Recent content by Ern

We had a kitchen refit and replaced the gas hob with a decent induction hob, and it is very efficient and has proved to be more cost-effective than gas. Our dishwasher and washing machine are very efficient as they both select variable temperatures and water volumes. These both go on at night...

A damp free, 2005 Swift, with a working toilet, working heater, new tyres, and brake linings (you said pads, but they are actually drum brakes with linings), Fridge working ok on electric. You didn't mention the cooker, so it must be ok. It owes you £4K! £4K? There are people on these forums up...

I have almost done it single handed. The snag for me is that I am afraid the rafter will dig into the side panel of the caravan if it slips. This is my plan: Note the location for the tie down pegs when its erected from previous session. Start by putting the pegs in. Roll out the canopy and...

Yes. The roller comes down to about 5ft height with the rafter clipped to the leg. The joints are close to the limit of their articulation, but not binding. We watched a one person demo using the tie down strap to hold the roller.

We have a Thule Omnistore 3.0M. Why not just release some pressure from the rafter and leg at one end, but leave both in place as a support. Then move to the other end and proceed as you were. Alternatively, fold the rafter right down and onto the leg at one end, leaving a tie down strap or guy...

Good interesting article. If those houses have reduced their demand from the Grid by 50% the benefits are worthwhile. However, the investment cost is crazy at over £10K per house. (These are small terraced houses). There are proprietary energy storage units available from various suppliers such...

I have just read the letter again properly and realised that the £250 will be paid separately to Mrs Ern and I. Yippee.

If you are paying by monthly direct debit, your account balance should be in credit at times, and in debit at times. I calculate our estimate myself carefully and pay just a couple of £ more per month. I will not pay more even though they may request it. We get 5% discount for this DD agreement.

£500 winter fuel allowance? We received notification today that ours is £250 including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment. I was quite pleased with this, until your post!

I had a similar coincidence with the Financial Ombudsman over a dispute with an insurance company. They were told to reduce my renewal premium after they had included a claim which had not been made. Bang on the date.

Having read the thread, I didn't think any contribution I would have made would be of interest, so didn't post. More importantly, it's good to see the later post from the OP in which he showed a clear understanding of the whole matter. An educational thread for future readers

If the relatively small force of 10Kg spread over 3M or so has been blamed for a bodywork leak, the bodywork construction must have been no good to begin with. The bond strength of modern caravan awning rail adhesive is massive, as anyone trying to remove one will have discovered. We use a sun...

We use a Thule Omnistore 3m. They are 2.5M deep (We found the Isabella Shadow good but not deep enough at 2m, sometimes leaving us sitting in the sun). The 3m Omnistore weighs 9KG and lives on the rail from the beginning of the season to the end of it. Absolutely no problem towing with it in...

Toilets require servicing - Thetford just cleaning but Dometic a bit more - perhaps my point about toilet is a bit pedantic. Spare wheel carrier does need servicing and spare tyre pressure does need check/inflate. If your spare wheel is not accessible because it's rusted solid, how can a flat...

Most have a motor mover, and a spare wheel may be standard on many but not serviced. All have a toilet, and it requires a service (I don't mean emptying and recharging it, which is the user's job) That will be the Safety Elf then. Corner steadies are rarely serviced properly, but simply get a...