 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Central heating bust - am freezing
|
|
|
Subject: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:19 PM My heating is well broken and I cant afford to get it fixed until April. Its below freezing here and the house was not designed to function without the heating. Not to mention that I'm bl**dy freezing Any tips to keep warm? Please? pat who just cant drink another hot drink - dropping the drawers in this temp is no fun at all! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Scoville Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:25 PM How freezing? I mean, 35 degrees outside is "freezing" here but my friend in Indiana is having high temperatures of 3 degrees. Just for goodness' sake don't leave your stove on for heat. You can't believe the number of people who burn themselves out of a house around here trying to heat with kitchen stoves and shoddy space heaters. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Rasener Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:28 PM Dropping the drawers for a bit of grumble and grunt will get you warm :-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Wesley S Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:34 PM Watch "Lawrence of Arabia" on the TV. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Wesley S Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:35 PM Seriously - do you have hot water? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: MMario Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:39 PM Using an *OVEN* for heating can be semi-practical. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Rasener Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:46 PM Get a sleeping bag and boil water and put in hot water bottle. Scrounge a hospital pee bottle and a bed pan. No need to freeze on the bog. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:47 PM I have an emersion heater for the water, and a gas fire in the front room. The problem is that the house is open plan and trying to heat a large area with one small fire does not work. this house was designed to have central heating and without it, well as I said - its cold. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:49 PM Its below freezing, I think -5 not sure what scale its on. I'm in the UK so its not as bad as alaska |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Little Hawk Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:55 PM Be glad you're not in Ontario. It hit -27 here in the last few days. A moderate number of lit candles can definitely help warm a place...but just be careful you don't set the house on fire with them. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: jeffp Date: 06 Feb 07 - 03:56 PM Around here (US), a lot of heating and A/C people offer financing on major jobs. Is that a possibility? Can you close off an area by hanging blankets across doorways? Pitch a tent in the living room with the door facing the gas fire? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:00 PM Lots of candles i can do. I don't have a tent to pitch, I will have a go at pitching a vitual one. I'm a great believer in what you wish might come true. Pat xx |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Maryrrf Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:01 PM I was without central heating for a couple of months. I bought a couple of space heaters and borrowed another. When it got really cold the space heaters weren't enough, but at least if you sat right in front of them you would be warm. Get a couple and put them around the house. The kind with the blower uses more electricity but is also a lot more effective. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Ebbie Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:01 PM Last year when I moved into a drafty apartment that had not been heated in months and without a fixed heating system I nearly froze. I spent a lot of time hanging over a heater that did not radiate. One thing worked every time: I took a long hot bath. I'm normally a shower person but the tub worked much better. When I'd get out I felt like the temperature had gone up all over the place. Could you do that? At the very least, it would bring you back to square one. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Rasener Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:04 PM Is ther nobody near you who would put you up for a few days? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: jeffp Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:07 PM I would be concerned about pipes freezing. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Peace Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:15 PM For now, block off rooms you don't use. As jeffp said, the possibility of pipes freezing is a real one, so run a bit of water when it gets really cold. Also, space heaters are good, but for God's sake be acreful with them. They can be one terrible fire hazard. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Metchosin Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:15 PM Keep your taps dripping Partidge, at -5 inside, you are at risk of your cold water lines freezing up. You will have more than the cost of central heating repair if that happens. Use space heaters in rooms with plumbing or at least a few candles in the bathroom. