Prepping homes for COLD weather

[Frnc]

Quick word on condensing gas boilers. I have plotted kWh use per day vs average temp outside for 3 years, so I have an accurate budget for every temperature.

What I've observed, and confirmed talking to AI, is that it's easier to stay on budget on colder days, even though boilers are less effiecient then. On days like today, when it's not so cold, I have to turn the heating off around early afternoon, when I reach my budget for the day (38 kWh for today).

But my room stays pretty warm after that, so I only need a tiny bit of electric radiator now and then to keep it comfortable. Obviously I factor in the fact that electricity is more expensive that gas. I monitor the radiator using a Tapo plug, which also controls the time it's on. I have it set permanently to 15 minutes.

[GillyBee]

When we last had a seriously cold snap a lot of the neighbours condensing boilers packed up because the condensate outlet pipe froze solid. Something to be aware of and prepared to defrost if needed.

[pseudonym]

13Kw of Powerstation power

18w for laptop, 4w for USB lightbulb

Alternative heating

wood burner fire place anthracite and hardwood

Calor darlec heater and 1x calor bottle.

Thick and lined curtains

x2 Army summer bags that open up fully to cover doorways

Like Andy, my plan is to use the lounge as my refuge so thick blankets pined to the architrave means if I nip to the loo or into the kitchen I try and keep the heat in the refuge.. kitchen will be used for cooking gas 2x ring stove or induction hob and powerstations ..

I've Hammock top and bottom quilts that'd be fine down to artic ratings as well

Break out the merino wool long John set and Military cold weather socks, booties leggings and Buffalo tops

-15 in a quinzee. Norway 2013

[GillyBee]

Long johns make a huge difference. I have them for Mr GB and myself but do need to store a couple of pairs for the other adults in the household who think they are old people clothing.

[Frnc]

Turned off the central heating yesterday at 2pm. Living room cooled 2.7° in 16 hours. Half the heat was actually lost in the first 3.5 hours, then half in 12.5 hours. Big difference. First 8 hours, roughly, is exponential, then it looks roughly linear.

For this reason, turning your heat off for short periods, eg 3.5 hours, saves you very little energy, as the recovery will use half of the extra energy you use first thing in the morning.

[Yorkshire Andy]

cooking gas 2x ring stove or induction hob and powerstations ..

I tried with the "little ISH" 1kw delta 2 with my induction hob did sausage sarnies last weekend only took 12% out the batteries frying 8x thick sausages can't grumble at that

Wouldn't mind a lp gas oven but they are silly money

We've the outdoor wood oven and gas pizza "oven" so not out of options but I wouldn't want to be outside stoking the oven at minus god knows what

Still looking for a twin ring and grill unit at the right price


Ps you looked cozy in the snow hole

[mcprepper]

2 wood burners in living room and dining room.
Bottled gas to cook on hob on cooker in the kitchen but could cook on wood burners if necessary- have got cast iron cookware and a cast iron kettle for such occasions. Oil central heating here which doesn’t work without electricity… private water supply which would stop working after gravity fed tank runs out as pump would stop working to refill so water is our biggest longer term issue. Frozen pipes would also, potentially, be a problem …
Bedroom is an open plan mezzanine above the living room so nice and toasty from log burner (smoke and carbon monoxide monitors all checked and working). Also have 4 season down sleeping bags each and a huge variety of thermals/leggings/clothing as spend a lot of time winter mountaineering.
All tried and tested during our week of no power in Storm Arwen a few years ago - though admittedly not as cold as the scenario suggested!
P.S. Love the snow-hole!

[Medusa]

2 wood burning stoves here also with decent stove top kettles and cast iron cookware plus trivets if required. Decent sleeping bags, woollen blankets and hot water bottles. Our curtains are thick and lined and the windows are mostly triple glazed, the curtains would remain shut to keep some of the heat in. We have some back up power, plenty of alternative lighting options, oil lamps, candles and suitable holders, battery camping lamps etc. I would be very reluctant to go out in the truck, but someone would have to go and rescue my elderly Dad as I think he would struggle with only his gas fire if he had no electricity and would be very unsafe without decent lighting. Husband has thermals, I do not and I doubt I would squeeze into his spares so would be a matter of layering up and wearing a hat and gloves indoors.

[diamond lil]

Yorkshire Andy I used lpg for cooking for 30 years and it's the one thing I miss most about this clean modern super efficient wee flat. Proper calor gas cookers are really good. But yes, not cheap.

[Frnc]

Re longjohns, I have 3 pairs. Two are thin, with a fly, normal type, will fit under trousers no problem. One of these is a Rab, merino mix, the lightest they do. The third pair, I think is also Rab. These have no fly, are black, and much thicker. So they probably wouldn't fit under any of my trousers easily, but can be worn on their own indoors of for sleeping in.

I do have one pair of winter trousers. These are Mountain Warehouse I think, so not very expensive. They have a thin fleece lining that's sewn in, but not stuck to the outer fabric. It's a pretty good combination.

Mountain Warehouse Talus are pretty good base layers. I have about 6 of the tops. I think they do longjonns as well.