Much more than we should be currently, I've identified an issue with the the plumbing which means the boiler can't get into condensing mode and has to work harder than it should to get heat to radiators in the original part of the system. Not entirely our plumbers fault as there is clearly an underfloor issue in the existing system that was exposed when the new and old were spliced together... and not identified previously as, well, the heating wasn't on!
It is costing a fair bit, but I'm not sure what else to do. Mrs B feels the cold, so I freeze all day so she can have some warmth in the evening!
Would it make a difference to not let it go off for those two short periods in the evening ? An hour in the morning is sufficient for us to get ready for work and yesterday we managed just 4 hours in the evening (5.15 to 9.15) with no gaps. We also have Hive and Ovo which at least takes away nasty bill surprises. As to what you can do, my guess is not much because you have kids. You don’t have the option of staying in one room and benefitting from the door not constantly being opened. We have a log burner for supplementary heat but have only had a couple of fires this winter so far as that’s also not cheap. We did take delivery recently of a large amount of logs though so it’s always a back up. Our biggest luxury this Christmas will be a full house of family with the heating and log burner on all day.
The basic rule of thermodynamics means the window panes want to be at the same temperature as the room and they are attracting the energy to do so, so agree with you. I've just opened a window as I type and the outside pane is significantly colder than the inside - which is what you'd expect. The whole idea of the double bit of glazing is to separate the 2 panes so that one is outside temp, the other inside. My thoughts are that it isn't necessarily the sealed units that are the problem in my case, it is the frames and seals around the units that cold air is penetrating and getting sucked indoors - like you, sit next to the bay window and you can feel a proper draught of air.
Exactly what happens on my dog walks. Sat freezing indoors, dog nudges my leg, reluctantly go on a walk toward the downs, get back home and strip off because it feels so warm!
We have a modernish house with reasonable quality double glazing. On cold days we get condensation on the *outside* of our windows because they are doing so well at preventing heat escaping to the outer face.
Good call. Free heating……but no nurses unfortunately.I suggested this to my three ladies.
I am now sitting in A & E
You need kingspan everyone who is cold in doors does. Unfortunately unless you have building skills it can be expensive also allow to bring outside walls in by 40mm.
Ye but suggesting they shower outside with just a bucket of cold water was probably pushing it a bitI suggested this to my three ladies.
I am now sitting in A & E
To be honest, the word "blast" was a bit of an exaggeration! We live in a 300 year old cottage with poor insulation. It's bloody cold unless we have the heating on for a sustained period. And not long after my previous post, Mrs Jim in the West decided that things have got too miserable, and she'd much rather go without a holiday than suffer in the cold all day. Hence, as from today, we'll have the central heating on most of the day! In reality we're lucky that we CAN afford to heat the house well AND take a few holidays a year...it's just a natural instinct, I think, to want to preserve energy (and money) wherever possible.
Well, finally made it home yesterday after a journey of Trains, Planes And Automobiles proportions. Can report that Duplex FROST Mode is near enough useless vs sub-zero temperatures in a 150 year old building with thick stone walls. Might as well not have bothered. Duplex ECO Mode, on the other hand, that I've now tried for the first time, seems to do the trick admirably. 18 degrees round the clock. It's teeshirt weather at Hark Towers. Luvverly! Lord alone knows how much the heating bill will be, but we'll worry about that one later eh?I put my newly-installed heaters on 24 hour FROST (permafrost?) mode before I departed for warmer climes last monday. Be interesting to see what they've done while I've been away. Not very much I suspect on account of thick stone walls and dubious loft insulation that consists almost entirely of historical strata of squirrel shit
Are you sure you’re Scottish ?
Hey! You're talking to someone who went to Millport for their summer holidays. A healthy tan for us kids was when we went from blue to white
You aren’t doing your health or home any favours.Still no heating bar using it for 1-2 hours per week to dry washing and dry the air/any condensation. Have used the wood burner 4 or 5 times this winter when entertaining -but logs aren’t cheap either! Need them to last until March. When I’m working from home, wrap up really warm. Mate wouldn’t believe when I was on a Zoom call with him the other day, I was sitting in a house that was 10 degrees - had to show him the thermostat
I’ve sort of got used to it - As long as it’s dry and not draughty, it’s manageable with slippers, fingerless gloves etc and moving about regularly. I’ve always been a ‘no-central-heating’ type person because I find it makes the air stuffy. Tbh, have been far colder staying in Scotland in the middle of winter. It’s playing havoc with my asthma though. Ultimately, not only helpful on the pocket but kid myself I am helping the environment.
(I don’t have young children or pets at home so just as well but if I did, I certainly wouldn’t subject them to living in such a cold indoor environment)
The biggest irritation is that a cuppa stays hot for only about 60 seconds!
I would recommend making thorough checks for mould. We also have an old stone home and before we sparingly started putting the heating on in late November noticed patches of mould on fabrics, place mats, a bed frame, one window frame and a wall of a shower room. Only small patches as we got it in time but with the toddler that died being all over the news at the time it seemed prudent to check. Shortly afterwards the heating went on for short periods and the mould hasn’t re-occurred.Well I have an old uninsulated stone cottage and can’t afford the extortionate fuel costs - but thanks for the advice - I wasn’t aware the cold could effect my health or damp air, effect the fabric of my home
