Storage Heaters

[cleo]

Lol! I know what you mean about the cats, Louisa. My friend's indoor water feature has a strained pump (or motor?) from the cat always drinking it dry!!

The links I gave don't look over-expensive and might be worth a go. A friend who is very asthmatic and has a wood-burning system got one, and she thinks it helps.

[Louisa]

I will try one but I am hoping for a little more heat out doors so I can shut the lot off.

[cleo]

With you on hoping for a little more warmth outdoors, Louisa (it's about time!)

Perhaps worth a try though in preparation for later in the year?

[Ellie]

The humidifiers look like a good idea, much nicer than bowls of water too.

[Louisa]

Well, what a saga this has turned out to be.
And to think I was initially worrying about the cost of running of them.
Little did I know it was about to open up a whole can of worms.

In the end we had to switch the whole system down, I couldn’t breath with them and they were proving detrimental to hubby’s health - and on the flip side we can’t be cold either.

I know it’s British summer time but it’s been awfully cold and that has seen a new set of problems.

There is a coal fire here which doesn’t need opening up, all is well, it just needs a grate.
However, as this is a council house the council have vehemently refused to allow us use coal, giving no good reason.

Despite us offering to pay for the grate, maintain it and return it to it’s original state should we vacate the property.
Our next door neighbour has a coal fire, the only difference is, she has bought her house off the council, so is allowed too.
I have also identified other council owned properties that have been allowed to use their coal fires.

Letters are flying backwards and forwards at the moment and the only thing the council can say is, now I have identified that the chimney was never sealed, they will come and seal it.

Ouch, with no gas in the area and not being able to afford oil to be installed, they are only allowing us storage heaters that we cannot use.
It’s going to be very cold this winter.

I will fight on because it simply isn’t fair, because we are council tenants I feel we are being treated like second class citizens - if we bought the house, we could open up the fire, no questions asked.

[Ellie]

It sounds as if you've got some right little jobsworths there, but no doubt they'll find something in the elf'n'safety book that will stop you using an open fire.

I hope you have some success Louisa, it sounds an awful situation to be in.

[nightshift]

I do hope you can sort this out Louisa, it is not a good situation to be in.

[Louisa]

I won the argument after threatening legal action.

So we can now go ahead and have a coal fire.

[Supertrowel]

Hey, result, Louisa! It's difficult managing with just storage heaters and no gas (they're so unresponsive). I reckon you'll have a warmer winter with an additional form of heating.

-supertrowel

[Ellie]

That's excellent news, well done.

[nightshift]

Congratulations on your success Louisa

[Louisa]

Thank you.

There were a few ‘moments’ at one stage they actually sent work men and scaffolders to seal the chimney completely as I had identified that it was still open.

They were sent with a flea in their ear and told a few facts about housing law.
They were attempting to carry out unnecessary work.

Just shows you….when you’re right BE persistent.
They had no valid grounds for refusing permission.

Now they have to sweep and maintain the chimney!!!

[Supertrowel]

[Lizzie]

I hope yuo like your fire when you light it Can you get logs for it or have yougot to use coal?

[Louisa]

We can use both now.

[Supertrowel]

A real fire will be dead cosy in the winter Louisa. I'm jealous, it's many, many years since I had one.

-supertrowel

[Ellie]

That'll be nice for you.

We've got a woodburner, which is something of a lifesaver when it's cold because our house is quite old and draughty, but it does make quite a bit of mess.

Have you chosen any fireguards?