Cold weather affecting brew - help

[verno]

Having brewed 3 lagers I decided to go for an ale and even though the muntons have come under some stick I thought I would go for the milestone old home wrecker. I made it up with about 250g of extra table sugar and added yeast nutrient as usual. It all started fine and got down to 1020 (from 1044) in about 4 days.

However since then it has really struggled and I think its the weather more than a stuck fermentation. The warmest part of my house which is next to the hot water cylinder is currently only really at 19 when the heating is on and through the day I think it drops to 15 or so. I think this is affecting the fermentation as I gave it a gentle stir on sat and added some more nutrient and put an oil filled radiator next to it for a few hours. It has since dropped to about 1018 but seems to have stopped again.

I cannot leave the radiator next to fermentor as there isn't room, does anyone have any advise for home made heating (I don't have a brew belt or anything and won't be able to get one for a while). I could stick some more yeast into the brew but I am worried that given the temperatures, this might not do anything.

No ideas too stupid...

[verno]

Well I wrapped it in an electric blanket and put that on the lowest setting. I am not sure if it will work yet as I don't think it gives off much heat but at least it will provide some insuldation. Fingers crossed.

[verno]

Sorry Chris I meant the electric blanket doesn't give off much heat. Its on the lowest setting as apparently there is a fire risk otherwise (especially if I am not in the house).

[kenny850]

Hi Verno, i was having similar problems to yourself so went out and bought an Electrim 75 heater, made specifically for heating homebrew its very similar to a combined heater/thermostat used for keeping tropical fish.Maintains a constant temp in the FV and is adjustable ,cost about 18 quid iirc

[RatboyOllie]

just wrapped mine in loft insulation and then a bin bag, holds the heat really really well, in fact i had to take the cover off the top to let some heat out

i stole it from the loft, swmbo doesnt go up there so she'll never know....... i will replace it, at some point.......

[JayBee]

I use an electric blanket on the lowest setting verno and it works fine for me. Be patient though as it will take time to heat up a large quantity of liquid. I`ve got used to mine after a few goes, I can "regulate" it with a cheap plug in timer so that its on pretty much all thru the night in this weather we`ve got now and then set it for half hour on and half hour off thru the day as our house is pretty cool. The real cold snap we had last week it was on number 2 setting at night and maintained around 20 degrees so I was happy. Normally though the lowest setting is plenty.
I have ordered an electrim though to take the guesswork out of it for the future.