Keeping Warm this Winter

Jellybaby1

Any O & O's around? I'm already freezin' tonight and its only the 2nd November. Even though we have gas central heating, its so expensive we try not to put it on too much until Christmas. Then we have it on non stop Jan/Feb and we dread the bills coming in. How are you all keeping your homes warm? Any advice on good value heating systems?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

We never had gas but friends tell me it's expensive. We have oil fired central heating and a coal fire with a back boiler. The oil was on this week for about three hours a day and the fire is lit at about half three. I find the fire very economical when slacked up and it heats the whole house.

We're not particularly cold yet but it's a comfort to know we can just turn on the heat or put a match to a fire. We certainly would not hesitate to put heat on if either of us is feeling any way cold.

I like that both fuels are paid for before use rather than getting bills afterwards.

Kevin Finnerty

We have piped gas central heating here as well alongside a 4Kw stove OP. If gas is the only source of heating I could imagine it getting expensive alright. We tend to time the zones to the time of day( morning upstairs with an hour boost at bedtime, late afternoon downstairs) and would only be on for 3 hours max at a stint.

The stove is the saviour, stocked up with good Columbian stove coal we had last year again this winter. A bucket every 2 days, lighting from about 4.30 til bedtime, just fixed it there now for the rest of the night.

Jellybaby1

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

We have piped gas central heating here as well alongside a 4Kw stove OP. If gas is the only source of heating I could imagine it getting expensive alright. We tend to time the zones to the time of day( morning upstairs with an hour boost at bedtime, late afternoon downstairs) and would only be on for 3 hours max at a stint.

The stove is the saviour, stocked up with good Columbian stove coal we had last year again this winter. A bucket every 2 days, lighting from about 4.30 til bedtime, just fixed it there now for the rest of the night.

Oooh, that sounds so cosy!

New Home

I know it may sound ridiculous, but if you're on a tight budget, a Thinsulate hat like this would help a lot, even indoors. My grandparents used to wear cotton caps my granny made made out of flannel (not the washcloth, the actual fabric) when going to bed every winter, but then again they used to get frost on the inside of the window panes - not the most flattering, I'll admit, but very effective. Also, I find that hugging a hot water bottle (or having one on my stomach and one under my feet) when I'm sitting down watching TV, reading, etc makes a big difference, as does a large fleecy scarf that I use as a shawl.

Other than that, the stove is brilliant (that reminds me, I must get the chimney sweep to take a look, before I light it again). I know I sounds weird, but the heating from a stove feels different to me from the heat from the rads.

Otherwise, if you're really stuck, the trick of the tealights and the terracotta flowerpots does help a bit.

looksee

If you have one of those grain bags - a cotton bag filled with rice or similar, pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes its lovely under your feet!

New Home

looksee wrote: »

If you have one of those grain bags - a cotton bag filled with rice or similar, pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes its lovely under your feet!

Oooh, yes!! Or around your neck while you're doing the washing-up (which also warms your hands).

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

New Home wrote: »

Oooh, yes!! Or around your neck while you're doing the washing-up (which also warms your hands).

It's recommended to let the dish water go cold before emptying the sink, as the heat in the water dissipates into the room.

Jellybaby1

This is turning into a frugal-way-to-stay-warm thread. Just wondered what way you all heat your homes. I'd love to have the open fire back again but at our age we don't want to hawk buckets of coal around. I'm warm enough until around 7pm onwards and then the cold just creeps up from my toes. We're considering wrapping the house which is expensive but we're told it's very effective. We had an appointment for a chap to look at the house but he never turned up, another of life's frustrations.

New Home

Sorry, that was my fault.

I'm renting, and the main source of heat is oil-fuelled. There's also a fireplace, but the chimney is way too big or badly-constructed, and I'd say a good 75% of the heat from the fire goes up, so I seldom use it. The hallway is as warm as the shed (!), both the front door and the little bay window beside it have single pane windows, and there's no draft excluders or other forms of insulation in that part of the house. The tile floor feels like permafrost, so I put down a large rug that covers most of the floor of the hall (but not the actual corridor that brings to the kitchen), and it's made a bit of a difference. I think I'll put up a plexiglass sheet in front of the little bay window to see if it blocks some of the cold out.

In my family home there's gas fire and a stove, too.

Jellybaby1

New Home wrote: »

Sorry, that was my fault.

I'm renting, and the main source of heat is oil-fuelled. There's also a fireplace, but the chimney is way too big or badly-constructed, and I'd say a good 75% of the heat from the fire goes up, so I seldom use it. In my family home there's gas fire and a stove, too.

