Worried about heating your home this winter?

The cold weather can be a challenge for many of us, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. Winter can be expensive – your gas heating bills are likely to rise drastically – and this may become an issue for people who feel they simply cannot afford to heat their homes. According to official figures, almost 120,000 people across England and Wales died over the course of just four winters, either as a direct result of freezing temperatures or illnesses that can be caused by the cold weather. Sadly, many of these people were pensioners living below the poverty line.

It really is devastating to realise that although Nordic countries experience far harsher conditions during the winter months, mortality rates are higher in the UK.

Are you worried about heating your home this winter?

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, stated in 2016 that “The UK has an appalling record on cold-related deaths, with one older person dying every seven minutes from the winter cold. Colder countries like Sweden are better at protecting older people from the cold.”

Abrahams believed that increasing fuel poverty is more to blame than the cold weather itself. “Many older people will be feeling anxious about the current cold snap, not least because high gas heating costs are prohibitive for many, resulting in large numbers of older people finding it virtually impossible to stay adequately warm.”

Age UK’s advice is to keep rooms at a temperature of at least 16C. Rooms that are used most, such as living rooms and bedrooms, should be kept at 18-21C. This will lower mortality rates during the colder months, but increasing amounts of elderly people simply cannot afford to maintain these levels of heat in their homes.

So what can you do if you are vulnerable to the falling temperatures or caring for someone who is? Are you worried about heating your home this winter?

Influenza is never fun but can be fatal for elderly or vulnerable people. If you are aged 65 or over, live in a nursing or residential home or are a carer and have not yet had a free flu jab, ensure you contact your local health centre or pharmacy as soon as possible to arrange an appointment.

We have had both mild and harsh days already this winter. Keep an eye on the weather so that you are prepared if you see that temperatures are going to drop. Stay indoors if you can.

As you get older, a lack of Vitamin D – which we absorb through sunshine and diet – can become severely detrimental to your health of your bones and muscles. It is advised that people over 65 should take a supplement of up to 25mcg of Vitamin D per day.

You may believe that an electric heater is a better – and cheaper – alternative to switching on your main gas heating. However, they do carry certain risks. Please make sure you never leave an electric heater unattended and switch it off when going to sleep. Never power an electric heater through an extension cable as they could overload. Plus you should always position it at least a metre from any combustible materials, such as curtains, settees, cushions etc.

Easier said than done when you are counting every penny, but if you do have limited means, you could be eligible for one of the grants and schemes available. The following can help you pay your gas heating bills:

• Winter Fuel Payment Scheme
• Affordable Warmth Grant
• Warm Home Discount

Your gas boiler will be working harder right now than any other time of the year. It is important to ensure it is in a safe, efficient condition so don’t put off contacting a Gas Safe engineer to check and service your boiler.

It is also essential that you protect any exterior pipes from the cold, or they may freeze and burst. Lagging a pipe is easy – you can do it yourself with a simple trip to the DIY store or alternatively, call a plumber in to do the job.

We hope you found our article ‘Are you worried about heating your home this winter?’ interesting and informative. If you have any questions or are interested in pursuing or enhancing a career in gas, please contact Gas Training and Assessment to discuss further.