“Make sure you’re moving about rather than sitting still for long periods because this will also keep you warm by increasing your circulation”
“It’s important to have at least one hot meal daily, preferably more, and lots of hot drinks to help you stay warm and hydrated”
“Go around your home and identify any windows, doors or floorboards that are letting in cold draughts”
Facts/stats
1 in 5 adults reported being occasionally, hardly ever or never able to keep warm in a two-week period
(ONS Winter Survey, Nov 2022-Jan 2023 and Feb 2023)
18°C (64°F) is the minimum temperature your living room and bedroom should be during the winter
(NHS)
You could save £70 a year on energy bills by draught-proofing your windows and doors, and blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards
(Energy Saving Trust)
During the winter, everyone is at risk of becoming ill if they are not warm enough in their homes or outside, even if they may have been previously fit and well.
Some people are more vulnerable to the cold than others: older people (aged 65+); young children (especially those under the age of 5); pregnant women; people at risk of falls; those with a long-term health condition or mental health condition; people with learning difficulties; those who are housebound or with limited mobility; people who live alone; and those with a low income.
Staying warm in colder weather is not just a matter of feeling cosy and comfortable – it can help you to stay well and reduce the risk of developing colds, flu and more serious health conditions such as stroke, heart attack, pneumonia and depression.
Start with yourself
The first step is to make sure you’re keeping your body warm. Wearing multiple thin layers is much more effective than one thick jumper because warm air is trapped between the layers, keeping you at a comfortable temperature for longer. In addition, consider buying some thermal underwear and wear thick socks and slippers at home.
Make sure you’re moving about rather than sitting still for long periods because this will also keep you warm by increasing your circulation. When you go outside, wrap yourself up with extra layers. Most of your body heat is lost through your head so don’t forget to wear a woolly or fleecy hat, as well as gloves to keep your hands warm.
It’s important to have at least one hot meal daily, preferably more, and lots of hot drinks to help you stay warm and hydrated. Why not start the day with a steaming hot bowl of porridge? For lunch, nourishing soup is a good option on a cold day.
When sitting watching TV or reading, try using a shawl, throw or blanket, or invest in a heated throw for maximum warmth. At night, when you go to bed, an electric blanket or a hot water bottle can keep you toasty and warm.
Heat your home efficiently
It’s vital that you keep your home at a comfortable temperature for most of the time – a minimum of 18°C is usually recommended. Some people are tempted to keep themselves warm using heated throws and the like, without turning the heating on. But this isn’t advisable because a cold house or flat can cause damp and condensation, especially if you’re drying washing indoors. This can lead to serious issues for your home and the health of you and your family, especially those with conditions that cause breathing issues such as asthma and COPD.
Go around your home and identify any windows, doors or floorboards that are letting in cold draughts. Installing draught-proofing around door- and window frames and filling any gaps in floors can make a big difference. You could also buy or make sausage dog draught excluders to put against doors.
At dusk, get into the habit of making sure all the windows are shut and closing all the curtains to keep the heat in for the night. If you have hard floors in some or all of your rooms, warm them up with extra fluffy rugs.
Familiarise yourself with your boiler and how it works so that you can decrease or increase the thermostat temperature, and programme the boiler to come on and go off at times that suit you and your family. A smart meter can help you to understand your energy usage and where savings can be made.
Find help and support
If you’re worried about putting the heating on because of the cost, don’t suffer in silence. There’s lots of help and advice out there that could help you improve the energy efficiency of your home and pay your energy bills. Contact your energy supplier first so that they are aware of any financial difficulties you may be facing. You could also be entitled to extra benefits to help with heating, housing and other living costs if your income is low. Visit www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/low-income to find out more.
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5 top tips to keep your heating bills low
- Turn down the thermostat by 1ºC to make a significant difference to your bills, but only if your home feels warm enough.
- Use thermal-backed blinds or heavy lined curtains to keep the heat in, and consider adding a door curtain if your front door is very draughty.
- Turn off the radiators in any rooms you don’t use regularly, such as a spare room, and keep the door closed.
- If you have single-glazed windows and you’re in a conservation area, or you can’t afford double glazing, think about having secondary glazing installed.
- Have your boiler checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure it’s in full working order and running as efficiently as possible.