As the cold sets in you need to consider how it can affect you, those around you, and your home. We have compiled some advice we think you will find useful over the winter months. From tips on how to keep warm, safe and healthy over the chilly season, keep reading!
There are lots of steps you can take now to make sure you are prepared when it comes to looking after yourself and your home when during the colder weather.
The best time to check your boiler is working properly is before winter. To make sure that your boiler is working properly, set your heating to come on and check:
To stop blockages, it’s recommended you check your drains and gutters on a regular basis to make sure they aren’t blocked; this helps prevent water damages such as mould and damp, along with leaks, too. Please report blocked or broken gutters to us.
To help keep your internal plumbing running free:
Check that your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working correctly.
You can do this by pressing the button and waiting to hear the beep. If you have an issue with these, please report this to us.
If you don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in your home, please contact us to arrange for one to be fitted.
At this time of year the weather can be against us when it comes to slips and falls – to try and avoid these it’s a really good idea to clear any leaves from your pathway on a regular basis.
Your safety is a top priority, so we have a program in place to safety check and service all our gas appliances in your home.
Please allow access for these checks to take place. Did you know this is a legal requirement and is monitored closely by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Keeping your home warm in winter is essential to your health and makes sure the property stays well maintained and damp free.
Help and support is available to help you make the most of your heating systems and support you in efficiency and costs.
Heat your home evenly and ventilate
In cold weather, the best way to keep rooms warm and avoid condensation is to keep low background heat on for the majority of the day if you can, rather than having short bursts of high heat. This maintains an even temperature and avoids cold surfaces.
If you are unable to heat your home for long periods of time, it is important that you manage moisture by increasing the ventilation of air within your home through extractor fans and opening windows.
More information on avoiding damp and mould is available at:
Keep draughts at bay
A great way to be more effective with heating your home can be to stop the heat escaping. Simple items like draught excluders for doors can make all the difference!
Also be sure to close your curtains. Plenty of heat can escape through windows, but simply closing curtains before it gets dark can retain the warmth in your home.
Energy bills and other support
The cost of energy is a concern for many people and winter is a time when people may need extra help and support:
You can stay up to date with all the latest weather advice and warnings at:
Cold weather can cause your condensate pipe to freeze up. This pipe normally carries a trickle of waste water away from your boiler and can usually be found outside close to where your boiler is located.
If this pipe freezes up, your boiler will stop working. Please take a look at your boiler instructions on how to manage and reset this. For advice on how to defrost this pipe, visit the Cadent Gas website.
Prolonged cold weather can cause freezing pipe if you have no water or low pressure in cold weather this could be due to a frozen or damaged pipe in or outside your home.
First check with neighbours to see if they are affected as there may be a local issue.
If the issue is a frozen pipe in your property then you can visit your local water company’s website to find helpful guides on how to safely get your water running again
