One of the simplest ways to stay warm in winter is to heat your home. However, changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance mean many people may find heating difficult to afford. Heating your home can prevent damp, mould and frozen pipes, which could result in costly repair bills. Staying warm in winter can also affect your body's ability to fight off viruses and infections. Exposure to cold weather can affect blood pressure and worsen symptoms in people with pre-existing respiratory problems and heart, lung or kidney disease, so staying warm in winter helps prevent this.
Thankfully, there are simple steps to keep your home warm without needing to turn the heating up.
1. Use the sunshine
Although daylight hours may be shorter during winter, the sun can still help you stay warm. Opening the curtains during daylight hours lets heat into your home without you needing to pay a penny. The sun's heat will come into your home even during cold weather.
2. Install a thermostat
A standard thermostat lets you set a schedule for your heating to turn on and off and control the temperature so you can boost the heat if you feel cold. A thermostat can also detect a drop in temperature and turn the heating on, turning it off again when your home reaches a maximum temperature.
Smart thermostats let you control the temperature remotely, for example, by turning on the heating when you're on your way home. Some provide multi-room control so you can stay warm in one room and reduce the heat in rooms you aren't using. This is mainly useful if you have a larger property.
3. Targeted heating
A standalone heater such as a gas fire, wood-burning stove or space heater lets you heat one room at a time.
Gas and portable space heaters aren't typically as energy efficient as modern boilers so could lead to higher energy bills. Good ventilation is also essential, depending on the type of heater you have. Government regulations control the type of wood-burning stove you can use and the fuel used, particularly if you live in a smoke control area.
4. Energy efficiency
Good energy efficiency can help you reduce your energy bills and stay warm. Modern boilers are typically more energy-efficient than older models. Still, depending on your circumstances and budget, you can also consider other types of heating, such as a biomass boiler, solar panels, or heat pumps. The Energy Saving Trust provides information on different ways to heat your home.
There are various ways to improve energy efficiency at home; the HACKS energy efficiency calculator assesses your circumstances and provides suggested changes.
5. Apply for financial support
We've mentioned that energy efficiency improvements to your home can help you stay warm in cold weather. However, depending on your circumstances, the cost of replacing your boiler or investing in other improvements may be prohibitive.
The good news is that you may be able to access financial support through various Government schemes or your energy supplier. Here are the main schemes.
Boiler upgrade scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants that cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel-based heating, such as oil, gas or electric, with a heat pump or biomass boiler. It's vital you check that any replacement system is suitable for you and your property.
You must access the grants through an accredited installer, but you can check your eligibility here. Your home must have a valid EPC certificate. You must own your home and can't be in social housing. Criteria vary depending on the type of property and the heating system you want to install.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) supports people in private housing, either owned or rented, who claim various benefits and social housing tenants. Your home must have a valid EPC showing an energy efficiency rating of D-G.
The Scheme pays for insulation and heating system upgrades, such as a new boiler, with funding coming from energy companies. You may be able to claim the full cost of improvements or receive a subsidy. You can contact your local council to see if they participate or contact your energy supplier. You can find details of participating companies on Ofgem's website.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (ECO+)
As the name suggests, the Great British Insulation Scheme provides free or reduced-cost insulation for households on a low income to help reduce their energy bill. The EPC rating must be between D and G. Your council tax band must also be A-D in England or A-E in Scotland and Wales.
Check your eligibility here by providing details of your household income and any benefits.
Once you've heated your home, keeping warm often depends on keeping the heat in. Here are some simple ways to help your home stay warm.
Insulation
We've mentioned the ECO+ scheme, which can help with the costs of various types of insulation, such as cavity wall, loft, or underfloor insulation. If you have the budget, double glazing can also improve energy efficiency. Filing gaps around windows and doors and using draught excluders can also help.
Insulation has been in the news, with reports of poorly installed cavity wall insulation and mortgage lenders refusing to lend on homes with spray foam loft insulation. Problems typically arise when fitters aren't adequately qualified and regulated or due to scams.
