Keeping Warm in Winter
A
guide to reducing energy costs and keeping your home warm and healthy
Some people find it
difficult to keep their home warm and comfortable, especially with rising energy
costs. This guide is designed to help you reduce your energy bills while still
keeping your home warm and comfortable.
How to keep warm and healthy during cold weather
Why
is it important for me to keep my home warm?
Living in a cold, damp home
can:
- Weaken your immune
system, meaning that you are more likely to suffer from cold-related illness
such as bronchitis, flu or pneumonia
- Make conditions such
as asthma worse
- Affect blood pressure
and increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack
- Increase the risk of
accidents
- In extreme cases lead
to hypothermia, where the body temperature drops to such a low level that it is
unable to function properly
Those who are most at
risk of developing health problems are older people, babies, and those who are
sick or disabled.
How warm should my home be?
To be sure of avoiding these
health problems the room in which you spend most time (usually the living room)
should be and 21° C (70° F). The ideal temperature in the other rooms is 18°C
(64°F).
How can I keep my home warm?
There are a number of things
that you can do to help keep your home warm and your energy bills affordable.
Getting the most out of your heating system
Understanding the type of
heating system you have in your home and how to use it properly can help keep
your home warm and energy bills affordable. Usually homes will have central
heating fuelled by gas or oil; or storage heating fuelled by electricity.
·
Oil or Gas Central heating
Central heating is designed to keep all or
most of the house warm from a single, central point of heat, such as a boiler.
Boilers use a variety of fuels such as oil or natural gas to heat water which
is carried around the home through pipes. The heat is then emitted into the
room, usually through radiators.
It is important that central heating is
controlled as much as possible to make sure you have heat when you need it, but
not when you don’t. This will make sure you only use what you need and only
spend what you need.
Set the timer
control so that the heating comes on half an hour before you get up in the
morning, and goes off again before you go to bed. If you are usually out during
the day, set your heating to go off when you leave the house and on again half
an hour before you return.
To prevent it becoming too hot or cold keep
any room thermostats at around 21° C
in the room in which you spend the most time, and 18° C in any other rooms.
You may also have thermostats fitted to your radiators.
These allow you to control the heat from
individual radiator according to your needs. Placing reflective foil behind
radiators will help reflect heat back into the room. Move furniture away from
radiators so that heat is not blocked.
Remember that your gas
boiler should be inspected every year to ensure it is working properly and
safely.
Housing repairs ?
·
Storage heating
Many
properties that do not have central heating use electric night storage heating.
These store heat from electricity supplied at a cheaper night–time rate then
release it during the following day.
Storage
heaters will have an input and output control.
Using these controls correctly can help you to get the cheapest heat. The input control regulates the amount of
heat that is stored up during the night. It should be set higher in cold
weather and turned down in warmer weather. The output control regulates the rate at which the stored heat is
released. It should be left on a low setting during the day and then turned up
in the evening if more heat is needed.
Use
this easy guide as a reminder
Using your storage heating controls
|
|||||
Night
time
|
Day
time
|
Evening
|
|||
Input
|
Output
|
Input
|
Output
|
Input
|
Output
|
Set
to high in cold weather
|
Set
to low
|
As
for night time
|
Set
to low unless extra heat is needed
|
As
for night time
|
Set
to high
|
Make
sure you are on the right tariff for
storage heaters. Storage heating should be run on an off-peak tariff such as an
Economy 7 tariff which gives seven hours of cheap electricity between midnight
and 7am. You can tell if you have this tariff because your bill will show a day
and a night-time reading. Some suppliers now offer an Economy 10 tariff which
provides an extra three hours of cheap electricity in the afternoon. Check with
your supplier to see if they offer this tariff.
A boost switch fitted to many storage
heaters allows instant warmth, but if you use this boost heating outside of the
cheap electricity hours you will be paying full rate for electricity consumed.
This is VERY expensive.
Room heaters
Room
heaters come in many shapes and
sizes. Electric heaters are usually more efficient than bottled gas or paraffin
heaters and cause less condensation. Further information on condensation can be
found later in this document.
