Winter-Proof Yourself to Keep Yourself Warm this Winter
Summer is at an end and the weather is turning colder. At the same time every year, many Brits are caught unprepared for winter’s weather. Added to this, a recent forecast1 reveals that January and February 2020 could be the coldest in several years, so if you and your home aren’t prepared for freezing temperatures, you could be caught out in a particularly harsh winter.
With that in mind, we have some handy advice to winter-proof yourself and stay snuggly warm in the cold season.
1. Top-up grit bin
During cold spells, our driveways and pavements fall victim to ice, making them dangerous to pedestrians and drivers. While the council will be responsible for the road, ensuring you have a grit bin with enough grit to see you through the winter will allow you to keep your property safe from a build-up of ice, and prevent costly accidents from occurring! Grit tends to last several years, so this is a consideration for new-builds and first-time homeowners that have just moved in.
2. Snow shovel
It goes without saying, that a snow shovel is a required purchase to spread grit on your property. In the event of a large snowfall, this will dig you up out of trouble. If your home doesn’t have one, this is a wise investment!
3. Install thermal curtains
A large percentage of heat is lost through your windows, and to protect this from happening, thermal curtains should be installed. Thermal curtains are thicker than regular curtains and help insulate your rooms from the cold outside.
4. Rugs for your rooms
Another way of insulating your rooms is to buy a rug if your home is made of tiled or wooden floors. This will help retain some heat in the room and is an inexpensive measure to implement in the course winter-proofing your home.
5. High TOG duvet
An essential requirement during cold nights are high TOG duvets to retain your body heat and ensure a cosy night’s sleep.
6. Electric blanket
More of a luxury than a necessity, an electric blanket is a cost-effective way of keeping your central heating use to a minimum during the hours you are asleep.
7. Maintain central heating/radiators
Inside the home, your central heating system will work hard to keep you toasty through the winter, so ensuring it is maintained will allow it to work at peak efficiency for you – this may mean it is time to bleed your radiators of air that has built up, regardless of whether your home is connected to the grid or if it’s one of 1.5 million home that use heating oil.
8. Service boiler
You don’t want to be caught without hot water, so now is the time to schedule service of your boiler.
9. Insulating your pipework
A further way of keeping your heating system efficient and saving some money on your heating bill in the process is to insulate your heating pipes to prevent unwanted energy loss before the heat reaches your desired room.
10. Clear snowfall off your fuel tank
If your fuel tank is located in the garden, you’ll need to keep an eye out for a build-up of snow to prevent stress cracks as most above-ground tanks aren’t designed to be load-bearing.
11. Top-up your heating oil tank
If you are one of the 1.5 million homes in the UK that rely on home heating oil for their central heating, now is the time to top up your tank. In a cold spell, your fuel supplier might struggle to deliver your fuel in time, with delivery taking as much as five days. You’ll also likely pay less by ordering before the winter months – around £40 less on a 1,000-litre tank of home heating oil.
12. Repair/ Replace double glazing
Faulty double-glazed windows allow draughts into your home, bringing in cold air from outside. If you want your home to stay as warm as possible for as long as possible, repairing your double-glazing or if need be replacing it altogether is an option to consider.
13. Check loft insulation
Preventing heat from escaping from your roof is as important as preventing it leaking rom your windows. That’s why it’s important to check your loft’s insulation is in good condition. If you are not sure if there is any installed, now is the time to check and get it installed.
14. Winter tyres
Beyond the house, your car needs to be prepared for winter too. Winter tyres may make sense if you expect to drive on extended periods on slippery or icy roads. In winter, the braking distance for a car is increased significantly, making stopping more dangerous. Winter tyres can be costly, but they keep you and your passengers safer.
15. Tyre chains
Outside of changing your tyres to weather-suitable tyres, tyre chains are an appropriate measure to winter-proof your car. These will give you extra traction on icy roads, keeping you in control and preventing dangerous and expensive accidents.
16. Spare fuel in the car
In 2018’s Beast from the East phenomenon, many drivers were stranded on motorways during harsh blizzards, so a spare can of fuel could go a long way to protecting you in a similar situation.
17. Water bottles in the car
Similarly, having a spare bottle of water can also help you in a worst-case scenario of being snowed in the roads for an extended time.
Keep the cold out this winter and keep your home warm by ensuring you keep your home heating oil tank topped up. Call our heating oil experts today on 0330 123 1444 to request the latest home heating oil prices and request a quote based on your requirements. You can also order you heating oil today for delivery within 24-48 hours.
