Handling the cold this winter

Simster · Oct 17, 2013

I've had enough of living in a cold house in the winter, so I'm looking at ways to warm the place up.

Naturally, I've laid down insulation where possible, and I'm going to buy loads of draught excluders to plug a few gaps.

I have two questions relating to a couple of other ideas:

1) I have sash windows, so double glazing isn't possible. However, you can buy film which is supposed to act as double glazing. Stuff like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-STOR..._Accents_LE&hash=item27d7c63b92#ht_627wt_1063

So has anyone on here used this stuff before, and if so how effective is it?

2) A dull central heating question
My central heating is a bit sluggish. I suspect the central heating pump simply isn't powerful enough. Does anyone have a secondary central heating pump and if so, do they make a BIG difference? i.e. enough to justify spending a few hundred quid having fitted

And HELL, lets make this into a thread featuring all kinds of "keeping warm" tips in the winter. I might even buy the Albion onesie if it makes one feel SNUG.

beorhthelm · Oct 17, 2013

Simster said:
1) I have sash windows, so double glazing isn't possible. However, you can buy film which is supposed to act as double glazing. Stuff like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-STOR..._Accents_LE&hash=item27d7c63b92#ht_627wt_1063

So has anyone on here used this stuff before, and if so how effective is it?

sounds like snake oil. the benefits of f double glazing are from the air gap between the glass panes, i dont see how a film applied will have remotly the same effect. it might make the surface more of an insulator though and help a bit. I'd have thought the problem with sash windows are all the gaps, taping them up would be a better idea (i saw cheap gaffer tape on HotDeals UK last week, worth a look)

dougdeep · Oct 17, 2013

Having sash windows doesn't mean you can't have double glazing, the effect the film has is pretty minimal and double glazing is many times more effective. The best thing I ever had done to my house is to have cavity wall insulation, now it keeps warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

willyfantastic · Oct 17, 2013

i just ordered some draught excluders as i have some gaps in my windows http://www.thedecoratingstore.co.uk/kwikgrip-draught-excluder-p-strips?filter_name=draught excluder

my room turns into a bloody icicle in the winter

dont forget hot water bottles either!

Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews · Oct 17, 2013

If you get cold, put a jumper on, it's a lot cheaper than turning the central heating on to gas mark nine just to ensure you can watch Jeremy Kyle while sitting in your Y- fronts

rool · Oct 17, 2013

Depending on budget etc I have been looking into a heat recovery ventilation system which takes out the stale, wet air and brings back fresh air from outside after passing through a heat exchanger.

father_and_son · Oct 17, 2013

I've used the film before... Its just double-sided tape and cling film. You stick it over the window and use a hair dryer to warm and it stretches tight.

It does block draughts (because the whole window is now sealed in) but heat will still leave the house and cold come in through convection (conduction? - can never remember which is which!).

Therefore it will help with the draughts that inevitably come with sash windows but do nothing like the job that double glazing would do.

It is possible to fit double glazed panes of glass within the sash window but if its draughty then this doesn't fix the issue either.

Billy the Fish · Oct 17, 2013

I used that film stuff on my single glazed sash windows last year and it does make a big difference. The scientific proof - without it there is condensation on my bedroom window every morning, with it there's no condensation unless it's absolutely brass-monkeys, indicating a warmer surface.

Other than that identifying as many draughts as you can makes a difference. Last year was my first winter in this house (built 1920s) and I found cold air blasting in from loads of places, once I stopped it my house was noticibly easier to heat and keep heated.

Billy the Fish · Oct 17, 2013

Just seen a few of the posts about the film - obviously it isn't as good as proper double glazing!!!!

If for whatever reason you can't have proper double glazing installed, in my experience it's worth doing for the £7 it costs in B&Q

Westdene Seagull · Oct 17, 2013

dougdeep said:
The best thing I ever had done to my house is to have cavity wall insulation, now it keeps warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

This. Best of all you can get it done for free.

I'll add to the mix that a decent heated blanket, high tog duvet and a good naked woman can help a lot with the cold as well !

Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews · Oct 17, 2013

Billy the Fish said:
Just seen a few of the posts about the film - obviously it isn't as good as proper double glazing!!!!

and nowhere near as good as the book

Simster · Oct 17, 2013

Cavity wall insulation is a no-brainer where possible. Sadly, my house was build in 1885, and cavity walls were rare back then.

No cavity walls + single sash window= ruddy freezing.

Birdie Boy · Oct 17, 2013

In a previous house I was in I had the sash windows draft proofed, they put a draught excluder thingy around the frame of the window and it made a massive difference. It was not the stuff you can buy from B&Q and not sure how easy it would be to DIY. I also cannot remember how much I paid for this to be done but I do remember it was well worth the money.

Westdene Seagull · Oct 17, 2013

Simster said:
Cavity wall insulation is a no-brainer where possible. Sadly, my house was build in 1885, and cavity walls were rare back then.

No cavity walls + single sash window= ruddy freezing.

I don't know the exact details and it will obviously not solve your problem for the up and coming winter BUT I understand there is something that you can paint onto inside walls to reflect heat back ( I'm no expert as you can tell ! ). Clearly you're only going to do this when re-decorating a room.

Seagull kimchi · Oct 17, 2013

'Ready break' glow. Now the tories are selling our Nuclear Power industry to the Chinese we will all soon be feeling that warm sustaining incandescence.

Bozza · Oct 17, 2013

I can't be doing with a cold house. We just have the heating on as much as required to ensure we're not cold, topped up with a fire in the lounge when required.

At home I'm in shorts all year round.

KZNSeagull · Oct 17, 2013

Folded up sheets of newspaper stuffed into gaps is a very effective draft excluder I find. As is hanging thick curtains over doors you rarely use. All very old fashioned, but effective.

Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews · Oct 17, 2013

KZNSeagull said:
Folded up sheets of newspaper stuffed into gaps is a very effective draft excluder I find. As is hanging thick curtains over doors you rarely use. All very old fashioned, but effective.

more Natal Rd than Natal ZA me thinks

KZNSeagull · Oct 17, 2013

Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews said:
more Natal Rd than Natal ZA me thinks

. Well, if you live in a house built in the 1950's in a country that laughs at the mention of double glazing or central heating, when it gets cold you have to resort to the cheaper ways of keeping warm! Am extremely grateful for all the drafts in this house most of the time though, just not when it is -10 at 5:30 in the morning and you are getting up for the school run.

Badger · Oct 17, 2013

Simster said:
1) I have sash windows, so double glazing isn't possible. However, you can buy film which is supposed to act as double glazing. Stuff like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-STOR..._Accents_LE&hash=item27d7c63b92#ht_627wt_1063

So has anyone on here used this stuff before, and if so how effective is it?

I tried this when I was living in Ben's flat, it made very little difference as far as I could tell. Taping up all the gaps and making sure there isn't a draft made a bigger difference, I found some good tape that is specifically designed for that sort of thing. I'd also recommend doing the same on internal doors.

Obviously I'm far more smug about central heating these days

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Handling the cold this winter

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