Buy
heaters with thermostats and time controls and set them according to the
instructions.
What can I do to keep the heat in?
Keeping the heat in your
home is an important way to keep your energy costs down.
Heat is lost from the home
through every surface that is next to the outside, such as walls, floor and
roof. Gaps around windows and doors can also cause heat to be lost through
draughts.
Some simple tips are:
·
Close curtains when it starts to get dark
·
Make use of sunlight to keep homes warm
·
Close doors to stop heat escaping into other
areas
·
Use electrical appliances carefully and
choose those with high energy efficiency ratings
Other low-cost measures
·
Loft insulation
Loft insulation placed on the floor of the loft is a cheap
way of reducing heat loss. It can
be done by the householder but protective
clothing and a breathing mask must be worn.
Cavity wall insulation
Houses that have
cavity walls can have these filled with special insulation material that helps
to prevent heat loss. Work must be carried out by an approved contractor.
You may be able to have loft
insulation or cavity wall insulation installed free of charge, call the Energy
Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.
·
Draughtproofing
This
means filling the gaps around doors and windows. There are lots of different
types of draughtproofing strips available for different parts of the home from
DIY shops.
·
Simple
DIY secondary glazing
This
involves adding an extra sheet of glass or see-through plastic to single glazed
windows. The simplest and cheapest method is like a tough film, fixed on with
tape and shrunk in place with heat from a hair dryer.
·
Hot
water tank and pipe insulation
This
is another cheap way to reduce heat loss. Tank jackets are low cost and can be
bought and fitted by you, a friend or neighbour. Hot water pipes can be
insulated with a ready-made split tubing material.
Other types of insulation
include Solid-wall insulation,
double-glazing and flat roof
insulation, but these can be expensive.
For more information on
insulation and to find out if you are eligible to receive insulation free of
charge contact the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.
Other energy-saving tips
·
When buying new appliances such
as fridges, washing machines and lamps, look for the energy efficiency
label which will rate the appliance from A-G. Aiming for an appliance with an
‘A’ rating will save you money on running costs
Replacing standard bulbs with energy
saving light bulbs can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb.
Remember to switch off any lights when you leave the room and
don’t leave any appliances on standby or mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
·
Other top
tips for saving energy
- Reduce
the temperature of your hot water to 60° C
- Don’t
overfill your kettle – just boil as much water as you need
- Wash
laundry at 30oC and do full loads wherever possible
- Keep
internal doors closed
- Choose
the right size of pan for the food you are cooking and for the size of the hob
My home is damp, what can I do?
Condensation
occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, such as a
single glazed window or an uninsulated outside wall. When the moisture in the
air makes contact with a cold surface it turns back into water droplets known
as condensation.
There is
no need to worry if there is a little condensation on shiny surfaces in cold
weather, but it could be a problem if there are any areas with lots of
condensation or that never seem to dry out properly.
Where
condensation is severe it can cause problems with mould growth, which can cause
or worsen respiratory health problems. It can also damage decorations,
furniture and clothes.
Follow
these tips to help reduce condensation
·
Close doors to prevent moisture moving around the home
·
Ventilate rooms to get rid of extra moisture, especially the
kitchen and bathroom
·
Dry clothes outside whenever possible
·
Keep the whole home warm
·
If mould appears, wipe the surface with a cloth and a little
diluted bleach
Important – it is
essential to have adequate ventilation in the home. Make sure windows can be
opened or there are extractor fans to remove moisture in bathrooms and
kitchens. Some heating appliances such as portable gas heaters require
permanent ventilation.
Paying for fuel and managing
debt
You can pay for your fuel in
a variety of ways. These include monthly direct debit, quarterly bills, and prepayment
meters. Different payment methods have advantages and disadvantages in terms of
the cost of fuel and convenience.
Fuel suppliers only need to
read your meter once every 2 years. This results in many people receiving fuel
bills that have been estimated, and sometimes paying too much or too little. An
estimated bill can be recognised by an ‘E’ next to the reading. If you receive
a bill with an estimated reading then it is important that you provide your
supplier with an actual reading as soon as possible.
