Cost of Caving Crisis

[topcat]

We decided that we were not reallyvusingvthe freezer. Well, we were, but it was mostly half empty, and low value stuff.
We turned it off a year ago and don't miss it.

We buy frozen peas for a meal and make pea soup out of the left overs so have nothing to freeze . If we still had the allotment we'd still run the freezer, but as it is, no loss. Gained a dry food storage unit though

 

[pwhole]

A return bus ticket from Sheffield to Castleton is still only £5.40, having recently (but only) gone up 40p for the cost of living crisis. So apart from the slower pace, it's not a bad deal for me now. It is getting busier though! So I'm also opening the windows more than I used to

 

[tomferry]

I am thinking of bunging some more insulation in the loft before winter, I believe £ for £ it's the simplest most effective way to save heating costs.

You usually get this done for free by the government I have at my house also no a few others which have. cavity wall insulation use to be free worth checking.

 

[Loki]

Look at your smart meter while running your electric shower. You’ll be snipping the cord on the isolation switch straight away I tell ya!

 

[Fjell]

I will raise you a 4 oven Aga. Luckily it seems the government has decided to heavily subsidise it and bill the kids. Phew.

Several people I know I have very serious problems with cavity wall insulation and it is no fun to remove it. You can get bridging from the outer skin to the inner very easily if any significant water is getting into the the cavity. The outer skin needs to be in very good condition and you need to have a very careful look inside the cavity to see how it has been built. The alternative is interior insulation which I would prefer if pushed, but is obviously more expensive. If you have a solid wall you need to think very carefully before doing anything, becuase it can go wrong very easily as the design is founded on adequate ventilation. We have solid slate walls, at least it won’t fall down.

 

[tomferry]

I will raise you a 4 oven Aga. Luckily it seems the government has decided to heavily subsidise it and bill the kids. Phew.

Several people I know I have very serious problems with cavity wall insulation and it is no fun to remove it. You can get bridging from the outer skin to the inner very easily if any significant water is getting into the the cavity. The outer skin needs to be in very good condition and you need to have a very careful look inside the cavity to see how it has been built. The alternative is interior insulation which I would prefer if pushed, but is obviously more expensive. If you have a solid wall you need to think very carefully before doing anything, becuase it can go wrong very easily as the design is founded on adequate ventilation. We have solid slate walls, at least it won’t fall down.

I couldn’t get my cavity wall insulation done myself they did the core holes before putting any inside when they inserted the camera they found out mine was full of brick bat so it was impossible. Other half of the house is solid 9” walls so freezing cold in the summer it’s lovely ! Yes never insulate solid walls without consulting a professional can cause major issues beyond belief

 

[Rob]

My central maillon spring recently failed and the thing kept undoing whilst hanging(!). However a replacement Omni is £30! So i finally found a use for a steel karabiner. I'm surprised i've never seen this before, seems to work fine so far.

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[Fulk]

I'm surprised i've never seen this before, seems to work fine so far.

I think that's because we've always been told that karabiners are designed to be loaded along the long axis, and any other mode of loading is potentially dangerous.

 

[Rob]

I think that's because we've always been told that karabiners are designed to be loaded along the long axis, and any other mode of loading is potentially dangerous.

Naughty me, wouldn't want any potential danger. Best keep buying massively over-specified and over-priced gear then...

Sorry sarcasm finished. After 10 mins searching the biggest safety reduction factor i can see for crossloading screwgates is 25%. For a standard 22kN steely that still puts it higher than an Omni @15kN, and still massively over-spec'd for 70kg me.

 

[wellyjen]

My central maillon spring recently failed and the thing kept undoing whilst hanging(!). However a replacement Omni is £30! So i finally found a use for a steel karabiner. I'm surprised i've never seen this before, seems to work fine so far.

The old screw gate D maillons are only £7.50 and still work fine in three way loading. Heavier than an Omni, but so is a steel krab. I always thought the Omni was over priced and pointless.

 

[Pete K]

The Omni is only overpriced until you REALLY need a pee, then it's priceless!
I know Rob can make perfectly sound judgments about his personal risk tolerance, but for info (and off the top of my head)... EN 362 type B connectors like that one probably is, are only rated for a major axis load. IIRC they are required to withstand a 7kN minor axis and a measly 1.5kN for gate breakout when loaded from the side or pushing it in. I'd be off to spend £7.50 on a steel D maillon if it was me, but would be okay to exit a trip with that krab there if I had no other options because I'd lost my main maillon/Omni somewhere. I'd go very carefully though!

 

[ttxela2]

You usually get this done for free by the government I have at my house also no a few others which have. cavity wall insulation use to be free worth checking.

Just had a quick check and from what I read I don't think we would qualify.

The house is of 1980's vintage and does have cavity and loft insulation - I was just thinkng of adding another layer to the loft.

 

[ChrisJC]

The irony in a lot of energy saving tips (e.g. energy saving bulbs, turning off electrical devices on standby) is that the 'wasted' energy is heating up your house. So during the winter months, your heating will be working harder to compensate for the lack of heat input from all of the other sources.

For us, by far the best saving is the electricity we are _not_ buying because it's coming from the solar panels instead.

Chris.

 

[tomferry]

The irony in a lot of energy saving tips (e.g. energy saving bulbs, turning off electrical devices on standby) is that the 'wasted' energy is heating up your house. So during the winter months, your heating will be working harder to compensate for the lack of heat input from all of the other sources.

For us, by far the best saving is the electricity we are _not_ buying because it's coming from the solar panels instead.

Chris.

Well that’s for politely telling us we are all doing it wrong mate ! I shall sleep with my tv on standby again and cuddle it to keep warm !

 

[ChrisJC]

If you have a big telly, it's amazing how much heat comes off the screen. Just put your hand on it!

But it is heating your house, so not all bad.

Chris.

 

[wellyjen]

The irony in a lot of energy saving tips (e.g. energy saving bulbs, turning off electrical devices on standby) is that the 'wasted' energy is heating up your house. So during the winter months, your heating will be working harder to compensate for the lack of heat input from all of the other sources.

For us, by far the best saving is the electricity we are _not_ buying because it's coming from the solar panels instead.

Chris.

That is so, but the cost per kWhr for electricity is a lot greater than that for gas. Even figuring in the lower efficiency of gas heating than electric, you still come out ahead replacing the heat from turned off electric gadgets by burning a bit more gas to keep warm. It is only when using it to drive a heat pump that the cost of electricity for heating becomes more reasonable. Solar is great in summer, but the average kWHrs per day in December/January is only around a tenth of what it is in mid summer. Not just solar photovoltaics. I get my hot water from solar thermal for free for six months in summer, but get next to nothing in the winter.

 

[ChrisJC]

Very true. We are on oil however, so I don't know how that compares to gas.

For reference, here is the solar output for last year from my installation:

 

[topcat]

Rob, I have a steel D maillon you can have FOC or an almost new Omni for £20 posted....... don't use a krab for that!!!

 

[Ian Ball]

WellyJen, solar water heater, nice.

How many panels do you have Chris and what's the placement like? Is it adjustable for winter/summer?

 

[ChrisJC]

I have 16 panels, facing a little to the east of south. Fortunately I live in a part of the country where it doesn't rain a lot, so they do pretty well. There is no adjustment, just the fortuitousness of the house position.

Chris.