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Housekeeping

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Can't stand the heat!

9 replies

Redruby2020 · 03/06/2021 11:44

Hi mn's, so I moved in to a flat last year winter time, so was yet to see what it would be like in better weather.
Now, before anyone says why did you take it, it was a final offer, via local authority, so unless you have a very very good reason, if you turn it down they will usually dump you and you would be left with nothing.
So my bedroom is at the back of the house, big bay window area, old sash windows, not good at all in winter, I spent a few months not sleeping properly because of the cold on my head 🥲 windows are rotten and landlord is aware, plus very gappy and although this is the downside of old sash, it can be made better. Two side windows can not be opened as they have screwed them shut, but yes I do have the middle window, which if any of you who no longer have sash remember, you can pull down the top window as opposed to the bottom, which I would have to do anyway, as I have a young DC, and because of course unlike double glazing, where most of the new ones have a safety lock, if I opened my bottom window this could be a massive safety risk.
There are blinds up by the way(were already there) and I got a rail and curtains put up in winter.
To add insult to injury the boiler is in my bedroom 🥵 there was no carbon monoxide monitor when I moved in, I asked for one and it was disputed, but they did put one in, which I am very aware you must have! Especially as the boiler is in a bedroom.
So fast forward to now, and things have heated up, when I walk in to my room it screams HOT at me. The heat from the boiler(no not using heating at the moment, but still heats up for water of course) my furnishings of course can be stored away and more summer appropriate things brought in.
But the sun hits the back in the mornings, and omg with that and boiler, it is red hot in there. Thinking of all the early mornings getting ready for school and work etc and dripping trying to get ready etc in near future.
I do close the blinds, they are from what I can see faux wood slat type, curtains are pulled right back so as to avoid sun making fabric so hot which adds more heat. I got lined crushed velvet, lovely at the time in winter, not so much now, and I went and had a normal rail not eyelet put up to save on cost, as some eyelet rails for a bay were pricey. And had it been glazed I wouldn't of probably bothered with curtains, so I thought why should I pay out so much, when there were other things to pay out for too.
I should have got thermal/blockout curtains really, as I don't think it could be any worse than what I have, in that because of how bad the cold is through those windows, what I have doesn't help very much.
Plus I see from my DC's room, who has got thermal/blackout curtains, how much they keep the sun out.
DC's window was changed as only single window so cheaper for landlord!

So I am looking for advice as to how I can deal with and improve the situation for both seasons, but especially now with the heat we have been having.
I have only looked at fans so far, usual table top not space for and I don't feel they do very much.
Someone did mention a tower fan, I had a look on Argos online, they have a few but some are pricey and I am in between whether to get one or not. Some say they are noisy at night and not doing much.

Thankyou if you read this far!

OP posts:
ZoeMaye · 03/06/2021 12:00

I would start with a normal standing fan or desk fan and some window film. Inexpensive and can be very effective.

Redruby2020 · 03/06/2021 12:11

@ZoeMaye

I would start with a normal standing fan or desk fan and some window film. Inexpensive and can be very effective.
Hi, thanks so much for replying, I don't think my post will get the replies I really need. Is that like the insulating film? Would that be put on and left all year around? When you say a normal standing fan can you be more specific, do you mean a round oscillating type? Or like I had mentioned a tower type. Thanks.
OP posts:
thelegohooverer · 03/06/2021 17:18

I’d say that the boiler needs to be insulated. It shouldn’t be leaking that much heat into the room. It must be costing a fortune to run.

I know you can buy liners for curtains and either hook them to the top back of existing curtains or put them on hoops in between each of your curtain hoops (if that makes sense). Would that be an option?

You might need to set a timer to pull the curtains at certain times of the day. I use the timer on my phone in winter to remember to go round and pull all the curtains and in summer to open/close windows in the early evening.

Am I understanding correctly that you can’t open the window at all?

The fan noise at night is a bit like white noise and lots of people actually use white noise to help them sleep so that might not be a problem.

Redruby2020 · 03/06/2021 18:25

@thelegohooverer

I’d say that the boiler needs to be insulated. It shouldn’t be leaking that much heat into the room. It must be costing a fortune to run.

I know you can buy liners for curtains and either hook them to the top back of existing curtains or put them on hoops in between each of your curtain hoops (if that makes sense). Would that be an option?

You might need to set a timer to pull the curtains at certain times of the day. I use the timer on my phone in winter to remember to go round and pull all the curtains and in summer to open/close windows in the early evening.

Am I understanding correctly that you can’t open the window at all?

The fan noise at night is a bit like white noise and lots of people actually use white noise to help them sleep so that might not be a problem.

Hi and thanks for your response. By insulated, not being stupid, but how is that done? This is not something I can do myself I don't think? As I am a tenant. It does cost quite a lot yes. What is the connection between the boiler letting off a lot of heat, and it costing a lot to run? I can open the middle main window of bay but not the side ones, they have been screwed shut, I was told they would fall out otherwise. I am not happy to only be able to open one window.
OP posts:
thelegohooverer · 03/06/2021 23:29

Sorry, I’ve googled a bit and that was bad advice. Apparently boilers have to disperse latent heat from the heat exchanger so insulating would be a bad idea.

Sorry - I’m not much help.

ZoeMaye · 03/06/2021 23:35

Oscillating but only because I haven't had any experience with tower fans and know they are more expensive

The film works like double glazing but also has UV protection in it, so it stops heat getting in and UV rays from damaging the decor and furnishings.

Really it sounds like you could do with air conditioning and not much else is going to be effective. I had to sleep with the boiler in my room for a while and I just turned it on for an hour a day in the hot months for the family to bath/shower. It doesn't need to be on all the time so that would reduce the heat.

Tumbleweed101 · 04/06/2021 17:08

Is there any way of getting air flow from front to back of the flat or are the windows all on the same side? Do kitchen, living room windows open and are you high enough that leaving them open is safe?

Bargebill19 · 04/06/2021 17:19

A bowl of ice in front of the fan is very effective. Also use a clean, damp towel draped over your body instead of a blanket whilst doing to sleep.

Superdoopersoup · 07/06/2021 03:14

You said that the curtains are pulled right back.

During the day when it is hot/very warm outside you should close the windows and close the curtains. That way you are keeping the heat out and making the room cooler.

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