Heating in Winter advice needed

[laney]

Hi all,

We are looking forward to our first Winter in Cyprus, but need advise on heating our house. We have a log burner downstairs so no problems there. Upstairs we have inverter ac units. My question is , are these economical to heat rooms in winter as compared to calor gas heaters (which we hate because of smell) and electric bar type fires? We were thinking of oil filled electric radiators but not sure of which is the most efficient/economical way forward.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Laura B]

I would say without doubt inverter aircons are the most economic. The most important thing in my opinion is to be able to shut down the one room you need to use for living ie kitchen, living room. Open plan in winter can be miserable. Electric blankets are a must for me as well. Definitely one on the bed and depending on the severity of the winter one on the couch can improve things tremendously! Gaz heaters cause far too much condensation, electric oil-filled are fine in small areas like a bathroom I guess but I just have a small electric wall fire in the bathroom which gives instant heat when needed. It is very difficult to build up any heat in most of these properties as everything goes straight out through the walls!

[laney]

Thanks Laura B for your quick reply. Unfortunately we are open plan downstairs, so hoping log burner copes. Will have to look up instructions for ac units and get a couple of electric blankets. Thanks again.

[Navek]

Hi laney,
For your 1st winter in the TRNC,
I would just use the air-con. See how you get on.
Then decide whether it's worthwhile spending any more money on heating appliances.
We only use air-con upstairs in winter for heat, as it heats the room quickly,
when changing/showering.

If you top up your log burner before you go to bed, that will help too.
An electric "All Night Blanket" on your bed is a good investment too.
It all really depends on your tolerance to cold.

Also may depend on where on the island you live.
It never freezes here, near the coast.
If you're open plan, put some temporary curtains up, to retain the heat.

That can boost your living room heat to 25c-28c, with a well fired log burner.
Wearing sensible clothes indoors will make a big difference too!
Good luck

HOW TO KEEP WARM IN WINTER
https://www.almanac.com/blog/almanac/mu ... arm-winter

[waddo]

Do you have shutters on your windows? In the hopes that you do then manage them the same as you do for the summer but in reverse. In the summer you close shutters as the sun hits the windows to keep the inside cold - in the winter you open shutters as the sun hits them to let the heat in.

Remember that the wind is a factor as well and open/close shutters/windows according to which direction the wind is in. If it is possible to close off the top floor from the bottom floor - even with just a simple curtain on a pole - that will benefit you greatly, remember heat rises! Your heat output from your log burner will differ greatly depending on the type of wood you burn - that is a learning curve everyone goes through. Also the type of wood you burn effects the chimney and how fast it will clog up or "drip" nasty tar if you are burning pine! It will take you a couple of winters to get it right but keep at it and if all else fails - share a sleeping bag, it can be fun as well!

[Mint1955]

Log burner is Great for us in the lounge with a heavy curtain across the hall gap. A big rug right under the sofa and good moccasins or something as warm help keep the feet warm.

Inverters are great for quick heat and we have wall hot air bathroom blowers which go on just before a shower.

If you can install an electric shower for instant hot water for a long as it’s running it’s a godsend when no solar heat and you don’t want to wait for the tank to heat and then waste hot water as you maybe don’t use it all.

In fact sometimes I just take a bowl or bucket and get hot water from the shower if I need it rather than heating a whole tank and I need more tan a kettle full.

We have an electric duvet which I wouldn’t give up for anything.

[Laura B]

Wooh!! Electric duvet sounds wonderful!

[Navek]

"Wooh!! Electric duvet sounds wonderful!"

I was thinking that myself

Amazon UK...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_no ... ated+Duvet

[Laura B]

Yeah that's all very good but it'd never get here from Amazon!

[Mr Chinnery]

If Amazon deliver that item to Turkey/TRNC and the order is Dispatched and Sold by Amazon there is no reason why it should not arrive. The order will be trackable.

[Laura B]

Amazon in fact have a branch in TR now. However I would be very wary of ordering from here. For a start I have no idea of the import implications. So I will dream instead of an electric duvet!!

[Navek]

It should fit in a suitcase, not heavy, but bulky.

[sophie]

Agree with most of the above. Inverter A/c for quick boost in bedrooms before going to bed. Don't have log burner but have inverter in open plan downstairs. Last year we had Curtain World come and fit a floor to ceiling curtain in some sort of material that keeps heat in. The inverter throws out heat down the large dining/living room which then hits the curtain and bounces back. Wish we'd done it years ago. I tell myself that winter lasts approximately 3.5 months, so I walk around like a cross between Michelin Man and Nanook of the North and just grin and bear it.

I WANT A HEATED DUVET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Laura B]

Maybe we could put in a bulk order Sophie!

[JoandJelly]

Totally agree with everything suggested above but would add that we have found covering as much of the floor as possible with rugs makes a big difference.

[Mr Chinnery]

Laura B,
If you order from Amazon UK they will deduct the UK VAT and add the vat import cost etc to get the item to TRNC.
There will be a delivery charge, but opt for the cheapest ‘arrival in about 10 days’ you will save quite a bit but the goods will be delivered in about a week anyway.
You will be able to check the full cost before you place the order. Although it will be slightly more expensive having it sent to TRNC it won’t be as much as you think.
You should not have to pay any additional cost on arrival because you will have already paid for them.
You will be able to track the goods from UK and receive call from carrier once in TRNC.

[Laura B]

Thanks so much for that Mr Chinnery. Maybe I'll give it a go.

[Deniz1]

All great until there is a power cut. I keep a gas fire handy for that event.

[ozankoys]

Put your chosen heating appliances on a low setting before the sun goes down because the temperature really plummets then & If both you & the house become cold it is difficult to warm up again.
Light some candles as they make anywhere look cosy & surprisingly do actually throw off some heat.
Buy furry slippers with thick soles.
Make lots of soup!

[sophie]

Agree Ozankoy re the Soup. Plus Thermal jimjams and dressing gown. It's a good excuse to go to bed early as well and read a good book. Not only do candles give out warmth it never ceases to amaze me just how much light they also give out. Good Lord, back to my childhood on the Yorkshire Moors!!!!

[ttoli]

The big lesson that I learnt here is to install laminate or wood flooring and to fit curtains over archways , thus keeping heat in .