Keep warm in winter

The Help the Aged website has some sound advice on keeping yourself warm, your home warm, but without spending too much money. Here is a summary.

There is a 2009 British Gas – Help the Aged Partnership to help older people beat fuel poverty. The campaign has been aiming to mobilise older people into maximising their incomes by improving the take-up of benefits on offer and heeding energy advice. The partnership is still offering a free booklet – Stay Warm in Winter – which contains simple advice on how to stay warm during the winter.

Advice includes information on how to ensure you’re claiming all benefits you’re entitled too, how to keep your house warm and whether you might be eligible for grants to help save energy and money in the home.

Heating your home is one thing, but making sure you don’t waste that heat and spend more than you need is another. You need to make sure your home is energy-efficient.

You should ensure your loft is insulated as much heat is lost through the roof. You may be entitled to free home insulation.

Make sure that you understand your heating controls, including use of your thermostat and timers for your heating system. This can save waste, but make sure your home is warm when you need it to be.

You should get your central heating system checked once a year; you may be entitled to a free check if you are over 60.

A lot of heat can be lost through windows, but double glazing can help to combat this. That could prove to be expensive, but plastic film or sheeting is a cheaper alternative. Ensure you have curtains and draw them when it gets dark to keep heat in. If you have radiators under your windows, ensure that the curtains tuck behind the curtain rather than hanging in front of them.

You can draught-proof your front door be hanging a long curtain down inside it to cut down on draughts. Draught-proofing strips can also be used between an opening window and its frame, and to the bottom of doors, like the front and back door. A lot of heat can be lost here.

You should also try to protect your water tank in your loft. A special jacket can be fitted around it, but insulation over the top is also important to prevent it from freezing over when it’s very cold.

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