As we head towards Spring, and hopefully warmer weather and lighter nights, we’ll all hopefully be relying on our heating less, but it can still be chilly, especially in the evenings, and we’ve even been known to get snow as late in the year as May. The cost of living has been rising in the UK since 2022 and according to the ONS (the Office for National Statistics), around 4 in 10 energy bill payers are struggling to afford fuel payments. So things are tricky for many at the moment, and staying warm is still a concern for a lot of us as we all try to find ways to cut our outgoings and our heating bills.
Heating is still a significant cost – according to the Energy Saving Trust, in a typical household, over half of fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water. Cutting energy bills whilst staying toasty can be a challenge and it's important to remember that cold temperatures can impact our health so here we’re going to take a look at some simple things you can do to keep yourself warm before you start reaching for the thermostat.
Heat the person, not the room
Multiple layers of clothing are best when it comes to trapping in body heat and a range of products are available, from hoodies to foot warmers. Rather than wearing one thick layer of clothing, several thin layers will keep you warmer.
Don’t forget to wear warm clothes in bed too. Thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat will keep you snug throughout the night, and hot water bottles are great for warming up your bed before you jump in, pull up the blankets and get a good night’s sleep.
Use blankets and throws to wrap yourself up in and keep you as snug as a bug in a rug. Electric blankets and throws have recently become more popular – some have timers and different heat settings, and an energy-efficient blanket can keep you cosy whilst costing as little as just a few pennies an hour to use, depending on the setting.
A word of warning, however – never use a hot water bottle in a bed at the same time as an electric blanket!
Stay active
Exercise is not just good for our wellbeing; apart from improving circulation and muscle activity, it can help us stay warm as well. As your heart rate increases, your blood vessels dilate and more warm blood will flow to your extremities, helping to distribute heat throughout your body. So move around your home, do household chores, or engage in exercise to keep yourself warm.
Warm your cockles from the inside out
It may sound simple, but consuming hot food and drinks can give you a psychological sensation of warmth. Not just that, but your body generates heat as you digest and metabolise your food, increasing your body temperature, and helping you keep warm from the inside out. Pour yourself a brew, wrap your hands around the mug, sip on your tea or coffee, and feel the warmth.
Block out the draughts
There’s moisture in the air inside all our homes, and whilst houses do need ventilation to prevent damp and condensation, and stop the growth of mould, it can be a balancing act as you want to keep in the heat you have. Condensation is formed when warm air collides with cold surfaces and often forms as pools of water on window sills, or as mould on interior surfaces, but dehumidifiers are great as they remove excess moisture from the air. Which in itself can make the air temperature feel warmer. Plus they can speed up the drying of your washing.
Reduce heat loss by using draught excluders to stop under-door draughts, seal up your letter box with a special draught excluder and seal up draughty window frames. Also, put kitchen foil or special radiator-reflecting foil, which can be purchased cheaply from your local DIY, behind your radiators to reflect heat into your rooms.
Let the sunlight in
If it’s sunny during the day, keep curtains and blinds open to let the sunlight in to warm up your home. It’ll also provide natural lighting – so no need to reach for the light switch. But when the sun goes down, close them again to prevent heat escaping through your windows. Thermal curtain liners will block drafts and help retain more heat – they can be attached to existing curtains to provide additional insulation.
Cooking on gas
You’ve cooked your hot meal – and paid for that heat. So whether you’re cooking on gas, electric or an oil-fired Aga or Rayburn, as long as you can do it safely, leave the oven door open after cooking and release the heat into your room.
Turn your heating on when you need it
We’re not suggesting you should turn your heating off completely – after all, a cold house can be bad for your health.
Living in a cold house can increase risk of respiratory infections, can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, and affect mental health as well.
So is it better to leave your heating on all day? Well, according to The Energy Savings Trust’s Knowledge Manager, Joanna Loan, the answer is no.
It’s better not to have your heating running constantly, but to turn your boiler off, for instance, if you’re popping out for a few hours, and then switch it back on again when you need it. It's cheaper to reheat your home rather than keep your boiler running all day on low.
Ensure your heating system is being used optimally by controlling the temperature in your home. A smart thermostat can help you reduce your energy consumption – and your bills. You can control your heating remotely through an app on your smartphone so you can switch your heating on or off when you’re away from home, or adjust the temperature. Many also provide insights into your energy usage, so you can monitor your consumption and spot opportunities to save energy.
Need more expert energy advice?
We hope you’ve found some useful tips in this blog. At Northern Energy, we’ve been supplying heating oil and LPG to off-grid homes and businesses for over 90 years, so understand how important energy efficiency is for us all.
For more energy saving tips as well as insights such as when is a good time to buy your heating oil, you can browse our latest news. And if you use domestic heating oil or LPG, we’re the off-grid energy experts and just at the end of the phone if you’d like to chat.
Get in touch for a heating oil or LPG quote by calling us on 01423 770 666.