As the weather turns colder this Winter it’s important to keep warm to help stay safe and well. At this time of year many people in the UK can be vulnerable to the cold weather, notably older people, those less mobile, young children and pregnant women. If you are over 65 the NHS recommends maintaining temperatures in the rooms you use in your home at a minimum of 18 degrees. They go on to explain that: “if you're under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, as long as you're comfortable.”

With the current energy crisis making heating our homes more expensive then ever this year many people may be looking to reduce their energy to save on bills. We wanted to share this series of simple but effective tips to help stay warm.

Wrap up with layers

“Put another jumper on” tended to be the advice we remember our fathers giving us when we were young and while we might have made fun of our no-nonsense energy saving Dads the advice is still valid! Clothes made from wool, cotton and fleece fabrics are usually the warmest and warm socks and slippers can help keep your feet comfortable.

Move around and keep active

It’s tempting to put our feet up over Christmas and there is nothing wrong with having a rest but its important to keep active as well. Moving around at least once every hour will help increase circulation and keep you warm.

Enjoy warm food and drinks

You can’t beat a hot cuppa or hearty warm meal on a cold day. Try and opt for porridge at breakfast and stews and soups at lunch to help warm you up. And remember, you should avoid drinking alcohol as a way of keeping warm. Alcohol actually draws heat away from your core organs and can impair your ability to shiver which is one of the body’s natural responses to help raise temperature. If you need some warm meal ideas, then check out these top 20 winter warmer recipes from BBC Good Food here. 

Close curtains at dusk and use draught excluders

Simply keeping the warmth in and the cold out can make a big difference to the temperature in your home. If you don’t have any then why not ask for draught excluders as an early Christmas present? By keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible and closing curtains at dusk you can help keep your home cosy this Christmas.

Try a hot water bottle at bedtime

If you suffer from cold feet at bedtime then a hot water bottle can make a big difference when you first head to bed. If your bottle doesn’t have a cover then wrap it in a spare pillowcase or towel and pop it under the duvet at the foot of your bed a few minutes before you jump in and you’ll have toasty toes as you drift off. Just remember to keep hot water bottles out of reach of young children and be extra careful as some aren’t made for boiling water… only hot water.

Maintain temperatures in the rooms you use

Its well worth taking the time to check how your heating is set for the different rooms in your home. Keeping your main living space between 18-21°C and the rest of the house at 16°C or above will help keep you comfortable while keeping your energy bills down. You can also boost the heating in your bedroom before you head to bed. We’ll be sharing a blog all about modulating thermostats soon so keep a look out here on the Comfort Way blog.

Have your heating serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer

One of the best ways to ensure you stay warm and cosy this Winter is to avoid any heating dramas. By having your boiler regularly serviced by a Gas Safe Registered engineer not only are you helping to keep your home gas safe but you’ll have peace of mind that your boiler is less likely to breakdown when you least want it to.

You can find an engineer near you and book your boiler service by checking our "Find an Installer" service or searching the official list of registered gas engineers over on the Gas Safe Register website.