If you are in debt to your
energy supplier or struggling to pay your energy bill contact your supplier
straight away to let them know you are having difficulties and to agree a
repayment plan.
If you have a problem that
remains unresolved, contact citizens advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06,
or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Other
services that can help with debt
Switching energy suppliers
Switching energy suppliers
can save between £200-£300 on your energy bills, particularly if you have never
switched before.
You can call energy
suppliers directly, or use one of the online price comparison websites. If you
are using a comparison website then make sure you use one that displays the
Consumer Focus Confidence Code. Even if you do not want to switch suppliers,
you should call your current supplier and make sure you are on their cheapest
tariff.
Energy supplier
|
Contact number
|
British Gas
|
0800 072 8625
|
EDF Energy
|
0800 096 9000
|
RWE npower
|
0800 980 5525
|
E.ON
|
0800 051 1480
|
ScottishPower
|
0800 027 2700
|
Scottish & Southern Energy
|
0800 300 111
|
What help can I get?
There is a range of
assistance available for people who are struggling to afford their energy
bills.
Winter Fuel Payment
A Winter Fuel Payment is an
annual payment to help people with the costs of keeping warm during the winter.
For winter 2012/13 a person who was born on or before 5 July 1951 will receive
£200. Households with someone aged 80 or over on 23 September 2012 will receive
£300. Where more than one member of the household qualifies the payment may be
split between them.
For more information on
Winter Fuel Payments call 0845 915 15 15 or visit https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment
Cold Weather
Payment
Payments of £25 are made to
households in receipt of certain benefits when the local temperature is
recorded, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over
seven consecutive days.
Households do not need to
apply as Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically into the same bank
account as their Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s
Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. Households should
contact their Pension Centre or Job Centre Plus office with any queries about
Cold Weather Payments.
Warm Home Discount and other assistance from your energy
supplier
The Warm Home Discount scheme offers discounts on electricity bills for
eligible households. In 2012/13 this discount is £130. Some older households
will automatically receive the discount but others will have to apply. For information call the Warm Home Discount
line on 0845 603 9439 or visit https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
If you are in receipt of
certain benefits, are over 60, are chronically sick, disabled, or have hearing
or visual impairments you can benefit from a range of free services from your
energy supplier under their Priority
Services Register, including free gas safety checks, regular meter
readings, having your meter moved somewhere it is easier to access, and
priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted. Each supplier has its own
Priority Services Register, and you need to contact them directly to ask to be
placed on this register.
Energy suppliers also offer
a range of additional support to their customers, such as free or discounted
insulation. Contact your supplier for further information on any of these
schemes.
The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation
The Green Deal and Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) are new sources of funding for energy efficiency
measures. In some cases the Energy Company Obligation can provide free energy improvement measures for some
households. For more information on the scheme, or general energy advice, call
the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.
Home Improvement Agencies
Home Improvement Agencies are locally-based organisations
that assist vulnerable homeowners and private sector tenants to repair,
improve, maintain or adapt their homes. They assist older households, families
where a member is living with a disability and other disadvantaged households.
They can offer services such as checking if the householder is eligible for any
financial help, and helping to make a home more energy efficient. To contact
your local Home Improvement Agency call Foundations on 0845 8645210 or visit www.foundations.uk.com/hiasearch.
Your Local Authority
Local Authorities have the
power to inspect properties under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System
to enforce improvements where housing poses a serious risk to health and
safety. Extreme cold, damp, and mould growth, are all considered to be risks.
If you rent your property from a private landlord and are concerned about any
of these risks contact the Environmental Health Officer at your local council.
Some local authorities also
run their own fuel poverty schemes.
For general advice
on grants and other energy efficiency information contact the Energy Saving
Advice Service on 0300 123 1234
For
more information
Action for Social Integration
1st Floor, 45-51 The Market
Square
Edmonton, London
N9 0TZ
Tel: 02088036161
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