

wildbri wrote: »

three outside walls will make your flat lose heat very quickly on windy days if the walls
are not insulated, if you are over sixty I believe warmfront will do it for free.
Look in your kitchen base units you may find that the rear of them dont run up to the worktops, fill this space with bubble wrap or old woollies, In the bed room if you pull back the carpet you may see a gap between the chipboard and skirting where the floor has settled, quick fix is tape or sealer. I live in a detached bungalow and two of the bedrooms have three outside walls and the insulation made a big difference

regards...bri:cool:

Checked out the cavity wall insulation situation and apparently it has been done but is very patchy! Because its remedial work I can't get a grant or any help with the cost and Freeholder is dodging the question of when it was originally done and if the guarantee is still valid! :mad:
There are definetly draughts around the floor so I'm going to lay sheets of 6mm insulation and overboard the floor. But there are also random draughts and I can't find the source and still can't find out why my bedroom radiator is cold within 20 minutes of the heating going off??!!
Will check out the kitchen cupboard situation, that might explain why each one is like a mini fridge!!
Still damn cold here, currently wearing 2 pairs of socks, slippers and have 2 folded over fleece blankets over my feet & they are still cold!! & I think its gonna have to be a balaclaver for my poor nose. :rotfl:

Ladybird20

your flat sounds like mine......so i am intrested in any replies that have.....