Need advice, heating broken - do we do hotel?

[Bubblebuttress]

Hi. Boiler at zero, think a radiator is leaking. Spoke to insurance, They said they will send someone. Tomorrow I guess. Kids are over 5 so not vulnerable BUT MY ITS Cold.

They said we could have 100 towards accommodation. Does that put the premium up more though next time, are we better to use it or suck it up and pu on electric blankets and use hwb

positing for traffic will decide in next 30 mins, nearest premier in is 30 mins away

I never have the heating on at night so would not be an issue.

I would just put additional jumpers/socks and blanket on and go to bed a bit earlier.

Moving forward I think it is always good to have at least one portable electric heater just in case the central heating breaks down.

To be honest, anyone who grew up and survived the severe English winters with no heating truly does deserve one. It was tough!

Oil filled electric radiator or two and you’ll be fine, we managed for a few days last December with those from Argos when our boiler broke and took a few days for the part to come into the merchants.

Put the DC school uniform under your pillows so they’re not icy cold in the morning - nothing worse than getting out of a warm bed into a cold room to put on cold clothes! I’d have my own clothes in the bed with me too but I’m a wimp.

Always have a couple of oil filled radiators in a cupboard for these kind of emergencies!

I’m quite surprised that this is a genuine thread.
Still not 100% tbh.

I don’t have any central heating.
I have an open fire but I only use that on a weekend when I know it’s definitely cooled down before I go to sleep.

You posted at 8pm.
Surely the kids are getting ready for bed and if you’re cold then wrap up in your duvet or go to bed too.

We had no boiler for a week last week (or washing machine!) with a two year old. Borrowed some heaters for each room, bathed him with a little strip wash and a bath a couple of nights at a neighbour and we used the gym or just braved a cold shower. It wasn’t pleasant but with lots of clothes and blankets it was do-able. Good luck!

Everyone with a gas boiler should know how to restore the pressure in the boiler. It isn't hard, it is a just a knob under the boiler. You google the manual for your boiler. Do you how long it has taken for your boiler to get down to zero?

If you can restore the pressure in your boiler, you should be able to nurse it along until you get someone out to look at it. You might want to bleed your radiators whilst you are at it. Both are at the very basic knowledge level for a homeowner. Unless you'd prefer to throw your money away.

Having no heating is miserable. I had no heating two winters ago and it was awful but it's just one night hot water bottles, many layers, anything thermal. put it on.

I spent prolonged periods with no gas or electricity when my DS was tiny (I was in an abusive situation, there was often no money to top up the meters and in those days if it went off it went off). It was a cold and miserable existence over winter so I don't see putting up with cold as resilient, character building or any of that guff. However, for one night it can be done. Warm food and drink, any sources of heat that you have (oven will warm the kitchen, hot water bottles etc) will see you through.

Hot water bottles
Electric blanket
Heated throws
Borrow if you don't have.
Thermals
Sleep in same bed.
Hot drinks
U will be fine.

Yer this will get it working!

Middle of Lidl has little miracle plug in heaters just now..and fan ones... Y'all need to huddle.

Eating boiled rice makes me really hot. Maybe you could do that too?

Direct a hairdryer under the children’s bed clothes for 5, 10 seconds before they get inside (and yours).

You can also put on the hairdryer in the morning to warm up the air immediately around them as they get out of bed.

I'd go to the hotel. Toasty. Hot showers in the morning! That's my idea of a fun adventure. Not everyone freezing their asses off feeling virtuous. 😊

Our house is freezing and the heating is working. The hotel may not be very warm either.

Big difference between not having the central heating on overnight and being in a house that hasn't been heated for a a few days.

That said I would suck it up for the sake of one night. It's depressing though.

I've had gas boilers all my life and not one of them was the pressurised type.

I've had gas boilers all my life and not one of them was the pressurised type.

I don't think this is possible.
It's the pressure in the closed water system in your central heating pipes. I promise you it's there.

We had a shitty boiler that we were trying to get through another winter with at one point, so we had electric blankets and an oil filled radiator with a built in fan heater, so instant heat and then a reliable heat source. We also bunked down in one room, the children saw it as an adventure luckily.

Now you know it can happen you can prepare for the possibility of the next time.

Yes I was going to suggest this too.

Or if you have a heated airer I'd turn that on to generate some heat.