Is it time to put on the heat/light the fire?

jimgoose · 18-09-2013 08:10PM

Charlie Rock wrote: »

I just intend to put an extra few layers of blubber on like a big fat Elephant Seal.

*munches on double cheese & bacon burger*

Promote that man. Grizzlies have the right of it.

seosamh1980 · 18-09-2013 08:10PM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

This is the thing - once I turn on the heating I don't turn it off at all - ie, I turn the heating on (2 rads in living area) in say, October and turn it off again around April/May... I thought it had to be left on, as once you turn it on it takes it overnight to heat up, so what would be the point in turning it on and off when you would be waiting so long for heat? I also have no means of setting or timing it to come on/off, so I would be relying on having to remember to physically turn it on/off every day which is not ideal. I fiddle with the heat settings on the rads themselves if it's too hot or cold, but there is no 'master' switch or panel to control the heating system. I switch them on (winter) and off (summer) at the wall beside the heaters themselves.

Am I doing this completely wrong??

You leave your heating on, completely on, from October to April? We turn ours on for 2-4 hours a day when needed (not storage heaters though). When I lived in a place with storage heaters we had them timed to come on for just a few hours, the one in my room didn't have a timer so I turned it on and off every time, it's not rocket science and saves spending that much! Ours never took overnight to heat up?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 18-09-2013 08:20PM

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Why didn't they built new houses with back boilers,so at least when your burning Coal your heating the water as well.

They do! If you're having your own home built you can of course out a decent back boiler in.

Stargate · 18-09-2013 08:20PM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

So it's mid-September and it's cold out there people!

Weather like yesterday doesn't bother me but I HATE the cold - but I hate the gas bills even more! Don't know if I'll be able to hold out much longer though.. damn ground floor apartment and its cold hallway!

Who's relented and turned on the heating/lit the fire already?

Same here Kaiser . I hate the winter months with a vengeance !!
When it was 25/28 degrees i was in my element lol , I'd rather it too hot then too cold

Have an open fire , but no back boiler , total waste of heat , and the price of oil is just nuts !

Stargate

DoozerT6 · 18-09-2013 08:20PM

seosamh1980 wrote: »

You leave your heating on, completely on, from October to April? We turn ours on for 2-4 hours a day when needed (not storage heaters though). When I lived in a place with storage heaters we had them timed to come on for just a few hours, the one in my room didn't have a timer so I turned it on and off every time, it's not rocket science and saves spending that much! Ours never took overnight to heat up?

But my storage heaters don't have a timer

the little heater in my bedroom does and I set it to come on for a few minutes in the morning and that's it, maybe throw it on for a few minutes before going to bed. There seems to be no other way to control the heaters in my living room other than physically turning them on and off. Is this how you work it?

jimgoose · 18-09-2013 08:31PM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

But my storage heaters don't have a timer the little heater in my bedroom does and I set it to come on for a few minutes in the morning and that's it, maybe throw it on for a few minutes before going to bed. There seems to be no other way to control the heaters in my living room other than physically turning them on and off. Is this how you work it?

Get a clatter of these. Any electrical or DIY place will have them:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hour-Mains-Plug-Timer-Switch/dp/B00B26ASVC

DoozerT6 · 18-09-2013 08:41PM

jimgoose wrote: »

Get a clatter of these. Any electrical or DIY place will have them:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hour-Mains-Plug-Timer-Switch/dp/B00B26ASVC

My heaters were wired into the wall when the place was built, so no plugs to be seen to use these unfortunately

SCOOP 64 · 18-09-2013 08:41PM

Weston Juicy Lava wrote: »

They do! If you're having your own home built you can of course out a decent back boiler in.

Only if your paying for your own build , new housing estates and one off builds to sell on rarely come with back boiler.

starlit · 18-09-2013 08:42PM

Yes occassionally the last few days but i try to layer on clothes.

Ruu · 18-09-2013 08:46PM

It is yeah....

18-09-2013 08:49PM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

re: heating - is it normal with STORAGE HEATING, to have bills of €300+ every two months for a one bed apartment???? It's purely the heating driving up the costs like this, I live alone and during the summer my two-monthly bills are under €100. These bills crucify me, but it's really too cold not to have it on all the time as it takes too long to heat up overnight otherwise

Turn off the storage heater and get an electric fan heater, 5 minutes blasts a room with heat, they're awesome.