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Peace Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:21 PM but for God's sake be CAREFUL with them |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:26 PM Wear lots of thin layers rather than thick ones. If you have a furry rug, wear that with the fur side inside. Natural fibres are better. Wear a hat and if you have long hair, leave it inside your clothes - makes great insulation! Have you got a wheaty bag? It's a cloth bag of dried wheat that you put in the microwave to heat for 2 mins and it stays warm for a long time. You could knock up something similar with popping corn but don't let it get moist - you'll end up with a bag of popcorn! Can you borrow some screens or something to block draughts? Good luck. I know what it's like to be cold. LTS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Rasener Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:28 PM Seems Britsh Gas have got a once off fixed price for repairiong central heating. Might be worth ringing them and see how much it costs. At the end of the day,although you can't afford it, it may be the cheaper option. I am willing to send you a donation of a fiver and if a few other mudcatters do that, maybe you might get enough to get the repair done. Better than freezing. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: lady penelope Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:48 PM Hat, wear a hat. It may seem daft but you lose a huge amount of body heat through your head. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: jeffp Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:49 PM Good point, Villan. Here (still the US) the electricity/gas company will do your repair and you can pay it off over time on your utility bill. I bought a new refrigerator that way. It wasn't cheap, but it was the only alternative at the time. I had no money and a bad credit rating. It's paid off now and still working, so I feel a winner. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:51 PM Thanks for all your ideas. no worries about pipes freezing coz I' put the emersion on every couple of days. the house is open plan - its imposible to cut off a small area. A bath I can have and i do have wheat bags and a microwave so i can be warm tonight. My financial circumstances are such that I have to wait until the money I am expecting arrives. Thanks again Pat xx |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: able Date: 06 Feb 07 - 04:51 PM I hate to say it, but you appear to have more problems than your central heating. The solutions given are short term only and can't even begin to sustain you until April. What may seem like a glib comment by me is that you appear to be seriously overextended from a financial standpoint. Your long term solution would be to find somewhere else to live, and place your house on the market. It sounds to me like your dreams exceeded your ability to pay fot them. Sorry, it looks like you will have to retrench and tailor your dreams to your income. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: katlaughing Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:06 PM LOT of assumptions there, able! We lived without central heating, in Connecticut from late October through January until our cheap landlords coughed up enough to replace their faulty furnace which had caught on fire. The bedrooms we could close off, in which we used space heaters. The living area, including kitchen, dining, and living room were all wide open. We used the fireplace a lot, but still had space heaters to keep the exotic houseplants and birds alive. So a person can last a good while, esp. as we are headed into spring. Is there any way you can hang blankets or curtains from the ceiling? Maybe hang a rod between ceiling hooks, then a blanket over it? That could help to close up some space. Also, rolled towels along the bottoms of doors and windows will help keep out the drafts. Bake a turkey in the oven.**BG** Seriously. I know of a Mudcatter who did this when her heating went out! What everyone else said about hats, layers, etc. We lose about 90% of our body heat through the top of our head. Do you have any space blankets? Or can you buy them there? Those REALLY work! I even put them on the walls of my brother's uninsulated apt. walls in WY one winter to ward off the extreme cold. I am giving thanks you are receiving an unexpected blessing which allows your central heating to be fixed now. luvyakat |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:19 PM Thanks Kat, even if the heating is not fixed yet i feel warmed just by your comments.love you too btw Its a case of only time, and me being of positive thoughts - I will get there, This a blip not a overall financial dodah, the open plan house means I'm unable to make a small area to heat. I;m so tired no that O think I will retire wearing my many thin layers. thanks again for those with your good ideas. Pat xx |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: skipy Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:25 PM My 1000s of miles of hill walking with the military give basic rules that work, LAYERS, LOADS OF LAYERS, head, feet, hands. If that fails, contact Harvey Andrews for the words to "lag your legs" He will never frogive me for that, bless him! Skipy |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:29 PM Thanks, am off to bed wearing lots of thin layers, but just thanks for being there. Pat xxx |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: nutty Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:37 PM OIL FILLED RADIATORS are very effective as background heating and not very expensive to buy or you may even be able to borrow a couple to tide you over. I'm sure someone you know will have one. I'ts sods law that if cenral heating is going to break down, it does it at the coldest time of the winter. Hope you cope OK, Hazel PS ... WEAR A HAT IN BED - it prevents loss of body heat |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:44 PM Find yourself a nice toy boy to keep you warm in bed? : ) LTS (wishful thinking.....) