Windy weather is costing me a fortune!

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I don't have central heating, just an open fire in the living room. I have to light a fire to keep the damp at bay and to try to warm the place up, but we've got really strong winds and the fire is drawing like crazy and burning through several days worth of coal in an afternoon!

I've got the vents closed as far as they'll go, but I live on the top of a very high hill and the wind is causing the fire to roar like a furnace (most of the heat, as usually, just goes right up the chimney). I can't afford to keep burning coal like this!

Sorry, just needed to vent (so to speak).

Have to got good cowl on top of the chimney. They make all sorts of specialty ones now days.

Thanks, Troels. Rented house and probably a bit late now, but will bear in mind in future!

Do you have a damper at the top you can close slightly ? That's how i stop the draw so much on mine.

Yes, Angus, everything is closed down as tight as I can. I'm in a very exposed position with the wind coming straight out of the South and hitting my house as the first point for miles, and I could probably smelt iron on my fire at the moment!

I'm just really envious you have a real fire not helpful

It's purely cosmetic as far as I can tell. I'm sitting about six feet away and there's no heat over here, I can see my breath!

But yes it LOOKS very cosy.

Buy a couple of oil filled radiators. Once you've heated a room, turn down to low and they'll keep you warm.

They are no good in this place, basically the whole of downstairs is just one very big room, wowfudge. I've got one, but it makes no difference at all to the downstairs temperature so I keep it in the bedroom!

Also no double glazing!

What about the cellophane type glazing you stick up and use a hairdryer on? That might help with some drafts, and lots of draft excluders and thicker or doubled up curtains?

I have double lined curtains. The cellophane stuff doesn't work, the house is too damp and stuff just peels off.

I'm hoping to move before the end of this winter. This house is being knocked down (after I move, obviously) as it's pretty much unfit for habitation.

Luckily it's not so windy today, so the fire isn't doing its 'furnace' impression quite so badly!

Are you in the UK? Do you have an EPC for the house? The landlord should provide safe, affordable heating in all occupied rooms. I'm not sure if an open fire is acceptable but no heating in the bedroom isn't. Maybe you could speak to the environmental health team for advice.

You can get a little fan that sits on top of a woodburner (self propelled by the heat) which helps push the heat out into the room. Not an immediate solution but can help.

Put a hat on!
I always wear a body warmer indoors over jumpers and double socks! Quite often a hot water bottle too !

Ah sorry I see now that its an open fire.

I've lived in a very old house with only an open fire for heat but thankfully was sandwiched between a farmhouse and another old terrace so didn't lose heat.
I had oil plug in radiators in our bedrooms and found unless you were practically sitting on them you couldn't feel the heat.
13.5 feather tog duvet was my saviour - I often slept by the fire on days when it was minus temps.

Feel for you OP - It is bloody hard work getting fuel in 3 or 4 times a day and keeping it lit from am until the pm.

I feel for you. Been there, done it with a baby and it was so so miserable.

Temp was 6 in the kitchen & I used to cry getting out the shower, but thats another story. (I struggled post birth)

Start looking now for somewhere, by the time you get references etc, your 4 weeks notice will fly by.

I really really hope you find a lovely warm place

I've got somewhere, thanks, I'm buying a house in the same village (thanks to inheritance from my wonderful mum).

A house with radiators AND a log burner! I am so tired of wearing all my clothes all the time (yes, hat too) indoors, and frequently having to leave the windows open because IT'S WARMER OUTDOORS!

Thank you all for the sympathy and letting me rant.

Best of luck in your new abode!

Im pleased you have somewhere to look forward to OP.

Baby & I bought a new build as 'D' P left us stranded at the cold house

Anyway, as much as people hate a new build, its so warm. I pay £50 a month for gas & electric and its 10 mins from the beach. I will never have a big beautiful detached house, but at least its a small very warm one for just £450 a month. I just know how horrible it is constantly being cold.

Anyway cheers to your new place

Get a thermalitic fan for the top... as an example (there are better ones) www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-stove-fan/p/021240314575200?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoPPjx4au5gIVlLfsCh3KywYVEAQYASABEgIRaPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It requires no power an is powered by the heat of the fire... pushes the warmth into the room rather than just up the chimney... saves a fortune in heating costs

house probably being knocked down as it must have the worst EPC ever and will be illegal to rent after April. I think I remember this OP, it's quite a story and here's to the move going well.

Open fires are criminal at 20% efficient. Sooner OP is out, the better!

Thanks all! I shall raise a glass to you all when I get in the new place (mid Jan, hopefully!)

Try smokeless ovoids instead of coal. They are made from compressed coal dust and burn slower than coal, more like glowing red hot sooner than producing flames.

If you really want heat though, try Welsh Steam coal - as used in Steam Trains & Traction Engines!