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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No boiler for at least a week?

65 replies

grenlei · 29/09/2020 17:26

AIBU to be a little concerned as to how we will manage this, without any hot water?

My trusted plumber isn't able to get to it until then. I have had so many bad experiences I don't trust anyone else, so I'm a bit stuck. Previously we have managed situations like this by having showers at gym, work etc but in these Covid times that's no longer possible.

Heating I'm not too bothered about but the lack of hot water is rather different.

WWYD if you were me? Any advice?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/09/2020 17:27

Do you have an electric shower as that would heat its own hot water?

Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 17:29

Unfortunately not, both our showers work from the main system. Great when the boiler is working, not so much now.

In my next house I plan to ensure we have at least 1 electric shower for this situation!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/09/2020 17:32

Fill a basin with boiled kettle water (mixed with cold) and stand in the shower or bath and use that for washing yourselves?

Lockheart · 29/09/2020 17:32

Boil kettles or pans of water for washing (either in a bath or sink if you don't have a bath). It won't be convenient but you will be clean. Keep flasks of it for hand or dish washing.

Any friends or family nearby whose shower you could ask to use?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 29/09/2020 17:33

We were in this situation when we had our whole heating system replaced in the middle of winter 3 years ago. We did have an electric shower but we also did strip washes using a kettle of boiling water. Also, dry shampoo is a godsend!

WinWinnieTheWay · 29/09/2020 17:34

Victorian hot washes at the sink. At least it's not January!

Soubriquet · 29/09/2020 17:35

Ah we had this a while ago. Boiler was broken for 8 weeks in the middle of winter.

Luckily we had an electric shower and the landlady paid for some electric heaters too

Trailing1 · 29/09/2020 17:36

I feel for you OP. When this happened to me a few years ago i had to boil kettles of water and put in buckets and carry them up to the tub and sort of sit in it and and use a jug to pour water over and use a flannel...so bloody glamorousGrin. Took forever to feel clean especially when trying to wash my hair as well but I managed.

AvoidingRealHumans · 29/09/2020 17:36

I went 4 weeks over August without one, took 2 to realise I had an emersion water heater.
Do you have one of those hidden like I did? If not then kettles in a bucket - half and half with cold and use a jug as a quick make shift shower

Gobbycop · 29/09/2020 17:38

Yeah it's gonna have to be boiling kettle and basin washes.

Might be worth getting a space heater that can warm a room in minutes.

These are good www.screwfix.com/p/ptc-2500-g-freestanding-space-heater-2500w/4810v

Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 17:39

No family to ask unfortunately, and I couldn't really ask any friends due to Covid either.

Strip washes at the sink it is I guess, our bath is huge so trying to fill that by kettle would take forever. Not sure how my hair will cope, I normally wash it daily.

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 29/09/2020 17:41

Do you not have a hot water system where you can turn the hot water tank on separately to heat up? A bit like a big kettle?

Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 17:42

Definitely no immersion heater.

We have a fire in the lounge, and a couple of oil filled electric radiators but luckily we're in the south and it's not at all cold - I never put my heating on until end of October normally.

Just cursing that when I did the bathroom some years ago I didn't have the foresight to instal an electric shower.

OP posts:
speakout · 29/09/2020 17:44

Sink wash.

As a child we only had hot water from the tap one evening a week- for baths on Sunday night.
It took extra coal to heat up the hot water tank - and was difficult to afford.

comingintomyown · 29/09/2020 17:45

I had three weeks last November with no boiler, strip wash and every 3rd day or so showering at a friends for hair wash. It’s amazing what you take for granted !

Ginfordinner · 29/09/2020 17:49

@ittakes2

Do you not have a hot water system where you can turn the hot water tank on separately to heat up? A bit like a big kettle?
In our system the water is still heated by the boiler. I imagine it is for most systems.

This is why we pay over the odds for a homecare agreement with British Gas. Yes, it is expensive, BUT, we have never been without heating/hot water for more than 24 hours. They even came out one Easter Sunday for us, and during awful snow another time.

It is more expensive than paying for ad hoc repairs, but we are paying for a 24/7 service, which is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.

And no, I don't work for British Gas Grin

Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 17:50

My parents both grew up in homes where the only bath was a tin one that was used weekly. As a child of the 70s/80s I've been spoilt and always had a daily bath or shower, sometimes more than one. I do rather take it for granted.

OP posts:
AramintaLee · 29/09/2020 17:50

I braved cold showers for a few days when I went without heating. I washed my hair once in the shower with the cold water and I felt like my scalp was burning.

Soubriquet · 29/09/2020 17:55

Try dry shampoo for the hair

I think it’s improved since I was a kid

majesticallyawkward · 29/09/2020 18:00

We had this when I was super pregnant, it took way to long for me to realise I could take the kettle upstairs and fill from the bathroom sink then boil it up there... sooooo many trips up and down the stairs with a boiling kettle 🤦‍♀️

But yes, sink washes and dry shampoo and/or bun. A week isn't that long, and your hair will thank you for not washing daily.

Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 18:04

I have quite curly hair - dry shampoo always seems to make me end up looking like I have dandruff (I'll admit it's a few years since I last tried it though).

OP posts:
Original poster
grenlei · 29/09/2020 18:23

Glimmer of hope, thought my gym had reopened the showers but apparently not. Kettle it is then!

OP posts:
Catiopea · 29/09/2020 18:54

Without explaining why, I had to manage without heating for extended periods. Boiling kettle/pot of water, a tub in front of the fire. My top tip is have a bucket of hot, one of cold, one you’re standing in, one for dirty water & a jug to go between. Sounds a faff but really reduces how much water you need (& so heat)
Have all ready in front of you (& the fire esp if no other room heating) really helpful if the jug for pouring is big enough to dunk your hair in, have a flannel & at least three towels (1body, 1hair, 1spills/stand or 2 if poss)

It was more awkward than having heating/hot tap/shower but I loved the adventure/ingenuity/rustic nature of it - feeling accomplished at ‘making do’.

I would do it again in a heartbeat - working on a fire-pit in current non-fireplace home in case of pandemic/brexit apocalypse! all that taints those memories are that their origin was manufactured rather than (as I thought) a necessary adventure.

I remember them as they best serve me - times of resilience & ‘blitz spirit’ - having fun with hardship makes it feel less like hardship! Hope you are able to not just manage but have fun with it too Flowers

Keep1984fiction · 29/09/2020 19:01

Any swimming baths open near you.
Perhaps a visit would be a nice idea if the showers are available