Owning your own home

Yeah, it's pretty bad.

Not too sure what more we can do though. We've replaced both external doors which used to let the breeze in, and insulated the loft. I guess we could replace all the sash windows with PVC but don't really want to do that.

I'm totally over Victorian houses...

That cheap 'double glazing' film you can get is really effective on draughty single glazed windows... It's a roll of double sided tape and a sheet of heat shrink clingfilm. Ideally frames painted gloss, although I've used on satin/eggshell before.

Thicker/longer curtains? We can get things pretty toasty here and I don’t think our boiler is anything fancy.

Is that radiator foil stuff effective?

Anyone used one of these?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Home-Kitchen/Radfan-Classic-Small-Power-Radiator/B00GR0STTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1

In the last house we rented we had those foil things seemed to work. We also put a curtain over the front door(do that in this house).
You could also build a small wooden frame to make your own double glazed unit? Takes DIY skill.

That film I liked the look of but I thought ineffective. It's better bto seal off with a frame or bubble wrap if you don't look out of the window.

What is the indoor humidity level ?
I have 2 dehumidifiers that go on when the humidity goes over 60 and they have made a noticeable difference to the temperature.

I remember using that clingfilm stuff in the 80's - its a one off disposable solution because it had to be ripped off* for the spring and summer in order to open the windows.

• the cats started this off.
  

I've not measured that.

Assume it's similar to outside as there is plenty of unintended ventilation. How do the dehumidifiers make it warmer? Or does it just feel warmer?

How do the dehumidifiers make it warmer?

They're basically compressors, condensers and heat exchangers. Loads of power in has to go out somewhere.

I thought the theory was that it takes more energy ( your heating system ) to heat up a damp room.
Yes it is noticeably warmer which not surprisingly feels warmer.

This, easier to heat a dry room than a damp one...

I've recently had my sash windows refurbished. Some were replaced with double glazed sashes which obviously made a difference but even the single glazed ones were made considerably warmer with proper draught proofing.

Dehumids reduce the surface area of everything

The desiccant ones - a bit more spendy - actually spit out hot air too.

Good buildings insurance companies? Already have premium contents with M&S. Adding buildings is a pricey way to do it but maybe worth it means they expire at the same time and I can find a cheaper combined policy next year?

I've little experience of juggling contents/buildings cover but would be sceptical about being able to get a better deal by virtue of having added buildings onto existing contents cover. But I am generally sceptical about the way insurance is priced.

We had little choice of insurers for our house because of this (see pic). Not many insurers will touch something made of piles of mud with sticks and grass on top.

1 Attachment

Awesome
Moar pics /story plz

How did you do it?

Don't have kids.

This. Also means not needing a larger place. Is there a term for the paradox of "if only I didn't have my pesky kids to look after, I'd be able to finish painting their rooms in this large house I've bought to keep them in"?

Wtf is dis? Are you a masai?

Thatch

Or the opposite? Our flat wasn't warning up, the boiler would turn on and then turn off again after about 6 seconds, the boiler temp was set to 35 degrees, which it was achieving very quickly. Turned it up to 50 degrees and the water was actually hot enough to warm the radiators up.

Maybe the reason it's always on is because the boiler is warming the central heating water to 70 degrees or something ridiculous.

It's just the inside of our roof, which the surveyor pointed out was not built to modern standards. Big sticks holding up smaller sticks, and then straw thatch on top. Looks more normal from the outside.

1 Attachment

Amazing! bit different to SE London!

Wonderful... 🙂

Was the house recently re-thatched?

No, just a fresh ridge about 3 or 4 years ago