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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

talk to me about heating

29 replies

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 10:18

right - i live in an old house, its always cold. i have a gas meter which costs about £5 a week over summer but last winter i was putting on about £30 and that was just having it on an hour in the morning and maybe 2-3 hours in the evening. i would usually turn it off once kids are in bed.
the house tends to get mouldy despite me opening windows. i was told its because the house doesn't get a chance to get warm and the only way is to leave the heating on. so have heard on here about how its cheaper to leave the heating on etc..
so thursday i put it on and have turned it down to the minimin temp but so the raiators are ticking over so are still feeling warm and wow this alone is making my house 100 times warmer (i know its hasn't really been that cold yet). have looked at meter this morning and its used about £5 since thurs! so maybe not a cheaper option for me? seems strange to leave it on when i'm out etc...
any ideas? what do you all do? thanx

OP posts:

Tortington · 29/10/2011 10:19

do you own the house?

Goandplay · 29/10/2011 10:29

I pay quarterly - I'd be too scared of a big bill coming in. My mum always said this about heating the water etc.

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 10:33

no i rent. there was talk about me possibly having a log burner put in but it seems it was turned down. its an old 1800s house. it does have a fireplace but i have never used it as am a bit nervous about the fire not going out and burning the house down (i have ocd!)

OP posts:

mollschambers · 29/10/2011 10:38

Putting on the fire would help enormously. As long as the chimney has been swept and you put a fireguard over when your not in the room it would be absolutely fine.

If you really can't cope with doing that stuff some newspaper up the chimney to stop draughts.

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 10:44

would it work out cheaper to have a fire and buy wood/coal? then use the centeral heating?
thanx for the tip, currently the chimeys are stuffed with a binliner full of newspaper

OP posts:

mollschambers · 29/10/2011 10:51

Well personally I'd be using the heating and putting on a fire once it gets really cold. Gas meters are generally on the most expensive tariffs btw. Any chance you could look at changing suppliers? should be info here about changing suppliers

Fuzzywuzzywozabear · 29/10/2011 20:30

We have our heating on all the time. It only clicks on when it drops below certain temp. We find it much better and doesn't push bill up. We've got an electronic thermostat not sure if you'd need one of these

RandomMess · 29/10/2011 20:32

How good is the draught proofing? Lots of thick and lined curtains etc?

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 20:50

on my boiler it just has a knob for the temp, no numbers so i have just left itat the min. i also have a switch where i put it on or on a timer etc so have put that on.
draught proofing could be lots better. i have a celler which proberly doesn't help. no thick curtains at all. one room hasn't any and the frontroom and boys bedroom is just cheapy ones which were hanging when i moved in and in my room i have roman type rollerblind.

OP posts:

Waswondering · 29/10/2011 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RandomMess · 29/10/2011 20:59

I would honestly invest in curtains - you can take them with you when you move. Charity shops or ebay??? You can line them with other curtains too, the thicker the better it does make a difference.

Draught excluders on the doors etc etc

sabrinathemiddleagedwitch · 29/10/2011 21:01

Make sure your chimney is lined before starting a fire. Unlined chimneys are lethal.

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 21:04

thanx everyone [hsmile]
am starting to like the idea of a fire - what do i need to know?
my friend is very handy with a needle so may ask her to sort me some nice thick curtains

OP posts:

countessbabycham · 29/10/2011 21:10

If you can get it all checked out and have a fire that'd be great as real fires also help with dampness.You could ask around and see if you can get any off cuts or anything.
Just aim ultra safe if you're worried till you build your confidence.Don't stack the fire high,let it burn down before you go to bed etc.
Would your landlord put a thermostat in that would turn the heating on at a certain temperature? If not does anyone have an idea of how much this would cost ('fraid I can't help)
Make draught excluders like sausage dogs too.

Waswondering · 29/10/2011 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 21:30

do i need to get anyone in to make sure its safe to use one?
someone mentioned about a tree surgen who would happily drop off logs for me just so he can get rid, is that all i would need?
would it work out cheaper to have a thermostat? or could i just leave it how it is and turn up if needed?
ooo sausage dog that would be good for my front door and celler door, fab will give my lovely friend a job as i'm not too good with a needle

OP posts:

countessbabycham · 29/10/2011 21:41

I would think a chimneysweep would be the place to start and would be able to reassure you over whether it's safe.

It may well be that you would have to store the logs for a while to let them dry out.

You will likely need a block and an axe for splitting the logs dependent on their size.

Bet your friend can show you how to make a sausage dog,or you can use old stockings (stuffed)

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 22:08

fab thanx! i think i'll find a local chimney sweeper and see what he says. what would i stuff a sausage dog with?

OP posts:

countessbabycham · 29/10/2011 22:10

You can even use newspaper.

Try getting an old pillow or cushion from a jumble sale or charity shop and using its innards.

Original poster

scabbysnake · 29/10/2011 22:14

great ideas! thanx so much

OP posts:

Jellykat · 29/10/2011 22:14

Re.Logs - They will have to be seasoned, but you can burn Ash straight away.. All the tree surgeons around here sell their logs as a second income, from £80-£100 a load. This lasts @12 weeks, but i only light a fire in the evenings.

Stuff sausage dogs with Polyester filling (@£3 a bag) or as countess says, if you've got an old pillow/duvet take the filling out of those.

PigletJohn · 31/10/2011 20:01

do you mean that your CG does not have a room thermostat? If so, that's really bad.

PigletJohn · 31/10/2011 20:02

CH I mean (central heating)

pollywollywoowah · 31/10/2011 20:23

Roughly how much does it cost to get a chimney swept?

Mandy2003 · 01/11/2011 18:56

Last time I asked (over 5 years ago) it was about £70

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