Managing without boiler for a month!

[ColdfingersWarmfart]

Our boiler has broken down and apparently can't be easily repaired (it's ancient), we've booked in to have it replaced by British Gas (tried other places but 2 advised us to use BG as it will be complicated to replace for a few reasons) but they can't do it for nearly 5 weeks - we're on the list for cancellations but obviously that's not guaranteed.

We've borrowed heaters and got out all the blankets/jumpers so hopefully won't feel the lack of the central heating too badly, we've got an electric shower thankfully so can still wash and I can boil the kettle for washing up etc but not having hot running water or easy heating is getting to me already let alone when it gets colder and using the electric will obviously cost more so can't go nuts with the heating/kettle - any tips how to manage?

Can't really see what else you can do. Thermals? Keep boiled water in thermas flasks? Heat one room and keep the doors shut.

*Thermos!

You seem to have hit the main points. Extras that might help a bit - Hot water bottles and hot chocolate at bed time. Warming meals like stew and baked potatoes, hot bread straight from the oven, etc. (also, using the oven will make the kitchen cozier).

I would also consider booking in a backup engineer appointment to replace if you can find one (and can cancel for free). Because BG don’t have the best reputation for sticking to appointments.

Hot water bottles. Spend the weekends visiting relatives. Ask yourselves to dinner with friends. Promise to return the favour later. Get an Odeon Unlimited card and spend the evenings at the cinema.

Time oven/hob cooking and tumble drying for times when you're going to be in the same room soaking up the spare heat.

Is your washing machine that uses a hot water feed (usually the older one)? If so, wear clothes for longer or go to your nearest laundrette.

That doesn't sound good, I was hoping for them to come early on a cancellation, not miss the appt they actually have booked 😮 I can't find anyone else that is actually willing to do it without a 'we'll see how much it costs when we get into' type thing, as it's going to be an awkward job.

Going to my parents tomorrow but they're the only ones we know locally well enough to invite ourselves round unfortunately. Weirdly I'm finding the hot water the worst, feel like everything's all grimy already from only washing hands/sink etc with cold water.

Luckily it's cold water only so should be ok.

Book a weekend in a cheap premier inn for half way through.

It was just a suggested precaution because 5 weeks is a long time to wait. Don’t panic over something you read on the Internet. They may be fine. You may get a cancellation tomorrow. I haven’t used BG myself in decades. It’s just from comments I see on here and elsewhere that put them up there with Virgin Media for service. But obviously it’s all moaning on the Internet and they are probably the single biggest gas service provider for domestic installations so you’re bound to hear their name a lot.

Get or borrow a big igloo water barrel with a tap (like you take to the beach) and fill it up with hot water from the shower. Stand it next to the sink so you can wash your hands.

Been there!

It’s annoying but it’s worth it boiling the kettle and filling the sink to wash dishes/hands etc in proper warm water once or twice a day.

Electric shower is the key so well done there.

Heating - sucks but sounds like you’re doing all you can.

You’ll get through it and the bright side is, you’ll never have realised how much joy hot water coming out of a tap can bring you when it comes back.

Keep any little bits of extra boiled water in a thermos, and use that for washing hands. When our boiler broke down I kept a large metal bowl hanging around to mix hot and cold for that purpose.

I had this earlier in the year during a cold snap (and British Gas were absolutely great - no problem with turning up / cancellations)

I don’t even have an electric shower so that was interesting (thankfully there was a free gym trial locally!)

Kettles, thermos, layers and lots of blankets were the key for me. I also have a portable oil heater though didn’t use it much.

This is why every home needs an immersion heater as back-up.

It sucks. You will get through it.

I have no advice but when BG did our boiler at our old place we had no problems at all with their timing or work. I hope they fit you in from a cancellation.

Collect a bucket of warm shower water for washing up after you've showered. Obviously you rinse with clean water after but it's good for the soaking / sponging / soaping / wiping phase.

Fill your washing up bowl with hot water from the shower.

Cut down on clothes washing, consider taking washing to launderette to use dryers to avoid mould/condensation.

Put electric heaters on timers / religiously turn them off so you don't spend 000000s on electricity.

That's it 🤔

I spent 12 months with no boiler and no luxurious electric shower. Used a camping shower filled from the kettle 😓

I had a new boiler installed by BG two weeks ago. All went exactly as they said it would, no problems at all. They said it would be 8 weeks before they could fit me in but I actually got it done 5 days after I accepted the quote, so assume I got a cancellation!

This is why every home needs an immersion heater as back-up.

Doesn’t work terribly well when you have a combi boiler with no room for a hot water cylinder…

I sympathize. We had the same situation a while ago when moving into our new home and the boiler was condemned! Our electric blankets were a godsend. Lots of layers and hot drinks. Hope you get it sorted soon x