What Preps are you doing this week? Part 13

[Frnc]

Tested the Meaco Air Con briefly. After a few minutes, air coming out the front was cold, and going out the hose was warm. It's noisy, but not too bad.

Managed to get the hose to do a 180, so the rectangular kit fits the bottom of the window opening properly. The bottom of the handle holds it in place. It's touch and go, but I don't think I've damaged the hose. But I'll have to keep redoing this, as it tends to contract when moved. So I'll need to do that bit carefully each time to avoid damaging the hose.

I'll give it a longer test in a few days. Best time to use it is early to mid evening, ideally up to 10pm. Heat is still building up in the afternoon, even though the window faces East.

Can't drop venetian blind while it's set up, but can close curtains around it.

I think I've also found a way to temporarily take it out of the window, resting the window kit on top of my wardrobe. But I'll probably take the hose off and dump it in the spare room when not in use.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Not worth it ...get the pipes sorted as soon as you can wouldn't wish it on anyone

The issue I am facing, and its a general theme down here, is finding someone to do the work, be it electrician or plumber. I've tried to contact 4 plumbers so far. Explained that this is an initial job, there are other jobs to follow, including some bigger jobs like a walk in shower. Basically, I want to find someone who I can use long term.

3 never responded to the messages. The one who did respond said he was busy and would get back to me about coming round to have a look - never did. These are all supposed to be good tradespeople, lots of review on Checkatrade etc. Same with electricians. Think there is more work that supply of trades people, so they can just pick the easiest / most profitable jobs.

[GeeGee]

Bang on GTB the only time I got them all was when it was the big job ! Good luck with it all .....hope you find someone

[Frnc]

Not worth it ...get the pipes sorted as soon as you can wouldn't wish it on anyone

The issue I am facing, and its a general theme down here, is finding someone to do the work, be it electrician or plumber. I've tried to contact 4 plumbers so far. Explained that this is an initial job, there are other jobs to follow, including some bigger jobs like a walk in shower. Basically, I want to find someone who I can use long term.

3 never responded to the messages. The one who did respond said he was busy and would get back to me about coming round to have a look - never did. These are all supposed to be good tradespeople, lots of review on Checkatrade etc. Same with electricians. Think there is more work that supply of trades people, so they can just pick the easiest / most profitable jobs.

I texted a gardener the other day. He actually works on my road, or has done. Sent him photos. Simple quote - routine maintenance of hedge and lawn. Cutting only. No response.

If you want a tradesman quick, you will get one on My Builder, but you can't guarantee that 5 star rating definitely means good quality work. But if you strike lucky, then you keep using them. For a plumber, you want some sort of qualification. My electrician was originally off My Builder. Used him several times. I do have a more local one, but he's very expensive. My spark lives on the other side of Manchester, but he still comes. Last time he sent an employee or sub, but they were ok.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Bang on GTB the only time I got them all was when it was the big job ! Good luck with it all .....hope you find someone

To get around the issue I thought, now that I am retired I can do a basic plumbing course. Now, I am of the age where there used to be night schools and the like - places where oyu could get some hands on training in basic things like plumbing, carpentry etc. Fat chance - I am clearly very much out of date. I can do a 12 month NVQ but thats about it. Tried all the local further education centres - plenty of course in art, or French for beginners, or creative media, but anything practical? Not a chance.

[grenfell]

Our house is just shy of 100 years old. When I fitted the kitchen we needed a gas safe plumber so thought while he's doing that he may as well put in the new pipework for the sink and so on so that he had a full days work. I'm glad that I did , one thing I'd not thought of is that the original pipework was all imperial and of course the new stuff was metric. It meant an extra fitting but it seemed to cause the guy a bit of hassle nonetheless. I insulated as much as possible cutting a hole in the floor and crawling about in the space under the floor doing both the pipes and adding kingspan to the underside of the floorboards.

[Peter]

Also going to have to bite the bullet and find a plumber..

