With the sharp drop in temperatures in winter, many people find they have the heating on almost 24 hours a day for weeks on end. It’s important to stay protected as cold weather can affect your body’s ability to fight viruses and infections and staying warm helps you stay well.
But not everyone can afford to keep the heating on all the time. Fuel poverty is a real concern in this country and although there is some government help available, there are other ways you can protect yourself. Here, we look at how to use your home heating more efficiently and other tips to stay warm in winter.
Home heating tips for winter
- Heat your main living area during the day to 18 – 21⁰C which is around number 3 on your radiator thermostat. Other areas of the house that you use frequently should also be heated. The rest of the house can be less than this but not below 16⁰C.
- If you aren’t able to heat all the rooms in the house, make sure you have your main living area heated to a comfortable temperature during the day and turn the heating on in your bedroom before you go to bed.
- If you can’t keep the heating on all night, set the timer on the boiler or controls thermostat to come on an hour before you get up so the house is warm enough when you get out of bed. You don’t want to be cold while you wait for your home to become warm.
- Keep your heating system regularly maintained with an annual service, whether that is a boiler or a gas fire. You will be using heating appliances for longer periods so make sure they are safe to use.
- Your bedroom temperature should be above 18⁰C through the night and you can use a portable heater or fire in the bedroom for this, but have some ventilation coming with either a door or window open a little. You can also use an electric blanket.
- If using a hot water bottle buy a good quality one and remember to not fill it with boiling water, it should be warm. It is also not a good idea to use a hot water bottle while using an electric blanket at the same time.
Hometree can provide home heating cover for you throughout the year. Click the link to see how they can help:
Ways to keep warm in winter
- Eat a balanced diet so you get a variety of nutrients and minerals and have at least one hot meal a day.
- If it’s too cold to go out, make sure you stay active by exercising at home or doing household tasks to keep you physically busy.
- It’s better to wear more thin layers than one thick layer of clothing in the cold due to the insulation effect of the number of layers. Prepare beforehand with winter clothing such as hats, scarves and gloves so you do not have to shop for them in the cold.
- Wear thermal underwear to keep you warm at night as well as other night time clothing.
