Heating: My warm air heating has broken... - Lung Conditions C...

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Heating

Jaybird19 profile image
29 Replies

My warm air heating has broken down . This is warm air vented into each room but the fan has failed ! I live in open plan house with lots of glass . Lovely when sun shines but how do i keep warm without heating . I do have 2 electric radiator s but they dont touch it . Bathroom is warmer and bed is best --- and it is christmas so nothing can be done as spares factory closes for long winter break tomorrow and cant even book a visit from engineer this week . It might not be fan but it is grinding and grumbling and then overheating and closing down very quickly. This happened once before many years ago long before i retired and then we spent the holiday and beyond waiting fior repair - 3 weeks etched on my memory! I have lived here for over 50 years and like the heating system but not many people in this area have it now and have to go 30 miles to get a n engineer who can do it . I should have realised it was failing but didnt recognise the symptoms . Trouble is I keep hearing radio proramme from michael mosley telling me how good it is for us to live in a colder environment . ( That is unless we are old or with health problems) Stuff that !

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Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19
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29 Replies
Patk1 profile image
Patk1

Electric fan heaters are a gd quick source of heat.maybe electric blanket on settee.do u have Depher plumbing+heating in Yr area x

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

As Pat says, maybe a fan heater would help. I do hope you can keep warm as that’s imperative with health issues. Can Citizens Advice help or Age UK? Take care Jaybird.xxx🤗

Bevvy profile image
Bevvy

Because you live in an open plan house I am doubtful how easy it would be to use fans. I suspect they would need to go for a long time and be very expensive before showing any warmth.

Maybe oil filled radiators for smaller rooms such as bedroom. And electric throws to snuggle down with in lounge area??

djbctla profile image
djbctla

I agree with everyone else, wear slipper boots layer your clothes make sure your feet are warm.

BERNARDINE ❤️❤️

Michael Mosely doesn't live with our conditions. He is always banging on about losing weight but has no answers for those of us who can't put it on!I guess close up the house and move into a hotel. You need to be warm.

Patk1 profile image
Patk1

If u have a landlord,spell out the urgency for repair.if its Yr house, if look for "depher" as they'll prioritise Yr repair.x

Ern007 profile image
Ern007

I do not live in open plan - We have a picture window though ( Ceiling to floor) in bungalow. I really feel for you as out heating went and we where freezing, for 36 hours and the lecy fire is both expensive and useless.

We should be warm all the time, dose not always happen that way.

Stay on sofa under duvet, try and keep as warm as possible anyway.

tomc profile image
tomc

HAHA, Well said, I would go further and say "stuff them all the long the short and the Tall"

Germantara profile image
Germantara

Hot water bottles are good and fan heaters sorry this has happend for you take care of you're self

Blackbird8 profile image
Blackbird8

I would pop an electric blanket on your couch on a low setting and a blanket over it..

Wear lots of light layers rather than thick heavy stuff like jumpers ...If you can spend an extra hour or 2 in bed even better ...

Have a flask of soup tea or coffee next to you so you have a hot drink and maybe get some fan heaters to dot around your home... It sounds lovley by the way all open plan and lots of glass x💜💜

Jacorandax profile image
Jacorandax

hi. I have a plug-in electric hot water bottle that stays hot for ages. This is brilliant for me as my wrists are weak so filling a traditional bottle with a kettle of boiling water is dangerous. Once it’s hot, which takes five minutes it can be unplugged and used for several hours it’s a very good present for somebody at about £20. My one is made by Carmen, the same company that used to make my heated rollers back in the day.

B0xermad profile image
B0xermad

What a pain this side of Christmas for it to fail,lots of sleeping bags to keep you warm, we had blown air ventilation in our bungalow but it was dusty and difficult for me to breathe properly so we went to Central heating instead

Lutontown profile image
Lutontown

We had warm air central heating in two houses we lived in in the 60's into the 90's. Great whilst they were working, but remember back to seeing the crud that accumulated in the ducting. I wonder what could be residing in that crud, and blown out of the ducts for us to breath in. We changed the second one to radiators, and was able to then able to knock down the breeze block enclosure of the warm air unit, increasing the area of the kitchen somewhat. Anyway, we've now got to be considering going to more planet friendly options, like heat pumps. Trouble is, they all cost a lot of money, even with government help.

Davegt profile image
Davegt in reply to Lutontown

Not very helpful.

