What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12

[Frnc]

Mild weather for next few days.

Gas combi condensing boilers are less efficient on mild days. I turned my boiler off about 9am, and will use an electric radiator for the rest of today (700W, set to about 33%, uses 0.23kW/h when on - it won't be on all the time).

I'll turn it back on first thing tomorrow. I've reduced the boiler temperature from 57 or 58 to 52 for the next few days. This partly solves the reduced efficiency.

This strategy saves a bit of cash, and keeps my room at the temp I like it (about 20°).

[mcprepper]

Have been very focussed on diet and fitness the past few months - have become significantly fitter (and slimmer) as a result. Preps that cost money have been put on hold as need a whole new wardrobe! Keep telling myself not to panic that I haven’t been keeping my pantry as up to date as before as fitness in my 50s feels super important. On a lighter note, getting the oil boiler serviced this week, Mr McPrepper has got his winter tyres swapped over and I’ve been baking more of my own bread. Yum.

[pseudonym]

Thank heavens for insomnia.

Sat in the living room and heard a drip start, spotted a leak in the middle of a radiator from the bottom back.

Got a bowl and towel and am watching it like a hawk atm.

Water turned off but cant turn off the radiator due to my ailments.

Awaiting a response from a plumber

[diamond lil]

Hope you get a plumber asap!

[Yorkshire Andy]

Thank heavens for insomnia.

Sat in the living room and heard a drip start, spotted a leak in the middle of a radiator from the bottom back.

Got a bowl and towel and am watching it like a hawk atm.

Water turned off but cant turn off the radiator due to my ailments.

Awaiting a response from a plumber

If you've a combi boiler turning the mains off won't affect the heating system as its a closed system till you use the fill loop to top up pressure..

Boiler off that stops the pump if you can find your drain cock bit of garden hose and a 8mm spanner (from memory) and drop the water out the door speed up the process by opening a couple of upstairs bleed screws

[Dt162]

I've just got a good deal on a big diesel generator

Will have to collect and set it up for those emergency power outs

[Frnc]

Got my new Ivie IHD. It's pretty good. Has loaded up historical gas and electric use data. But mainly the use for these things is how much have I used so far today. I have a gas budget which in winter is based on average temperature for the day. Electric also varies a bit, if I use an electric radiator for a bit, or dehumidifier.

On these mild days, the C/H is less efficient, so ironically these are days to keep a close eye on it. I've turned it off again.

[pseudonym]

Hope you get a plumber asap!

Check a trades come in good, one's preparing a quote as I type.

If you've a combi boiler turning the mains off won't affect the heating system as its a closed system till you use the fill loop to top up pressure..

Boiler off that stops the pump if you can find your drain cock bit of garden hose and a 8mm spanner (from memory) and drop the water out the door speed up the process by opening a couple of upstairs bleed screws

Yeah found that out Andy, tried the youtube way also where you turn the nuts at the end of radiator. That works wonders on a new radiator. Mine have been in since 1974

I'll just set my alarm for every 4 hours for a washing bowl empty

[Yorkshire Andy]

Gone are the days when you'd ring and they'd turn up ..

Last year local gas man turned up condemned parents boiler....

Dad asks for a quote ... hes still waiting ...

Several requests to local firms for quotes for new system.. only one turned up he had the job... but never quoted on paper or came back ..

In semi desperation dad rung British gas...

Man turned up when they said they would .. he measured every room and radiator did the calculations said your current back boiler is too small (they extended over the years offered a decent finance package at 0% )

They signed

They turned up on the agreed day did the job
.


Day later dad found a leak they came straight out and replaced the old copper tank foc



As such they've taken out the yearly boiler cover + service contract

Sisters been waiting 3 months for the local monkey to come service hers...

They don't want the money

[Frnc]

I use 24/7 Home Rescue. They don't cover my C/H anymore, as their sister company fitted a new boiler, and you get 10 years boiler and C/H system cover at a fixed price with that (£13.70 a month). Price for the other cover is about £9.50. Obviously radiators come under central heating system, but as they were pre-existing, I don't know the exact terms of the cover for them. I expect they'd do a callout, but probably not a radiator replacement. Obviously they do a service once a year. In fact, I can choose them or Ideal, the manufacturer, and this year I got Ideal. For the first couple of years, both of them came.

Currently been getting some radiator hammer off the bathroom towel rail TRV. TRV may need replacing, but for now I've just turned it to max. It's a cold room, so the towel rail gets hot whether it's set to 3.5 or 5. Maybe it's not bidirectional, and is on the wrong side, I dunno. Was ok last winter.