Winter can pose a real risk to your health, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions such as lung disease, heart disease and musculoskeletal disorders.
Every winter sees the death rate jump, and with energy bills rising, more and more people struggle to keep their central heating on and their homes safe and comfortable when they need it the most.
But you can stay warmer over winter without cranking up your boiler. Improve your health and reduce your energy bills with the following top tips!
Clothes
- Several thin layers of clothes will insulate you more effectively than one thick layer.
- Wool, cotton and fleeces are particularly warm.
- Wear ‘outdoor clothes’, such as scarves and woolly hats, indoors when required.
- Consider buying thermal underwear and thermal socks.
- Cover yourself with a blanket when you’re not in bed.
- Wear warm clothes in bed.
- Buy a hot water bottle or an electric blanket to stay warm in bed. Make sure you use your electric blanket safely!
Food
- Eat warm, hearty food with plenty of carbohydrates, such as rice, bread, potatoes and pasta.
- Have a hot breakfast, such as porridge, to get you warmed up for the rest of the day.
- Buy some tinned fruit and vegetables so you don’t have to go out to the shops regularly and always have some nutritious food at hand.
- Have hot drinks to keep you warm and hydrated
You
- Try to stay active and move around; if it is too cold to go outside, do some housework or some light exercise indoors.
- Care for your neighbours and relatives – if you are fit and healthy, take some time out to check up on vulnerable people to make sure they are coping well.
- If you are well enough to do so, take part in hobbies and activities to get you out of the house and protect your mental health. The more time you spend out of the house, the less you need to use your central heating!
- If you are eligible, get the flu vaccine.
- If you notice any illnesses developing, visit your GP as quickly as possible.
Your home
- Insulate your home. Speak with your energy supplier and local authority to see if they can help you arrange and pay for insulation.
- Invest in draught proofing. You can get a professional to fully draught-proof your home, but if you want to save money, buy some draught excluders and foam strips and fit these wherever draughts get in.
- Shut your curtains. This provides an extra bit of insulation.
- Move your sofa away from the windows and closer to the radiator.
- Get your central heating and boiler serviced to make sure they are working efficiently.
- Switch energy supplier to get the best deal for your gas and electricity.
- Fit tinfoil to the wall behind your radiator to reflect the heat back into your home.
247 Home Rescue
Still having trouble?
Don’t attempt to touch any part of your boiler or central heating system if you’re unsure. Did you know? It’s illegal for anyone to use a gas appliance if they think it’s unsafe. It’s always better to be safe than sorry as you could make things worse.
Instead, call us on 0345 3192 247 and we can help. Our technical team will run through some simple troubleshooting to see if your problem can be resolved on the phone or they can book one of our friendly and knowledgeable Gas Safe registered engineers to get you back up and running as soon as possible.
247 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.
