Get ready for winter
Despite the unseasonably warm Autumn, Winter is on its way and its time to start thinking about preparing your home – and yourself! - for the colder months ahead.
We’ve produced a short series of hints and tips for making sure you stay warm, cosy and safe – without it costing the earth – through the colder season.
As the weather beings to turn colder, now’s the time to start thinking about how to keep you home warm and cosy through the winter.
We spoke to one of our Repairs and Maintenance contractors- Robert Heath – to get their tips on how you can heat your home without it costing the earth this winter.
General winter advice
- Leave the central heating on for short periods of time throughout the day. Ideally you should maintain a temperature of at least 18 degrees Celsius in the rooms you spend your time in.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Test smoke alarms monthly.
- In extreme weather conditions check on your neighbours.
GETTING YOUR HOME READY FOR WINTER
Before it turns cold, test your central heating system to make sure it is working correctly.
Run the heating for 30 minutes as this will allow you to check your radiators heat up correctly.
This means you can identify any problems and get them resolved before winter, avoiding any loss of heat when you need it the most.
Ensure your boiler is properly maintained.
A planned maintenance service ensures that all heating solutions are safe, cost effective and sustainable. Make sure you allow access to our gas safe registered engineers to carry out this vital check.
Ensure your doors and windows are draft free.
Block up any gaps that let warm air out. This will not only keep your house warm but also save money on your energy bills as you won’t need the heating on as much.
Invest in curtains
Drawing curtains at night across windows and doors can help to stop heat escaping from your room.
How to cut your energy bills without going cold
It’s good news for all of us that energy prices have been falling. But they still remain higher than we have been used to in recent years, so if you’re anything like us, you’ll welcome these tips on how to keep your home warm and cosy and your energy bills low.
ENERGY SAVING HINTS AND TIPS
- Check your energy tariff: an annual check can make sure you are on the most competitive tariff.
- Switch off lights when not needed.
- Using energy efficient lightbulbs can also help long term saving.
- Switch off appliances or unplug them. Leaving an appliance on standby still uses energy.
- Use your washing machine at a lower temperature. Washing at 30 degrees Celsius can save electricity.
- Switch off your oven early. Your oven will retain its temperature for up to 10 minutes continuing to cook your food but allowing you to save energy.
- Draw your curtains at dusk and shut your doors. This will cut down the amount of heat that can escape through windows and keep the heat in the room you are in
- Save Water: Use the shower rather than the bath. Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need.
Buy energy efficient appliances. All appliances come with energy efficiency ratings. Buying the most energy efficient model can save money in the long run.
Preventing damp and mould in your home
As the temperature outside lowers, the likelihood of getting damp and mould in your home rises. That’s because there’s more chance of damp areas forming in your home as a result of condensation; creating the perfect environment for mould to grow.
Here are our top tips for preventing condensation which is one of the main causes of damp and mould in your home:
(Don’t forget, if you see signs of damp and mould in your home, contact us and raise a repair so we can get it sorted.)
In the bathroom
- Crack the window open slightly and use extractor fans (if you have them) when showering.
- Keep the door closed so the steam doesn’t travel into other rooms in your home.
In the kitchen
- Crack the window open and use the extractor fan (if you have one) when cooking on the hob.
- Use pan lids to reduce the amount of steam escaping from the pan
Generally
- Keep large furniture (like sofas and wardrobes) slightly off the wall to allow air to move around them.
- Don’t allow your home to become too cold.
- Keep your home ventilated: crack open windows from time to time to make sure air moves around your home.
- Wipe condensation away from windows and other surfaces when it forms.
Don’t forget, if you see signs of damp and mould in your home, we can help sort it. Just get in touch!
Staying fit and healthy
Disabled people are more likely to have poorer health outcomes than people without a disability. During the colder months, it is even more important to take good care of yourself to make sure you stay fit and healthy.
Contact your GP to get your annual health check!
Taking care of your mental health
Stay connected to your community, friends, and family.
Make use of the services listed on out Useful information page