Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu or more serious health problems like pneumonia. It can also help you to save money by needing to put the heating or fire on. Find out some simple things you can do to keep warm and make the best use of your heating at home.
Financial help with heating your home
If you are over 60, disabled or on a low income, you may be able to get financial help to heat your home.
Stay warm in your home
To keep warm at home during the day try to:
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Heat your main living room to around 18-21°C (64-70°F) and the rest of the house to at least 16°C (61°F)
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Heat all the rooms you use in the day
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Make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
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Set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
In very cold weather, set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up. This means you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.
To keep safe and warm at home during the night you should:
- Try to keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight
- Open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter
- Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off
- Unplug blankets before you go to bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use
- Get your electric blanket tested every three years for safety – Age UK or your local fire and rescue service may be able to do this for you
Keep the heat in with insulation
Insulation makes your home warm and healthy and will also help to keep your heating costs down. It’s a good idea to:
- Fit draught-proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors
- Make sure your loft has at least 10–11 inches (270 millimetres) of insulation - any home with 4 inches (100 millimetres) or less should have it topped up
- Make sure wall cavities are insulated
- Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes
Dress warmly
You can keep warm by:
- Wearing plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one
- Putting on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside
- Wearing clothes made of wool, cotton or fleecy synthetic fibres
- Wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night