Lutontown profile image
Lutontown in reply to Davegt

Yeah, sorry. You want your heating NOW. Our boiler conked out last March, and considered getting a heat pump, but knew it would take a while to get in and up and running, and as the weather was cold at the time I decided for a replacement gas boiler, which was installed only 3 days after the old one failing. Cost us £2195. A heat pump would probably be £12000. Your only option as far as I can see, is obtaining a few electric fan heaters, with thermostatic control. Maybe you can hire them. I bought one to complement the one we had when the boiler conked, so kept comfortable, but of course expensive to run.

Straddie profile image
Straddie

maybe a calorgas heater from a caravan/camping shop? They are awkward to move around but warm. Very important to get one room warm and hibernate there till 2024.

bazcranleigh profile image
bazcranleigh in reply to Straddie

I was going to suggest that. I had a very large workshop (about 40 x 20 feet) some years back and two paraffin heaters were sufficient to keep it warm.

jhorsf profile image
jhorsf

More thin layers of clothing work better than one thick layer they say , you can get a large blanket you wear for TV watching

Mooka profile image
Mooka

Have you tried your local council ? Ours supposedly will lend out electric heaters if they have any. Sod’s Law it always breaks down when it’s coldest.

Davegt profile image
Davegt in reply to Mooka

Good suggestion.

garibaldon profile image
garibaldon

I used to install a few of these wretched systems in the ‘60s. They’re usually American or Canadian. Lennox were popular.. you don’t mention if your system i gas or ‘leccy. It sound like the bearing have gone on the motor. Wish I could help you . I can only suggest you may try a few air conditioning companies a do a bit of pleading. …lay it on really thick.

peege profile image
peege

I hope you've got some sources of heat sorted out by now. If not, as others say, thick slipper booties, flasks of warming soup, hot water bottles, electric blanket, you can get those electric throws now, fleece trousers as well as a fleece. I'd decant to a smaller room. We had a calor gas heater many years ago, great source of heat in a smaller area but they did cause condensation. Good luck !

MoosterMoo profile image
MoosterMoo

Everyone has given such good ideas, definitely keep your feet warm, and if possible, a warm hat to keep your head warm. I hope you can get it sorted soon.

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

Hope you are managing to keep warm in spite of everything. xxx

Grinninggranny profile image
Grinninggranny

when ours broken down we ordered the part direct from the manufactures. Then fortunately it was a simple fit, few screws and and wires connected via the multi plug. Don’t know if that helps or not.

Do whatever it takes to keep warm. My Gran always said keep a hat as that’s where we loss Body heat quickest . Good luck

Ergendl profile image
Ergendl

Check if a local church or charity is holding a Christmas Lunch for those who are on their own this Christmas, and see if you can join them, to keep you warm for a bit on Christmas Day. Our local one includes transport to and from the venue for those who can't travel there themselves.

Hope you soon get your heating problems sorted, somehow, this side of Christmas.

watergazer profile image
watergazer

We use an electric fan heater from time to time. Gets the room cosy quickly x

clematis5932 profile image
clematis5932

Please do as Pat1 has suggested and contact D.E.P. H.E.R you will find them online or they give you a telephone number. There are various ways that they can help you until you are able to sort yours out.

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19

i do have a great company who put themselves out to get this working again . phoning up and around someone to do a call out ( remember it is worth £180 plus parts )

i was desperate .and so glad to see anybody but he as great, listened and then checked the unit and decided 90 - 99% chance it was control box so new one neededand they had a spare at base. / So one person set out from north manchester with this spare part to lymm motorway interchange to meet my tecnician who who drove there and brought it back . halved driving time doing that . very cleve r of them. He fitted it amnd it worked ! sheer bliss . got hotter and hotter and I had to strip down and remove my thermals and at least one jumper .

It sounded good . but didnt turn itself off at set time when I found out next day house was really warm and next night just turned setting down , and then up again next day . not ideal but warm. so will have to ask them about that. i reset the programme today so fingers are crossed .i was so lucky that the weather wasnt cold. I saw / one child walked past going home from schoo l in his shirt sleeves .!

I am old in my eighties and then you get cold you get cold !

thanks to the many people who sent various ideas to keep warm . it all helped . thank you

I would have stayed in bed if needed as i do have a electric blanket the can be set on low setting for just that , to sleep on it but who wants to do that at christmas!

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