Redwing Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 useful info - if you have older double glazing you may find that: Some windows have a vent setting on the handle ie you can shut and sometimes lock the windows in the 'open a crack' position You can still have the sliding (or 'night') vents inserted by a double glazing or double glazing repair company, it takes about twenty mins per window and makes only a small bit of mess Both worth thinking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Thanks for that info regarding windows. I never would have thought of getting vents fitted. Unfortunatly our windows only have very large wide openings with no restrictions on how far they open and we dont have any small windows that could be left open during the day. Im out during the day so I cant leave them open. Vents would solve the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Lynda, I have fitted restrictors to all my windows, so I can safely leave them open a crack at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I gave our tumble dryer to my Brother a few years ago. Now, I use a high spin and then hang it all up on a wooden dryer and leave it in the spare room until dry. Windows always cracked open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Trickle vents are really useful, but actually we tend to like living in a barn so have the windows open on the restrictor almost all year unless it is really cold and windy. Restrictors can be retro-fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I can't wait to mpve as with more space I'm hoping I won't have to use the dryer at all. 4 dirtmunchers means I get at least 2 loads if not 3 of washing a day and our house is crowded enough anyway without it hanging round the house. Pre kids ( ans after ds1)I used to put things on hangers and hang them on the curtain rails over night. I have my windows open so it worked well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I bought a tumble dryer about a year ago, having never had one before. I use it a fair bit . I know, massively un-eco and expensive, but we really struggle to find space for drying stuff otherwise. Probably use it for about 30% of the washing in the winter, the rest is on radiators /racks/curtain poles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 It's the volume of clothes that the teenagers go through - and OH - they change every time you look at them! If I didn't have the tumble drier things would never be dry in time for the next washing session! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I agree Koojie, plus the fact that they put things in the wash the day before they need to wear them again - school & work uniform being the most popular Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 We have a tumble drier that is used a lot, generally for sheets, towels and underwear. Most clothes get dried on airers in a spare bedroom, however I make sure they are well spaced on the airers (we have 3 ones like these http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8500746/Trail/searchtext%3EAIRERS.htm) and we ensure that the heating is on higher in that bedroom to ensure that they dry and don't go mouldy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I guess that's the problem: which is better, to have the heating on higher and the windows ajar, or run an A-rated tumble drier? (I've oil central heating but a new all-singing-all-dancing combi condensing boiler)- anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 So these restrictors. Is this something you cam buy and fit yourself or is it something you have to get a double glazing firm to do? I have got my new de humidifyer going and it is doing a grand job. Would be good to be able to leave the windows open a bit whilst Im at work though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I bought my restrictors and fitted them myself - got them from Screwfix, but you can find various types in any of the DIY sheds. The Crime Prevention Officer recommends an opening no more than 6". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I have never owned a tumble drier, i just can't bring myself to buy one when i know clothes will dry by themselves if left hanging. I use clothes horses, thought finding room in the house for them is sometimes an issue. I currently have one in the living room, not the best place but the clothes dry quick as it's the warmest room in the house. As for damp, i leave windows open 'on the crack' all winter. Central heating and stale air is what makes us ill in winter. It's a constant battle to stop OH closing them. Our house tends towards damp so it's essential to circulate the air. We don't have the heating higher as a consequence of having the windows open, the small opening doesn't seem to make much difference to the room temperature. I can't wait for summer when you can hang out the washig and get it all dry before the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 My OH bought our first tumble drier the day after ED was born because he was fed up of trying to get washing dry to bring back to me in hospital. We used it a fair bit when the children were small. We replaced it with another small one this year because it fits inside a kitchen cupboard and have a condenser box for the hose, which works ok if the kitchen window is open and you replace the water with cold every half hour or so. I now do most of my washing in the afternoon and evening then leave it to dry in the residual heat from the log burner on 2 airers in the lounge overnight. This works pretty well. We are a windows open sort of family, luckily we have small top opening windows in all rooms, so they can be left open just a crack upstairs most of the time, so ventilation isn't a problem. I do use the radiators for undies and T-shirts when they are on. The tumble drier only gets used for emergency drying, and for fluffing up towels. I wouldn't like not to have one but it gets very little use since the woodburner was installed, it gets most use on those in between days when it is damp but not cold enough for heating or fires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 We have one of those old fashioned airers that comes down from the ceiling which is fab for jeans and sweatshirts etc,plus I have two other clothes horses as well,and I also have an american style whirlpool dryer - we only bought it because there were 6 of us at home and I was doing about 3 loads of washing every day! Now we hardly use it apart from drying the bedding and towels. I was thinking of swapping both my washer(also huge american style) and dryer for a washer dryer, but wasn't really sure as we have had one before and wasn't very impressed with the dryer on it.Anyone got any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 To digress back to the subject of opening windows, I rang a local firm today about buying some of these locking window limiters. They sell them for about £10 each but he did say that I should carefully check my insurance as he thought that most insurance policys state that all windows should be fully closed and locked whilst you are out of the house and they may not pay out if they are not. I will need to do some checking up on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 dippy bird, i used to have a washer drier and it was rubbish. The man who regularly came to fix it said they were more trouble than they were worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 Me too, it took hours to dry anything and of course you couldn't wash and dry at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