If you claim financial support for insulation, you must use an installer registered with the TrustMark scheme. This helps you find a suitable tradesperson who must meet TrustMark's standards and follow their code of practice.
Use soft furnishings
Your home furnishings can help your home stay warm in cold weather. Carpets have an insulating effect, and you can use rugs if you have wooden or laminate flooring.
Blinds and thick curtains prevent heat from escaping, although it's a good idea to leave them open during daylight hours to let the sunshine warm your home. You can install a curtain over your front door as an effective draught excluder.
Move your furniture
If you're rearranging your furniture or redesigning your home, you might only consider how it will look. However, how you position your furniture can also help keep warm.
External walls are continuously exposed to the elements and often stay cold. Leaving a gap between the wall and furniture lets warm air circulate more easily and helps your radiators work more efficiently.
Keeping warm helps you stay healthy, whether you spend the day indoors or go for a winter walk. Staying warm and looking after your general health can help prevent health issues. Here are our favourite ways to keep yourself warm.
Wear layers
You can wear warm clothes in winter, but wearing plenty of thin layers rather than one thick jumper helps trap body heat close to your skin. Fleecy synthetic fibres, cotton and wool, are ideal as they trap heat but also wick moisture away from your skin to keep you comfortable.
Wearing a coat, hat, scarf, gloves, thick socks, and warm shoes or boots keeps you warm if you go out in cold weather or wet conditions.
Keep your head and feet warm
Scientists have debunked the myth that we lose most heat through our heads. However, a hat and other warm clothes can still help you stay warm. Your hat can also protect your skin from the elements as the temperature drops.
The blood vessels typically contract if your feet get cold, reducing your core temperature. A drop in temperature can affect your body's ability to fight off viruses. Keeping your feet warm in warm shoes, boots, and thick socks helps you stay well this winter.
Wrap up warm at home
It makes sense to wear warm clothes when you go out, but layering up at home can let you turn the heating down and save money on your energy bill. Wearing plenty of thin layers will keep you warm throughout the day and make adding or removing layers as needed easy.
If you feel cold when relaxing in the evening or heading to bed, adding extra layers is a good idea. Adding a pair of bed socks and wearing thermal underwear at night will keep you warm all night. A hot water bottle is ideal for sitting on the sofa or feeling warm as you fall asleep. Alternatively, you can use an electric blanket. Hot water bottles aren't safe for use with an electric blanket, so never combine them.
Stay active
Being active is great for your overall health and helps you keep warm. Physical activity has many health benefits and can reduce your risk of illness in cold weather. Walking outside during daylight hours can warm you up, boost your vitamin D to help your bones stay strong, and improve your mood.
Your activity will vary depending on your fitness level and health. Age UK has helpful guidance for people who want to become more active as they age. NHS guidelines recommend that all adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week, plus two strength training sessions. Exercise helps warm you up but also reduces your risk of falls as you age.
Eat warming food and drink
Eating can warm us up as food releases energy as we digest it, but eating a hot meal can also have a positive psychological effect. Arriving home from a walk to a bowl of soup or a hot chocolate warms us up and feels like a treat. Some ingredients, such as ginger, chillis, leeks and onions, can help improve blood flow and increase body heat, so try adding them to your meals.
A healthy, balanced diet can help prevent illness in cold weather, so aim to eat a variety of foods. The NHS Eat Well site has healthy eating tips to help. Build up your store cupboard, so you have good food to hand if bad weather prevents you from getting out and about.
Keep up to date with vaccinations
The winter flu vaccine is available free of charge to people who meet the criteria. You can get the free vaccine if:
- you're over 65
- are pregnant
- have some long-term health conditions
- live in a care home
- are a carer for an older person or someone with a disability
- live with someone who has a weakened immune system
While most people will recover well from the flu, excess deaths from flu reached a 5-year high in 2023. The flu vaccine is also available from most pharmacies for a fee.
We hope this guide has given you new ideas for ways to keep warm this winter. If you'd like to learn more about how private medical insurance can support your health, contact us for a comparison quote. We'll put you in contact with a regulated broker for tailored advice.
