At 247 Home Rescue, we pride ourselves on our rapid responses to boiler breakdowns, and pull out all the stops to respond to these emergency claims in under four hours and always within 24. No matter where you are in the UK, you’re never far away from a boiler repair if you have gas appliance cover with us!
But not everyone is lucky enough to have a 247 Home Rescue service plan when their boiler breaks down. So what can you do to keep your home habitable when you have no central heating and no hot water?
Emergency boiler repairs
You might have already discovered that it can be very hard to get an engineer to your home quickly when a boiler breaks down. It can be even harder to get a professional to visit you in the midst of winter, when Gas Safe engineers are stretched to breaking point and when the roads are clogged up with ice, snow and traffic.
If you’re not yet a member with us, just drop us a line on 0345 3192 247 and arrange an emergency boiler repair. We’ll get your boiler repaired within 24 hours for the one-off price of £95 if you take out a £15/month boiler cover plan!
Space heaters
Space heaters and other alternative heating devices, such as space heaters, are typically far more expensive to run than a central heating system, but they can be a lifesaver in a pinch. If you have a nice open fireplace or a gas fire, you’ll be able to keep your living room warm without spending a fortune; otherwise you’ll have to use electric heating devices.
To reduce the amount of cash you spend on electric heaters, try to make yourself and your home warmer in other ways.
Draught-proofing
Is your home draught-proofed? If not, you don’t necessarily have to get a specialist round to draught-proof it immediately – you can temporarily draught-proof it by finding holes in the wall and patching these up with duct tape or masking tape. Put towels or draught excluders in front of doors and tape up window frames.
Showers and kettles
If you have an electric shower, then this will still produce hot water during a boiler breakdown, even when your hot water taps are not working. Alternatively, fill up kettles, boil the water, wait for it to cool, and use this water to wash dishes. You may also be able to fill up your bathtub with the help of your kettle, although you may run out of patience when the bath is only half-full!
Wrap up warm
There’s no harm in wearing a coat and a bobble-hat indoors, especially if it’s freezing inside! If you’re relaxing in the living room watching the television, why not take your duvet downstairs and huddle underneath it? Not only will you stay warm downstairs, but your duvet will retain some of your body heat, so it won’t be freezing when you climb into bed.
Hot water bottles
Hot water bottles are an inexpensive way to keep warm, and are far cheaper than electric space heaters. There’s no need to resign your hot water bottle to the bedroom, either – take it with you as you travel around the home.
Clever use of heating
Don’t warm up rooms if you’re not going to use them – you’ll be increasing your gas and electricity bills unnecessarily. Just heat up the rooms you intend to use and let the other parts of your home freeze. If a hot water bottle or an electric blanket isn’t enough for your bedroom, then put a space heater in your bedroom about 20 minutes before you go to sleep, and if you can cope, turn it off just before you drop off.
Electric heating options
There are plenty of electric heaters available; the right one for you will depend on your particular requirements. Here are some of the most common:
- Electric fires. An electric fire will be a bit impractical if you don’t already have one installed, but it can be a powerful and can warm up a room with ease after a short period of time.
- Fan heaters. These aren’t as popular as they used to be, but they can still make you feel toasty and warm. Don’t block the vents or the fan at all; these heaters can pose a fire risk.
- Halogen heaters. You might be familiar with halogen heaters from beer gardens and smoking areas in pubs and restaurants. These heaters glow when they are switched on and quickly produce a great deal of heat, but the room will cool down rapidly when they are turned off. Also, the strong light they produce makes them inappropriate for bedrooms or when you are watching the television.
247 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.