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Charley Noble Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:44 PM I'd also favor borrowing or buying 2 or 3 space heaters, using NO EXTENSION CORDS with them. I wouldn't dare use candles in your situation as a source of warmth. An electric blanket would also be a good investment. Insulated panels to pop into windows, friction-fit, is also a good idea for conserving heat at night; however, they generally are very flamable. Is this a house you own or are you renting? Is it a townhouse or a detached building? Rum is nice, especially if heated! Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: GUEST,meself Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:49 PM Get an electric blanket - I was given an old one a few months ago, and it is great! It'll keep you warm all night; no problem. Don't know what kind of money they cost. But check this bunch out, if you haven't already: http://www.freecycle.org/ ... might get some help with things there ... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: mrdux Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:05 PM One winter the furnace went out and I couldn't afford to fix it. I spent a month without anything other than a single radiant electric space heater. Every evening, Maeve the dog and I would cuddle up together under a sleeping bag and keep each other warm. Worked pretty well. And we both wore hats. Good luck. michael |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Bee Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:05 PM Been there a few times, though not recently. Definitely wear several loose layers, two pairs socks (avoid cotton, wool is best), a hat, thin wool neck scarf or if convenient a big warm shawl or small blanket used as a shawl. Wear gloves or mitts - if you're working with your hands, use those fold-back mitts. "Every couple days" using a heating device for water will not keep your pipes from freezing. Leave a couple taps dripping. When you get out of this bind, invest in a good secondary heating source. We frequently lose our power, but have a woodstove and propane cooktop, so no biggie. Incandescent light bulbs give off heat, oven can be used for an hour or two. I don't recommend candles if you have pets or long hair (Ack! Yep, been there, lucky to have just lost a chunk of hair). Hope you warm up soon! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:20 PM Move all essentials to the one area you can screen off using heavy blankets as doorway curtains. No matter how impractically small that area is. I mean, I would literally sleep in the bathroom just to be able to close it down, heat it, and make it comfy. Eat a lot, especially fats and carbs, for quick-burning body fuel. Drink more water. Do NOT drink any alcohol at all, as it will cool you down, depress your metabolism, and possibly make you so drowsy you are in danger of actually, literally freezing to death. 100-watt bulbs can heat a space the size of a closet, on a clamp-lamp with reflector. Do not leave unattended. It sounds, really, like you should stay with someone till you can get this sorted out. Urgently. ~Susan |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Richard Bridge Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:38 PM There may be -5 (centigrade) outside in the UK tonight. With a gas fire inside even in an open plan house you are likely to be 16 degrees ish. Run that gas fire! Use clingfilm and sellotape to double or treble glaze all windows. Make sure the loft hatch shuts bubble tight (draught excluder). Make sure the front and back doors shut likewise. Run the immersion heater overnight every night. Keep an eye on freecycle for rolls of loft insulation. Keep an eye on freecycle for calor gas heaters. They produce moist heat, but quite alot of it. You will have to buy the gas cylinders but shop carefully and you will get a 12Kg one for about £15 and it will last most of the week. Keep an eye on boot fares and similar for paraffin heaters - illegal to use in most cases these days and do NOT knock them over. The ones sold for greenhouses are cheap. The so-called "big red" produces a LOT of heat as does one of the three inch Alladins if you can find one, and a £4 gallon of paraffin will last most of the week. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS IF KNOCKED OVER. How old are you? If you are a pensioner the local authority may help. If you have young children ditto. What is wrong with the heating? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: katlaughing Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:38 PM Ummm, I think she has gone off to bed with a hat and many layers, folks. And, she will get it sorted, I am sure. Electric blanket and light bulbs...that's what I forgot!