Stopcock in the house is jammed solid. Can't budge it and don't want to overdo it as it's very old. To add to the fun, the stopcock in the road doesn't fully close.. But once that's fixed, I can get the hot tap fixed that turns itself on...

I was in a similar position with a stuck stopcock, and a leaking tap, turned off combi-boiler flushed toilet turned
on every other tap and was able to fit new washer to the miscreant faucet

[Frnc]

30° forecast for south Manchester on Monday and Tuesday. Met says feels like 28/29, but I think it might seem hotter, as we're not acclimatised to summer heat yet. It's thought records could be broken.
I wasn't expecting to be using the new A/C just yet, but it will be a good test for it.
So, full heatwave preps. Hair cut yesterday. Summer duvet ready. Fan ready. Got some things to prop front and back door open. Also a metal dustpan I lean against the front door when it's open to act as a burglar alarm (floor is wood, so it makes a loud noise).

I don't want to state the obvious, but it's worth remembering.... when it's hotter outside than inside, keep windows and doors shut. When I run my A/C, I'm gonna stuff the triangular gaps at the side of the window with some thin plastic dust sheets, scrunched up.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

30° forecast for south Manchester on Monday and Tuesday. Met says feels like 28/29, but I think it might seem hotter, as we're not acclimatised to summer heat yet. It's thought records could be broken.
I wasn't expecting to be using the new A/C just yet, but it will be a good test for it.
So, full heatwave preps. Hair cut yesterday. Summer duvet ready. Fan ready. Got some things to prop front and back door open. Also a metal dustpan I lean against the front door when it's open to act as a burglar alarm (floor is wood, so it makes a loud noise).

I don't want to state the obvious, but it's worth remembering.... when it's hotter outside than inside, keep windows and doors shut. When I run my A/C, I'm gonna stuff the triangular gaps at the side of the window with some thin plastic dust sheets, scrunched up.

The media seem to be whipping themselves up into their normal "scorchio!! It's a thermal apocalypse!!" frenzy, per normal. Amber alert for down here...

Or in other words, it's going to be a bit warm for a few days, then it will rain again...

[Frnc]

30° forecast for south Manchester on Monday and Tuesday. Met says feels like 28/29, but I think it might seem hotter, as we're not acclimatised to summer heat yet. It's thought records could be broken.
I wasn't expecting to be using the new A/C just yet, but it will be a good test for it.
So, full heatwave preps. Hair cut yesterday. Summer duvet ready. Fan ready. Got some things to prop front and back door open. Also a metal dustpan I lean against the front door when it's open to act as a burglar alarm (floor is wood, so it makes a loud noise).

I don't want to state the obvious, but it's worth remembering.... when it's hotter outside than inside, keep windows and doors shut. When I run my A/C, I'm gonna stuff the triangular gaps at the side of the window with some thin plastic dust sheets, scrunched up.

The media seem to be whipping themselves up into their normal "scorchio!! It's a thermal apocalypse!!" frenzy, per normal. Amber alert for down here...

Or in other words, it's going to be a bit warm for a few days, then it will rain again...

30 degrees is tough for a lot of people. Heat is a serious issue, especially combined with humidity. It can make you ill. Main issue for me here is being able to sleep. But I have had to do physical work under the sun, and also battling cement going off too fast.

No Met office warnings currently, as far as I can see.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat-health alerts (HHA) for four regions of England. mber alert: East Midlands, East of England, London, South East and West Midlands. Yellow alert: North West, North East, South West and Yorkshire and the Humber from 2PM Fri 22 May until 5PM Weds 27 May.

"The alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.

The Weather health alerting system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. It's intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The Weather health alerting system is made up of the Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) and Cold-Health Alerts (CHA). The Weather health alerting system underpins the Adverse Weather and Health Plan.

The Heat-health alerting systems core alerting seasons runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. However should an episode of heat occur outside of this core period, an extraordinary alert will be issued. "