FanadMan · 18-09-2013 08:57PM

Fire on since the weekend storms and been on every evening since - bloody freezing up here!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 18-09-2013 08:59PM

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Only if your paying for your own build , new housing estates and one off builds to sell on rarely come with back boiler.

Oh dear! Just as well I paid for my own build then.

I did say "if you're having your own house built. :rolleyes

woodoo · 18-09-2013 08:59PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I put on the stove every day, summer and winter. Cosy to look at, heats the water and keeps my bum warm. Stoves rock.

Thats a bit mental. One of my neighbours had the fire on even in July during the heat wave. I couldn't believe it.

seosamh1980 · 18-09-2013 09:16PM

DoozerT6 wrote: »

But my storage heaters don't have a timer the little heater in my bedroom does and I set it to come on for a few minutes in the morning and that's it, maybe throw it on for a few minutes before going to bed. There seems to be no other way to control the heaters in my living room other than physically turning them on and off. Is this how you work it?

Didn't I just say that my heater had no timer? Turn it on and off yourself! Pretty sure people survived with heaters that didn't individual timers for a long time...

flutterflye · 18-09-2013 09:28PM

Is it not a bit of a strange question?
A bit like "I'm hungry, should I eat something?".
If you're too cold, you put on an extra layer - If that doesn't help, put the heating on.
Hardly rocket science.

0ph0rce0 · 18-09-2013 10:17PM

A lot of cheap whores in here. It would seem most of you would rather freeze to death than shell out a few pence for an hour or two of heat.

seosamh1980 · 18-09-2013 11:56PM

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

A lot of cheap whores in here. It would seem most of you would rather freeze to death than shell out a few pence for an hour or two of heat.

Or, people don't have money to spare and only want to spend it when really necessary?

Galwayguy35 · 19-09-2013 06:14AM

Had a coal fire on since Sunday, don't light the fire till about 6ish, bought a pallet of coal last Feb and still have most of it, coal is great value.

Ihatecuddles-old · 19-09-2013 06:18AM

No

Its cuddle weather!

Galwayguy35 · 19-09-2013 06:22AM

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

No Its cuddle weather!

Thought you hated cuddles?

Ihatecuddles-old · 19-09-2013 06:22AM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Thought you hated cuddles?

Yeah, its cuddle weather for all you losers.

:P

ronan45 · 19-09-2013 08:55AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I put on the stove every day, summer and winter. Cosy to look at, heats the water and keeps my bum warm. Stoves rock.

I assume a stove would use less fuel then an open fire but is there a large difference in fuel consumption between the two?
I know of course a stove is much more effective thou at heating the house as most of the heat is transferred into the room rather then up the chimney

The Backwards Man · 19-09-2013 09:06AM

Massive difference. I'm running 16 radiators of mine, and all the hot water I could ever use too.

zl1whqvjs75cdy · 19-09-2013 09:12AM

One of the joys of living in a small, open plan apartment. I come in from work and its cold but I cook dinner and the heat from the oven and pans heats the living room very nicely. Helps that its a top floor, well insulated apartment too. Electric blanket for the bed and Bobs your uncle. No need for the heating at all unless its baltic.

ronan45 · 19-09-2013 09:21AM

Best Value anyone ?????

COAL V WOOD V BRIQUETTES

19-09-2013 09:40AM

I had a free supply of sticks that lasted 2 years, it's gone now though :-(

Mum bought tractor trailers worth of turf for 340. I buy 40kg bags of top quality coal for 12.50 a bag. Buy 10 get one free.

I will probably get shot down for this but I buy oil across the border. Last year a 1000lt was over 300 euro cheaper.

Tiddlypeeps · 19-09-2013 09:43AM

ronan45 wrote: »

Best Value anyone ?????

COAL V WOOD V BRIQUETTES

Coal, by miles. It can be a pain to get a fire started with that alone tho and it takes a bit longer than the others to get properly heated up. When it does tho it's much warmer and you don't use nearly as much of it.

I usually use a couple of briquettes to get the fire started and the just start tossing coal on to it till it's nice and toasty

BeerWolf · 19-09-2013 09:54AM

Got enough wood to probably last the next 20 winters after clearing a lot of the pine trees round my area...

Not cold enough to put on the heating / fire yet though!

Cuddlesworth · 19-09-2013 10:16AM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Thought you hated cuddles?

What the hell?

Is it time to put on the heat/light the fire?

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