Keeping warm this winter
Winter is just around the corner, which means it won’t be long before the temperature starts to drop. To help you stay warm over the next few months without increasing your energy bills further, here are some things you can do.
Check your heating early
After several months of it not being used, sometimes people discover problems with their heating when turning it on again. Firing up your boiler before the weather starts to turn allows you to check if it’s working properly and get it fixed in plenty of time if you need to before it gets cold.
If you haven’t already, we recommend turning your heating on for at least 30 minutes and checking the following:
- Have a look at your boiler to see if there are any fault codes. This could indicate a problem.
- Check that the pressure is within the recommended settings for your system.
- Feel your radiators to make sure they heat up evenly all over. If there are cold spots, it might mean that the flow of water is restricted by something.
- Listen out for any gurgling noises or banging.
- Look for any signs of leaks under the radiators or pipework.
- Check that the thermostatic valves (the knobs on your radiator that you use to turn it up or down) turn freely and that the radiator gets colder/warmer depending on the direction you turn it. The lower numbers should be cooler and the higher numbers should be warmer.
If you notice any of the problems above, get in touch with us. You might need a repair.
Top tips for keeping warm
As well as making sure your central heating is working as it should, you can also do the following to maximise heat retention in your home and stay warm.
- Keep radiators and heaters clear so heat can circulate.
- Close the curtains when it’s getting dark and tuck them in behind the radiators. This keeps heat in the room.
- Sunshine is a great source of natural heat, so open internal doors of any rooms that get the sun during the day and let the warm air travel through your home.
- Wear plenty of layers. Several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick one.
- Try not to sit still for more than half an hour at a time. By regularly moving you’ll boost your circulation.
- Eat warming, healthy food such as porridge, soups, and stews.
- Consider buying or making a draught excluder to keep cold air from coming under your doors or window frames
- Don’t try and use other sources of heat such as ovens, barbecues, or make-shift open fires, to heat your home. Instead, make use of blankets, hot water bottles and extra layers.
- While you might be tempted to block off air vents, it’s very important to keep them open. Blocking air vents can be extremely dangerous and lead to fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
For more advice on how to prep your home for winter, read our ‘Get your home winter ready’ blog.