How to protect
your home
this winter
Winter’s here, and getting your home ready for the cold
weather and all it brings means you’re more likely to stay
warm and happy. Preparation is key if you’d prefer the
coming months to be hassle free, so we’ve put together some
handy hints and practical advice that will help you keep your
home warm and welcoming this winter.
1. Protect your pipes – they’re precious
Fixing damage to your home caused by frozen pipes
that have burst can cost a small fortune – and be quite
stressful, too. Here’s how to protect your home from
freezing pipes, bursts and a nasty case of the soggycarpet-no-heating blues this winter:
• Lag your pipes and water tanks – they’re less likely
to freeze;
• pay particular attention to pipes in the garage or loft
– and use waterproof lagging for outside pipes;
• find your stop tap – it controls the water supply to
your home and if you know where it is you’ll be able
to turn the water off quickly if your pipes freeze or
burst www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxPmt9EYAqg;
• repair dripping taps – if they freeze, they’ll block
the pipe;
• protect outside taps with an insulated tap cover;
• keep the heating ticking-over – leave it on low,
especially during severe weather and while you’re
away, too;
• check your insurance to see if it covers plumbing
emergencies – and keep your policy details and
the number of a good plumber handy, just in case.
To find your nearest qualified plumber, you can go
to www.watersafe.org.uk
For more information about how to protect your home in
winter, visit www.unitedutilities.com/winterwise.aspx
or www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/get-ready-for­
winter/protecting-your-home/cold
2. Keeping your home warm and safe
As well as the more obvious ways to help keep your
home toasty in winter – such as insulating your loft,
considering cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing
doors and windows – ensuring all your heating
appliances are working safely and efficiently is
good preparation for the colder months ahead.
• Give your gutters a clear-out – if they’re blocked,
water could get into your home and cause damp,
making keeping warm in winter more difficult;
• get your central heating system serviced – or ask
your landlord to do so. An efficient heating system
will save energy and money;
• give your radiators some TLC – bleeding them is
quite easy. If your radiators are cold at the top and
hot at the bottom, it means they need bleeding. For
step-by-step instructions on how to bleed your
radiators, visit www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/
bleedrads.htm;
• if you have an open fire, get your chimney swept;
• check for draughts around the edges of window
frames, gaps under your doors and around the
letterbox – use draught excluders for doors,
and it’s easy to fill in gaps round windows;
• don’t block-up air vents – fires and heaters need
ventilation, and good ventilation also helps prevent
condensation;
• test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;
• close your curtains in the evening to help keep the
heat inside and stop draughts coming in – fitting
thermal linings will help, too.
For more information about keeping warm in winter,
visit www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/get-ready-for­
winter/health-and-welbeing/keep-warm
3. Traditional ways to keep your home warm and cosy
Don’t underestimate the difference ‘old-fashioned’
heatsaving tips can make to the warm ambiance of
your home – they’re cheap and cheerful, but often
very effective.
• cover bare floorboards – they may be fashionable,
but they don’t keep your feet warm! It’s also a good
idea to fill in any gaps between skirting boards and
floorboards.
• Use specialist radiator foil or tin foil behind your
radiators – to reflect heat back into the room;
For details on ‘low tech’ ways to keep your home warm,
visit www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24757144
• thick curtains with thermal linings make a room
warmer;
4. Keeping yourself warm, safe and well
Summer’s a distant memory, but you can warm to
winter. Being positive and embracing the changing
seasons is difficult when it’s freezing outside, but
making sure you have everything you need to hand
will help you stay warm.
• Keep your main living area heated to around 70°F/21°C,
and the rest of the place, including your bedroom,
heated to at least 64°F/18°;
• dress to impress – several thinner layers of clothing
are warmer than one thick layer and get some lovely
warm jumpers. Wear snuggly pj’s in bed and add an
extra blanket or two;
• stay active, even when indoors – keeping moving
generates heat;
• eat well – a hot meal and plenty of hot drinks will
help you stay comfortable even during the coldest
snaps. A slow cooker is a great way to prepare a
warming meal. For tasty winter recipes to keep you
toasty from the inside, visit www.bbcgoodfood.
com/recipes/collection/top-20-winter;
• stock-up on essentials – your medicine cabinet with
cold and flu remedies and your store cupboard and
freezer with food that will last;
• keep your mobile phone, laptop or tablet fully
charged and a radio and torch handy, then you can
communicate if there’s a power cut.
For more information about staying warm and well
in winter, visit www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/
Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx
5. Be warm – but keep your money in your pocket!
Keeping your home warm during the winter months
means that your heating bill is likely to be one of
your biggest household expenses. So it makes sense
to check that you’re getting the best deal from your
energy provider, so you’re not paying more than you
have to.
• Find out if you are entitled to financial help with
your energy bills – visit www.gov.uk/government/
publications/keep-warm-this-winter;
• you may be able to save some money by either
switching tariff, or switching to a new supplier
altogether – it’s now easier to make the move.
Visit www.uswitch.com/;
• look into ways that you can make your
home more energy efficient – for help, visit
www.gov.uk/energy-grants-calculator
• check that your bill is correct – it pays to be able to
read your gas and electricity meters and understand
what the charges on your bills mean;
6. Don’t suffer the cold in silence – help is on hand to keep you warm this winter
Living in a cold home can have a detrimental effect on
the health of vulnerable people. So, as temperatures
start to fall, as well as fighting the freeze in your own
home you could make sure any elderly or vulnerable
neighbours are warm, safe and well.
Remember, too, that feeling ‘warm’ in winter isn’t
just about temperature, it’s also about friendship and
company – not feeling alone and isolated. Contact the
Elderly is a national charity that supports people who
live alone with little or no help from friends, family or
statutory services. To find out how the charity could
help someone near you, visit www.contact-the­
elderly.org.uk/about-us/locations/north-west
Age UK also offers a range of advice to help older
people keep warm in winter – visit www.ageuk.org.
uk/health-wellbeing/keeping-your-body-healthy/
winter-wrapped-up/winter-health-resources/
If you’re worried about being able to pay to stay
warm this winter, or you know someone else who
may be, Citizens Advice can advise on the financial
help available, how to manage energy bills and
introduce energy-efficiency measures into the home.
Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/
energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants­
and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/
or call the helpline on 03454 04 05 06 – you can call
for yourself or on behalf of a vulnerable family member,
friend or neighbour.
We offer additional help and support for our customers
who need it. It might be that you’re older and have
limited mobility; perhaps you have sight or hearing
problems; maybe you’re disabled or have learning
difficulties – or have a serious medical condition that
affects the way you live. If you know of a family member,
friend or neighbour that may appreciate extra care
from us, let them know about the services on offer.
www.unitedutilities.com/extracare.aspx