Getting ready for winter

2qk4u

After last winters snow and cold and the chance that it could be worse this year what should we do to prepare ?
With so many people on a very tight budget maybe we could post tips and advice on the best possible cheap diy for winter.

Im starting with insulating pipes and draught exclusion, I will also be stocking up on salt and sand for the driveway and footpath outside. I have an outside tap and am considering removing it to stop freezing.
I have a garage with a wood up and over door and I might try lining the back of it as I had some fluids freeze inside it last winter.

Saganist

I was just thinking this today myself after reading some predictions on how cold its going to be this year.

I'm actually think of re-insulating the attic. It hasn't been done in over 20 years. Cheers for the other tips. I'll be doing some of those aswell.

dnme

What about an insulation run to the North?

ATM you can buy insulation up there very cheap, £3 a roll. I am thinking or organising a run from the Northwest, I will post the idea on the Sligo forum and see if it gets well received. If we could get a few people together, a van and a song, could be worth while.

2qk4u

dnme wrote: »

What about an insulation run to the North?

ATM you can buy insulation up there very cheap, £3 a roll. I am thinking or organising a run from the Northwest, I will post the idea on the Sligo forum and see if it gets well received. If we could get a few people together, a van and a song, could be worth while.

Is that the general price in diy shops ?

dnme

2qk4u wrote: »

Is that the general price in diy shops ?

Price down here is €18-€30

slavetothegrind

are you buying from an insulation merchant or b&q? that sounds ott.

regarding attic insulation, yeah good plan.
try and put it over all plumbing pipes and where they rise to tank use the thick 19mm armourflex, ensure you continue the insulation up the sides and over the top of the tankcover ( you do have a cover?) and NOT under the tank, so it doesn't freeze.

i am thinking about adding more storage in my own attic as our mains froze for a week last winter, but i porbably won't bother as the last thing i want to do when i get in is get out the damn tools again!:rolleyes:

Billy Bunting

Have a froststat wired into the heating controls, failing that add Fernox Alphi 11 to the system.

slowburner

Any tips on reducing heat loss through single glazed windows?

dnme

slowburner wrote: »

Any tips on reducing heat loss through single glazed windows?

You can add a layer of cling film to the frame during winter. It effectively forms a second pane. It's a bit fiddly but works. Disadvantages are that you cant open the windows or clean them from the inside.

Use good heavy curtains, they make a big difference.

If you have a radiator under the window, tuck curtains in behind it when drawn, also put reflective material on the wall behind each radiator, this can be bought specifically for the purpose.

sky.boy

I'd recommend an infa red light in your attic that is hooked up to a thermostat. also for the guy with the tap outside, can you switch off the water running to your tap. When the water is turned off, run the tap till the pipe is empty and only air coming out. Good thread BTW

slimjimmc

sky.boy wrote: »

I'd recommend an infa red light in your attic that is hooked up to a thermostat. also for the guy with the tap outside, can you switch off the water running to your tap. When the water is turned off, run the tap till the pipe is empty and only air coming out. Good thread BTW

And leave the outside tap open at all times, you'd be surprised how much leakage can occur from a closed stop-cock which would fill up the pipe again if the outside tap was kept closed.

dnme

slimjimmc wrote: »

And leave the outside tap open at all times, you'd be surprised how much leakage can occur from a closed stop-cock which would fill up the pipe again if the outside tap was kept closed.

Don't leave any taps running, ever!

Davy

dnme wrote: »

Don't leave any taps running, ever!

He is saying leave it open after you have the stop cock off so its just to allow build up to leave, rather than constantly wasting water

dnme

Davy wrote: »

He is saying leave it open after you have the stop cock off so its just to allow build up to leave, rather than constantly wasting water

I see, I do apologise.

Davy

dnme wrote: »

I see, I do apologise.

No need, simple mistake

paddy147

Well,Im all set for winter.

The entire house totally internally insulated witn insulated slabbing,both attics now spray foamed with bio-foam 800.Stovax multi fuel stove installed and ready to go.And solar panel system that will work in the winter too.

Happy days are here again.:D

Irish Fire

I pulled my heating system apart last year just before the mad freeze. The heating system was a bad design, no room thermostats etc..... although I count myself lucky that he fitted the boiler . Anyway I fitted 3 room thermostats 1 upstairs 1 downstairs and 1 in the utility room (extension to the side of the house). I also installed 1 on the cylinder, then I fitted a 2 channel timer, one channel for the water and one for the heating. I also lagged all the pipes as I had floorboards up everywhere (the missus loved me for that)

Most of ny neighbours knew what I was doing so there was great interest in the gas bill.........

One of my neighbours have the same amount of people living in his house so his was the best comparrison, like him over the winter the heating was on all the time etc..... and my bill was €90 cheaper than his for the same period.

Now I know it's not an exact science but I still to date always have a cheaper bill than him and most others...... Now I'm waiting for the knocks on the doors "can you help me do what you did with the heating..... " to be fair I've had that already........

