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Home and Garden on Female First
The energy supplier has reviewed statistics from previous years to ensure the UK is fully prepared this winter and for any cold snaps to come, there are also some informative tips and guidance for people to help them prepare their homes for the cold weather.
British Gas HomeCare engineers have some smart, simple advice on how to prepare homes for the colder weather and help protect against potential costly damage incurred as a result of burst pipes, damaged water tanks or overflowing gutters.
Tops Tips for keeping your home warm and working this winter
1. Bleed your radiators: to make sure they are working properly. If your radiators have cold spots, this means you have air in the system, so you will need to bleed them to get them working efficiently. To do this, turn the system off and then turn the radiator key until the air stops and water runs consistently. Once you have turned the system back on, the problem should be solved. Bleeding your radiator may result in pressure dropping. If you have a pressure gauge make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.
2. Block the breeze: Make sure all of your home's windows and doors seal properly to stop warm air escaping. For those that don't, fitting draught excluders, which you can buy from most DIY stores, is a quick and cheap way to cut down on your energy bills.
3. Stay safe: It's vital to have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and that you test it regularly. From the 1st October 2015, it became a legal requirement for private landlords in England to install working carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a solid fuel burning combustion appliance.
4. Love your boiler: Check to make sure that your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler, the more inefficient it will be. If you have a pressure gauge make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.
5. Wrap up your water tank and insulate hot water: The materials can be purchased from most DIY stores and help to conserve heat and save you money.
6. Insulate your pipes: Burst pipes are a huge issue for UK households during winter months. To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from most DIY shops.
7. Save money on bills by insulating your home free of charge: If your home is suitable, you could save as much as £160 a year by getting your cavity walls insulated and as much as £140 by getting your loft insulated. Find out more here: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/insulation.
8. Be energy smart: Why not speak to your energy supplier about a smart meter, which enables you to see how much energy you are using, in pounds and pence? In turn this helps you to better understand your energy consumption and identify where you can make savings.
9. Maintain your drains: If you're trying to keep your drains outside well maintained, it's a good idea to make sure they are clear of debris at the point at which they enter the ground. This involves checking your gullies for autumnal leaves and twigs in order to ensure that they don't restrict water flow at any point.
10. Watch and learn some additional winter tips: To pick up some extra tips to help keep your home warm and working this winter, visit: www.youtube.com/britishgas
