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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Gas Boiler install 4 days before due date - how bad could it be?

14 replies

Sparkeleigh · 11/09/2013 08:28

I'm due on the 18th Oct and decided to replace our old oil boiler with a gas one for the baby coming so I can have instant hot water and better control of the heating.

My issue is that the install date for the connection is the 7th and the plumber can't come out to the 14th since he's busy before then...

If the baby decides to come early, what would having a newborn baby without having heat/hot water be like for a few days? People did it in the past so obviously we'd survive, we'd still have a cold water connection and a kettle and could get some electric heaters if necessary. We have no oil at the moment so don't have the heating on anyway.

The only big downsides I can think of are the noise, and I wouldn't want the plumber to be faced with the sight of me trying to breastfeed, but I think I'd be able to stay shut away in a room while he does the rest of the house.

Anyone reassure me/warn me off?

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SomethingOnce · 11/09/2013 09:06

Is it your first baby?

Is your washing machine cold fill?

Have you a friend nearby/a friendly neighbour if you need a freshen-up shower?

Have you explained your situation to the fitter? He/she would have a heart of stone not to be timely and fast!

Grumpla · 11/09/2013 09:17

To be honest I would look for another fitter.

There will be mess. Brick dust etc to Hoover up. Several times. And noise. And blokes traipsing around.

The only way I could bear to wee after DC1 was in a tepid shower. I definitely wanted to be able wash twice a day. And have clean sheets. If there's any delay, or you have the baby early, it will be a massive pain in the arse.

However, if you really really can't find anyone else, it should be survivable. Make sure DP has cleared the laundry pile etc before the new one is due to go in. Have a couple of plug-in heaters on standby in case it is freezing on the day or there is a problem with the installation.

Original poster

Sparkeleigh · 11/09/2013 10:29

It is my first baby, so I've really no idea of what to expect.

My washing machine is cold fill thankfully and I have relatives who live pretty close so I could go have a shower there.

I have explained to the fitter, but he's booked solid before then so he says he'll come earlier if he can, but he can't promise anything. To be fair, it was really poor organisation on my part leaving it this late...

He's highly recommended by someone I trust which is why I was willing to wait for him, I've had a few bad experiences with workmen before and I was worried if I ended up with someone who wasn't reliable it might be more stressful than this scenario.

I didn't consider the weeing bit, so it sounds like if the bathroom is out of order, I'd really be best to invade relatives for the day.

Thanks for the replies. It does sound like it'll be a massive pain in the arse, but a manageable one as long as I can barricade myself in a room or escape to relatives... and get DH to do the hoovering...

OP posts:

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 11/09/2013 10:34

I had a new boiler just as DS was due it was fine and we were only without water for a day and a half.
less stupid than the upstairs carpet that was being fitted while I was contracting
I hardly dared go to the loo in case my waters went on the new carpet

CoolaSchmoola · 11/09/2013 10:35

Our combination boiler was fitted in one very long day. They cleaned up after themselves and I would have been fine with it just after having DD, as it wasn't anywhere near as disruptive as I imagined. We only had two new radiators though so they didn't need to be in every room. We had bathroom access much of the time too as they isolated the system as they moved around.

SomethingOnce · 11/09/2013 18:56

In the circumstances I agree it's better to go for the reliable fitter - it'll be short term inconvenience but better than ending up stuck with a cowboy/shoddy work for weeks or months. There's a good chance the timing will work out fine anyway.

It's not like you'll be having to entertain a toddler so, in the worst case scenario, you have the option of relatives or staying in bed practising breastfeeding and eating your way through the supplies kindly brought by DH. The latter is what I'd advise regardless of the boiler, tbh

Or you could plan to go into labour the day the fitter turns up and wait it out in the comfort of the hospital.

SomethingOnce · 11/09/2013 18:58

I'm assuming you aren't planning a home birth..!

Original poster

Sparkeleigh · 11/09/2013 23:24

Somethingonce, your ideas are sheer genius nope, I'm not planning a home birth, although that might terrify them into finishing the job ASAP

Lol! moaning

Coola that's good to hear that they can do that. We don't need any new radiators luckily, they just have to fit new thermostats on the leaky ones.

Thanks for all the replies! fingers crossed baby doesn't decide to make an early appearance, but it really doesn't sound like it will be too bad if she/he does.

OP posts:

SomethingOnce · 11/09/2013 23:35

I do my best to be helpful

Good luck with everything!

ElleCloughie · 14/09/2013 21:55

This thread really caught my eye - we're having a new boiler fitted on Thursday/Friday, and I am due on the 4th of October - we have more than four days between it being done and my due date, but not by a huge amount! Ours involves the removal of the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard, and ripping out the gas fire and old back burner in the sitting room and new boiler fitted where one of the kitchen cupboards was. I have wondered if we are mad to be going ahead with this now, but it has been in the pipeline for a while and I think the disruption (hopefully) before DC1 arrives will be easier to deal with than having it done with a very young baby in the house. Hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Mondayschild78 · 14/09/2013 23:13

We had our boiler serviced just before DS was born mid Oct 2011 and for the first 9 days of his life we were without heating and hot water. They kept sending engineers out but no-one could work out what the problem was. It was a bit stressful but with the kettle and some portable heaters we coped. Hopefully you wouldn't be without for as long so I would say if its important to you to go for it now then do it. If you can put it off for a while maybe do that in case any unforeseen issues arise.

Original poster

Sparkeleigh · 16/09/2013 09:46

something thanks!

Ellie good luck for both the boiler install and the baby! Come back and update if you remember

Mondayschild You just made me realise, our boiler is about 15 or 20 years old so I'm thinking it could go at any time, leaving us in a worse position... So hopefully the short term pain will be worth it.

OP posts:

Alwayscheerful · 16/09/2013 09:58

Stay in bed, breast feed and bond with your new baby. Stock up with some M & S ready meals and don't worry too much.

The timing will probably be fine get some friends in to help you clean up or get a contract cleaner in to do a deep clean when the plumber has finished.

Stick with the reputable contractor they are few and far between and worth waiting for.

If you are without hot water/ bath and are frightened to wee, try weeing in a large bowl of warm water, hospitals used to recommend salted water to aid healing but I think it is now considered to harsh.

Adreamz · 16/09/2013 18:37

When we had our new boiler we were without hot water for 1 night. I bathed my little girl at my mums but you could just boil some in the kettle and add lots of cold water. And don't forget to wrap up warm!

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