**bg** We lived all winter in Wyoming, out on the ranch about 15 miles from town without anything but one woodburing stove for heat. We didn't even have a cooking stove as the gas line which fueled it and our furnace was cut when they put in the water lines that fall. We had big open rooms off of one long hallway. We put the stove in the kitchen in line with the hallway with our bedroom at the far end and the kids in between. With the fire stoked high at night and a fan pushing the air our way, electric blankets, plenty of cats and a dog, we all survived and it was a tough winter with lots of snow, cold, and wind. That was our last winter there, though. We moved to New England the next summer for a better job.:-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Alba Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:51 PM Hello Pat, that is a bit of setback..temp of course ma dear. Positive thoughts coming right at you and I am giving thanks for an abundance of all you need coming into your life in the very near future and so it will be. Meanwhile, hat, gloves, woolies, sweaters and if you can call a buddy to say your coming to stay with them till the cold snap wains. Darn it if I had the cash I would get you here to my House pronto, actually I'd give you the cash to get your heating fixed duh! Anyways best not to underestimate The power of positive thinking8>) Oh and make your Dreams as BIG as you want them. The Universe has enough energy to fill your want list. Settle for All not less. *wink* Love and Light and HEAT!! Jude |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: kendall Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:53 PM That's what I'm wondering, what is wrong with the furnace? Is it oil fired? If so, have you tried pressing the reset button? Can you describe the furnace? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Sorcha Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:41 PM Surely you can tape or thumbtack blankets (think charity shops) to the ceiling and walls? Use closepins to create corners. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: GUEST,Barney O. Date: 06 Feb 07 - 11:00 PM Layered clothing, mulitple thin layers. For really low temps that + wrap yourself in plastic (except for your head)...leg holes in large garbage bags, etc. For quick relief set fire to the house, longer term, move to Borneo. Good luck. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Feb 07 - 11:11 PM Lot of good tips were in THIS OLD THREAD. ~S~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Partridge Date: 07 Feb 07 - 12:51 AM Thanks for the positive thoughts - I'm a huge believer in stuff like that. Alba, much love and abundance right back at you. (sorry cant do fancy red rolling writing, just pretend you can see it) iTS 5.40am here and everything is covered in a thick white frost, luckily thats only outside! The boiler is 30 years old and was going to be replaced this spring anyway(when in funds)Can anyone recommend a good efficient one? First the pump went about a 6 weeks ago, the system still warmed the water and the kitchen. Then about three weeks ago it stopped firing up at all. Its been looked at by a plumber friend and its a no hoper. I tried the thin layers last night and felt comfortable enough to sleep soundly. The worst thing is getting out of the shower, which I'm mentally gearing myself up for in about an hours time. If it gets any colder here I will have to vote with my feet and stay with a friend until in ends. Thanks for the link to old thread, some interesting ideas there. As a woman of a certain age I've been having power surges on a regular basis, but they have abandoned me in my hour of need! bugger!! Thanks for your concern, I feel warmer already love Pat xx |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: GUEST,ozchick Date: 07 Feb 07 - 01:55 AM Move to Australia! The coldest weather we get where I live is a maximum of about 10 degrees celsius in the middle of winter..... It still feels cold to me, but I can't imagine having to deal with pipes freezing etc. Good luck! p.s get an electric blanket..... they're great! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Wordsmith Date: 07 Feb 07 - 02:25 AM Lots of great ideas. Hat, definitely, no matter how it looks. Hooded sweatshirt, with hood up...you knew that...over the hat. Lots of layers, yes, wool socks with cotton over them. Blankets nailed to the molding over the external doors...you'd be surprised how much warmer that makes it, and the stuff under the doors, too. Candles are fine if you have tin cans and surround the candles with sand or cat litter so that when they burn down, they don't burn your house down with them. Seriously, a candle in a tin coffee can presumably save your life if you get stranded in a car...crack window a tidge...and pray that the troopers get to you before the candle evaporates. Wrapping yourself in a blanket, also works, on top of the above. I, too, have been there. This worked for me on a short term basis...24" of snowed in...ran out of fuel...but had a wood stove and a propane gas range...electric oven. Figures Mother Nature would abandon you just when you actually wanted a flash or two. Black Cohosh works for that...but you probably knew that? Best of luck. ;) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: wysiwyg Date: 07 Feb 07 - 10:11 AM As a woman of a certain age I've been having power surges on a regular basis, but they have abandoned me in my hour of need! bugger!! Good thing, too, as they will only radiate heat you need to keep in. ~Susan |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Bee Date: 07 Feb 07 - 11:19 AM Glad you made it through the night warm enough. Given the long term nature of the furnace problem, I second others here in saying, go stay with a friend for a few days, at least during the days, until the weather warms a little. It's stressful to be cold. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: Donuel Date: 07 Feb 07 - 11:33 AM All we needed was an igniter for $65 to ours going again. get a second opinion on repair electric heaters 10 dogs drip all water pipes constantly indoor tent |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Central heating bust - am freezing From: kendall Date: 07 Feb 07 - 12:01 PM Always get a second opinion if the cost is going to be high. Did the man check the filter? If that is plugged full of sludge the pump can't overcome it. |
