"Hot Water" in Bosnia and Herzegovina
"Hot Water" in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Now, the water in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely hard, so the heating element becomes furred with chalk about twice a year and invariably bursts
Hot Water.
Many take it for granted. But for us?
Well maybe, maybe not, seeing that we are susceptible to "Chalk Attacks".
Living in a rural village we rely on a wood fired central heating and water system.
Hello I’m David, and Coffee and Rakija is a Digital Magazine about my life and experiences in a rural village in North-West Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll be giving you a unique look, through the eyes of an immigrant (me), of this much misunderstood country. My goal is to replace the many negative perceptions of both the country and its people, that you’ll be served by international media outlets. Thank you so much for dropping by.
Our house has two apartments one up (that we rent as a holiday let) and one down. We live downstairs.
We have a wood burner that keeps us snug and warm during the cold months and we use electricity for hot water.
We also have a central heating boiler that can use to warm the entire house and also provide hot water.
The hot water circulates into radiators in each room, through copper pipes.
This central heating also runs off wood, or should I say, briquets, made from compressed sawdust from the surrounding saw mills.
As I said, our Central heating is powered by wood, although we have for the past years relied on Briquettes.
We order (normally) 5 metric tons, which we unpack form the pallets and relocate into our wood store.
This central boiler also has an electric element for heating the water in the spring, summer and early autumn months.
Now, the water in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely hard, so the heating element becomes furred with chalk about twice a year and invariably bursts.
Normally theres no advance warning of when the heating element will “give up the ghost”.
When it does, we drain the boiler, cleaning out the excess chalk build up and remove and replace the element.
Not a too difficult task and to be honest, not expensive either.
We also have the date we last replaced the heating element taped to the boiler, as a reminder to be prepared before winter. Doing that at minus 10C outside, is uncomfortable (to say the least) due to frozen fingers etc.
Definitely NOT what “Townies” or “City Dudes” experience, but I wouldn’t move from the village just because of this.
Come and Visit Us in Bosnia and Herzegovina
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David and Tamara.
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