Keeping your home warm / heating / energy crisis / insulation etc

going to data.n3rgy.com/consumer will allow you to login with your IHD mac and MPxN reference and get the raw files

Amazing!

However, I don't have my IHD any more so can't get its MAC or CIN from it in order to be able to login. Are they replaceable (I'm with British Gas for both Gas & Elec although my meters are too far apart to talk to each other and so I only have Elec values uploading)?

Given that my Gas meter will never connect to my Electricity meter I think I'll have a go with the Arduino (or ESP8266) and LDR to read the flashing LED:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/solar/flashing-led-on-electricity-meter/

That's really interesting. Please do share some pics if you go down this route.

Yes; I used to have a sheep fitted in a chimney we’ve now removed. They can make to the size you need and it made a massive difference.

Hi! Long time lurker here at LFGSS. Not sure if this is the right place to ask, I am new to the UK and first time living here in a cold country. Have 2 toddlers and wondering if the presence of black mold really affect their health?

Both of my kids are experiencing terrible vomitting last week. They immediately vomit after eating or drinking anything. Has taken them to the ER and doctors gave some liquid to them that suppress their symptoms. Doc said its winter fever?

Cue to today, after moving my bedframe, saw alot of black mold behind the bedframe and cleaned it up immediately with bleach+water solution. Is this the cause for their vomitting and should i be concerned about this? Have frantically flipped all other furniture to see if there is more mold hiding everywhere else...

How do I keep it from growing again and is bleach+water the best way to remove it?

TIA,
Zaraki

1 Attachment

Hi Zaraki, Black mould more likely to cause lung issues than vomitting. Bleach and water works ok. This stuff is good to remove it: https://www.wilko.com/astonish-mould-mildew-blaster-750ml/p/0489033?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI36votZbM_AIVh63tCh2-Hw0vEAQYAiABEgL8QvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds but it will grow back.

This stuff will do a better job of killing the mould, but it's vicious on the lungs - so wear a mask:
https://lordsbm.co.uk/lsf01075?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIos6IzJbM_AIVwYFQBh0I1wdyEAQYAiABEgL8MPD_BwE

Long term, try and get yourself a dehumidifier, that will help a fair bit. Small amounts of black mould are not uncommon in older UK houses in the winter but large amounts of mould may cause issues.

A dehumidifier will also help you get a reading of current humidity levels, anything over 60 and mould can grow - you need to then try and keep humidity down - from running the dehumidifier when drying clothes to making sure that you aren't getting excess moisture in the house through bad guttering or other sources.

Small things too like making sure you cook with lids on pans or opening windows after a shower

How do I keep it from growing again

It's growing there because of damp & cold - moisture in the air in your home is cooled near external walls* or cold bridges, and will condense onto surfaces.

If there is insufficient ventilation, mould can and will form.

That doesn't really look like the black mould you often see on walls, probably due to the organic nature of the wooden surface giving rise to different moulds forming.

Treatment would be broadly the same though - Kill it with all the chemicals, then make sure it doesn't form again by improving ventilation (moving furniture away from walls, open window vents, extractor fans etc...), decreasing humidity / water vapour (caused by drying clothes, cooking, breathing, any external causes of damp ingress), and ultimately by improving wall insulation.

* London housing is often Victorian & older, with solid walls, and are piss-poor insulators.

Moving the bed 150mm or more away from the wall so you get airflow behind it is the first thing to do once you’ve scrubbed it.

I always feel bad about how shit our climate and housing is when new people move here. It must be quite the manky shock. On behalf of my people - sorry about it all.

Bleach ok for cleanup but I think vinegar is better for treating/preventing most mould. Don't mix the two! But after its clean and dry, you can give a wipe with white vinegar, it'll soak into the wood a bit and make it less attractive for mould. As others have said - dehumidify and pull furniture away from wall where possible.

It's not good for kids (or anyone) to live with a lot of mould and especially in cold and humid conditions. Long term respiratory issues. But unlikely to cause sudden illness like you describe.

Yeah - the vomiting is just kids doing kid stuff. Anecdotally, there was a whole lot of puking going on over the winter break.

British Gas going big and cheap on heat pumps

Octopus so a heat pump specific tariff now as well with cheaper energy at peak times

@Tonts and @EB :
usb gilet update situation - they work. they're ace. thanks.
parents were guinea pigs, i have one now.

Yes! Love mine!

God bless you Karcher vac. Whole house done in 5 minutes

Niiiice! Glad to hear it.

https://youtu.be/E1kjBOpH46w

Good explainer from Martin Lewis about energy bills.

Don't use bleach on Mold it will make it worse in the long run. Use a white Vinegar mix with water in a spray bottle. I sometimes add baking soda too.

Yeah we are so fucked

(glib reply to the ML video, above)

Thanks for linking that, quick and easy summary.

We've been paying £170 on gas and electric since March 2022, and built up a chunk of balance on both gas and electric. £66 less than this for a few months now due to the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Jan's bill has come through as £104 again due to the above. Actual usage £323...
The gas budget balance will disappear next month, so hoping for a warm Feb!

Use a white Vinegar mix with water in a spray bottle. I sometimes add baking soda too.

This doesn't make sense. The bicarb and the vinegar just react to give salty water. Use vinegar, no baking soda / bicarbonate of soda.

Use bleach. It kills it. And bleaches out the discolouration.

Volcanoes tho