You've no option really when you're renting.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I don't mind taking a single bucket of coal and one of slack in every day. I'm mid 70s and it's hardly a chore. The open fire is cosy and comforting and still works out the cheapest way to heat the entire house.

looksee

I invested in a stove in my previous house and found it infinitely better than an open fire. Now I am building (I hope!) and there will be an air to water system that sucks up warmth out of the outside air (even when it is quite cold) and somehow by a kind of reverse refrigeration process turns it into hot water. It needs electricity to work though so I shall still have a stove, even though I have been assured I won't need it - I remember the power cuts of the 70's/80's and would never have an entirely electric house.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

looksee wrote: »

I invested in a stove in my previous house and found it infinitely better than an open fire. Now I am building (I hope!) and there will be an air to water system that sucks up warmth out of the outside air (even when it is quite cold) and somehow by a kind of reverse refrigeration process turns it into hot water. It needs electricity to work though so I shall still have a stove, even though I have been assured I won't need it - I remember the power cuts of the 70's/80's and would never have an entirely electric house.

My son put in that geothermal heat pump type system but it requires more or less constant electricity use and worked out more expensive than they had been led to believe. It's work doing a comprehensive independent assessment of all the costs - initial installation, running costs, and maintenance - versus energy or heat delivered. How easily or quickly it adapts to your heating requirements is also a factor - like underfloor heating that takes a day to get to full temperature and is only 'efficient' if left on continuously for instance.

New Home

I wonder, would a photovoltaic/solar panel help towards the costs of running those pumps (I mean, installing one with a battery just for running those heating systems)?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

New Home wrote: »

I wonder, would a photovoltaic/solar panel help towards the costs of running those pumps (I mean, installing one with a battery just for running those heating systems)?

I've no idea but it's another option to enquire about.

fineso.mom

New Home wrote: »

Sorry, that was my fault.

I'm renting, and the main source of heat is oil-fuelled. There's also a fireplace, but the chimney is way too big or badly-constructed, and I'd say a good 75% of the heat from the fire goes up, so I seldom use it. The hallway is as warm as the shed (!), both the front door and the little bay window beside it have single pane windows, and there's no draft excluders or other forms of insulation in that part of the house. The tile floor feels like permafrost, so I put down a large rug that covers most of the floor of the hall (but not the actual corridor that brings to the kitchen), and it's made a bit of a difference. I think I'll put up a plexiglass sheet in front of the little bay window to see if it blocks some of the cold out.

In my family home there's gas fire and a stove, too.

I used to live in a place with a hall like that. We got a big heavy curtain (from a charity shop) and hung it accross the doir and window. It went from above the door right to the floor. We used a really strong curtain pole and big rings so pulling it accross to open the door was no hassle. It made a huge difference to the heat that was being lost out the door and window.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Half the battle seems to be keeping the heat in and the cold out.

New Home

fineso.mom wrote: »

I used to live in a place with a hall like that. We got a big heavy curtain (from a charity shop) and hung it accross the doir and window. It went from above the door right to the floor. We used a really strong curtain pole and big rings so pulling it accross to open the door was no hassle. It made a huge difference to the heat that was being lost out the door and window.

I have a thermal curtain, too, but it only covers the door - I think it's time for an upgrade. It doesn't help that the local brats keep stealing the external flap of the letterbox.

Spanish Eyes

Heated throws are great when sitting watching TV etc. without the heat on. I have one and it is brilliant. It is like this one. Very cheap to run too.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7395189/Trail/searchtext%3EHEATED+THROW.htm

Jellybaby1

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Heated throws are great when sitting watching TV etc. without the heat on. I have one and it is brilliant. It is like this one. Very cheap to run too.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7395189/Trail/searchtext%3EHEATED+THROW.htm

Just like an electric blanket isn't it? Had an electric blanket years ago but it almost set the bed on fire! :eek: We were lucky, just going to bed and we could smell burning, after a few minutes searching throughout the house we discovered the scorch marks on the bed clothes. Never again!

Spanish Eyes

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Just like an electric blanket isn't it? Had an electric blanket years ago but it almost set the bed on fire! :eek: We were lucky, just going to bed and we could smell burning, after a few minutes searching throughout the house we discovered the scorch marks on the bed clothes. Never again!

Years ago? Ah well, all electrical equipment such as this now have auto cut outs and are perfectly safe under EU regulations.

But maybe you would prefer to be freezing! I've had mine four or five years now and it is just amazingly warm when sitting watching the Telly in the afternoon before needing to put the heat on at night. Very cheap to run too.

You should try it out. Seriously.

Jellybaby1

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Years ago? Ah well, all electrical equipment such as this now have auto cut outs and are perfectly safe under EU regulations.

But maybe you would prefer to be freezing! I've had mine four or five years now and it is just amazingly warm when sitting watching the Telly in the afternoon before needing to put the heat on at night. Very cheap to run too.

You should try it out. Seriously.

You're right, it was long ago and I doubt there was any cut-out on it. Might consider it for the after Christmas sales.

Graces7

What a wonderful thread! Clearly folk after my own heart!

I am currently abed, with a very large cat under the bedclothes... HWB at my back..