HerbSimpson

I was thinking of getting this to put around some drafty single pane windows, its a rented apartment so can't do anything more permanent.

http://www.amazon.com/M-D-Building-Products-2253-Density/dp/B00005202X/ref=pd_sim_ol_3

nophd08

dnme wrote: »

What about an insulation run to the North?

ATM you can buy insulation up there very cheap, £3 a roll. I am thinking or organising a run from the Northwest, I will post the idea on the Sligo forum and see if it gets well received. If we could get a few people together, a van and a song, could be worth while.

Sounds very cheap, whereabouts in the north, i'll go up for a van load myself.

jugger

it might also be a good idea to see about getting snow tires, it might be possable to find them cheaper if you have time to shop around.

also it might be a good idea to make sure your guttering isnt leaking. My sisters guttering was leaking last year, and she had a massive build up of ice on her down pipe under which she had parked her car :rolleyes:
at least 30kg of ice by my estimation

prospect

On the subject of winter tyres, go to a local scrapyard and see if you can pick up a cheap set of wheels for your car and have the tyres fitted to them. Then you can change them over and back whenever you require.

Insulate your outdoor gas pipes (gas bottle), these can actually freeze.

I put up a few extra brackets for holding the gutters, just to help carry the weight of any snow that may fall.

Stock up on salt. (Spread a bit out the evening before any expected snow/ice)

When I am cutting back trees and shrubs in my garden, I strip and keep any branches as thick or thicker than my index finger. I keep these in the garage and allow them dry and then cut them into 8"-10" lengths. These make good, free, kindling for fires in the winter.

If you have dry storage space, now is a good time to stock up on timber & turf. Also, the turf has been cut in a lot of bogs recently and is footed. It should be becoming available from around now and over the next while.

Have your Oil/Gas burner serviced by a specialist that uses a gas analyser. They should provide a printed readout of your burners performance and its efficiency rating. This should cost in the region of €80.

slowburner

prospect wrote: »

On the subject of winter tyres, go to a local scrapyard and see if you can pick up a cheap set of wheels for your car and have the tyres fitted to them. Then you can change them over and back whenever you require.

Insulate your outdoor gas pipes (gas bottle), these can actually freeze.

I put up a few extra brackets for holding the gutters, just to help carry the weight of any snow that may fall.

Stock up on salt. (Spread a bit out the evening before any expected snow/ice)

When I am cutting back trees and shrubs in my garden, I strip and keep any branches as thick or thicker than my index finger. I keep these in the garage and allow them dry and then cut them into 8"-10" lengths. These make good, free, kindling for fires in the winter.

If you have dry storage space, now is a good time to stock up on timber & turf. Also, the turf has been cut in a lot of bogs recently and is footed. It should be becoming available from around now and over the next while.

Have your Oil/Gas burner serviced by a specialist that uses a gas analyser. They should provide a printed readout of your burners performance and its efficiency rating. This should cost in the region of €80.

Sound advice.
I had a problem a few years back with the gas tank. Rang the supplier and sheepishly asked if gas can freeze. They said no, but what can happen is condensation can freeze inside a faulty regulator. Changed the regulator - no more problems.

Tabnabs

Now is the time to pick up a snow shovel for digging you driveway out (Woodies €25 or less). Consider getting a smaller one for the boot of your car.

Also, check out ebay for the snow grips for your shoes. I got a set of four for myself and family and they worked out at €8 each incl shipping from America. They were selling them for 15-20 each in shops here last winter.

Build4less.ie

This is the best time to pick up some great bargains on insulation weather it is for your attic or your pipes. There are plenty of new products out there that prevent the freezing up of pipes in extreme weather. Always remember cheapest is not always the best option, in situations like this you really do get what you pay for. Invest in good insulation and it will save you allot of money in the long term.

Build4less

goat2

2qk4u wrote: »

After last winters snow and cold and the chance that it could be worse this year what should we do to prepare ?
With so many people on a very tight budget maybe we could post tips and advice on the best possible cheap diy for winter.

Im starting with insulating pipes and draught exclusion, I will also be stocking up on salt and sand for the driveway and footpath outside. I have an outside tap and am considering removing it to stop freezing.
I have a garage with a wood up and over door and I might try lining the back of it as I had some fluids freeze inside it last winter.

are we in for a humdinger of a winter, where did you hear that

paddy147

Tabnabs wrote: »

Now is the time to pick up a snow shovel for digging you driveway out (Woodies €25 or less). .

And you are still being ripped off at that price.

slowburner

goat2 wrote: »

are we in for a humdinger of a winter, where did you hear that

Here :eek:

goat2

just having a bad summer, i would not take scientific facts as be all and end all, we have had roasters of summers, mild winters, bad summers, and severe winters

Neilw

Billy Bunting wrote: »

failing that add Fernox Alphi 11 to the system.

Are there any dowsides to using this? Stupid question but how do you get the fluid into the heating circuit?