This is a very small dwelling; easy to heat. There is a wonderful solid fuel stove in the kitchen with a backboiler. I use island turf, with a little sapphire coal 2s. Heats the water and there are rads but not connected and the stove is quite effective. Else no e.g. electric or oil heating and I prefer it this way as well as cost wise.

Clothes help, and I knit hats too... best hints? I cut the sleeves off an old jersey and use them as wrist covers so they cover the backs of my hands. Warms well if you cover extremities. I do knit dozens of pairs of fingerless gloves for sale too..

Thick socks too..

Jellybaby1

We have a large house and we rattle round it now being empty nesters, its expensive to heat although we only heat the rooms we use most, its still expensive. I'm beginning to dream of a little bungalow but I doubt we'd move now at our age. Did it twice before and it was very stressful.

Graces7

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Just like an electric blanket isn't it? Had an electric blanket years ago but it almost set the bed on fire! :eek: We were lucky, just going to b ed and we could smell burning, after a few minutes searching throughout the house we discovered the scorch marks on the bed clothes. Never again!

When electric blankets first came out, my mother bought one for MY bed rather than hers... Lest a disaster happen...Then for hers...

I never took to them somehow after a few years, and, yes one scorching. Restless sleeper and they get runkled. Small hot water bottle at my back and a cat or two, and thick socks.

Prominent_Dawg

Is it a dressing gown or a house coat? Either way I’m living in it morning, noon and night

Graces7

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

Is it a dressing gown or a house coat? Either way I’m living in it morning, noon and night

I just put a thick jersey over my long nightie..

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

We had a new oil boiler installed yesterday. The tank is full and there's a couple of tons of coal in the garage, so we're set. Thankfully it has been extremely mild so far and looks reasonable for the next week or so at least.

Graces7

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

This is turning into a frugal-way-to-stay-warm thread. Just wondered what way you all heat your homes. I'd love to have the open fire back again but at our age we don't want to hawk buckets of coal around. I'm warm enough until around 7pm onwards and then the cold just creeps up from my toes. We're considering wrapping the house which is expensive but we're told it's very effective. We had an appointment for a chap to look at the house but he never turned up, another of life's frustrations.

My demountable dwelling is well insulated and I rely totally on island turf now for heating. A solid fuel stove heats the water ( back boiler) and the radiators. Turf is wonderfully clean to handle and light to carry and clean up after.

The cost of coal is way beyond a small pension so the local turf is a godsend. A life saver.


I am abed much of each day now and close for the night late afternoon;l this is the worst time of the year for the M.E and raynauds and my feet are always dangerously cold so socks and other warmers are vital.

Jellybaby1

Even though I know that you suffer with health issues Graces, you do paint a cosy picture!

Graces7

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Even though I know that you suffer with health issues Graces, you do paint a cosy picture!

Well it IS cosy here! Snug, safe, warm, peaceful. and now three new cats, 2 of them the most charming kittens you ever met...

A good place for poor health!

stay warm?

madmaggie

About ten years ago a man I know was retiring from his small manufacturing business. He offered the uncle all the pallets from his business, there were hundreds of them. The man delivered them, and the uncle stacked them round the back. I insisted that they had to be out of sight. They have saved us a fortune in firing, also cut down a tree each year off the land. Almost self sufficient for fuel. Having the chimney lined and loads of wall and attic insulation has made a massive difference to this 200 year old house. Snug as a bug.

Jellybaby1

Haven't heard of lining a chimney before. We're still thinking of wrapping the house with insulation, its been hard trying to get quotes with a few no-shows as usual! :rolleyes: There's oodles of works out there these days.

madmaggie

When I said lining, I meant the original chimney is about ten feet across and four feet deep, the wind used to howl down, and sooty water in the fireplace. It is now piped, and the area around the pipe filled in with a gypsum granular material. It took a hell of a lot of that stuff to fill it up! No more wind, and no more stinky sooty smell.

looksee

JB, no-shows are the bane of my life at the moment. I have been in touch with so many engineer/architect types recently and they say 'oh yes' and go through all sorts of conversations and stuff, then suddenly just drop out of the picture. It sounds as though I am exaggerating but honestly the number of people I have ended up waiting for a week for a phone call then giving up on them and trying the next person.

I think I have finally found someone straightforward and honest - he said clearly that he could not do anything for 4 weeks, but in the meantime has been in touch to check out things. I could be wrong about him but I don't think so, though the others didn't seem like messers but they were. Apart from one who was genuinely creepy and I dropped him - and even then I told him straight out, thanks but no thanks. Only two said straight out that they could not take me on as they were already too busy - one offered February - and they would be the ones I would go back to and wait if necessary.

Jellybaby1

I don't really want to continue that other saga on O & O's about tradesmen, but really its so frustrating. We have found one now that looks to have a good business ethic, i.e. turning up when he promised. We will continue with him I think but we have another meeting next week. Fingers crossed it goes well. Anyhoo, although there is a storm raging outside tonight, the temperature isn't too bad all in all considering its almost Christmas.