Safe, warm and supported - this winter and always Helping you keep your home warm this winter

To keep the heat in your home, be sure to close the curtains or blinds at night, and then open them again to let the sunlight in.

Block any draughts coming into your home through any doors or windows. You can buy things like draught excluders to put under your internal doors to keep heat from escaping under them. You can get these from your local home or DIY store. 

Keep bulky furniture, such as sofas and wardrobes, away from heaters so they don’t block the warmth or prevent heat from circulating throughout the room and the rest of your home.

If you're cold, wrap up warm by dressing for the weather. Try layering up, using blankets, wearing slippers, and putting on socks too. You could even try heated blankets or clothing, which you can get online or from your local supermarket. 

An easy way to keep yourself warm is by making yourself plenty of hot drinks or food. Stews and soups are a hearty way to warm you up throughout the week. 

If you want to heat your home more effectively, try keeping all internal doors closed. This helps your radiators or heaters warm the rooms they’re in more quickly and prevents warm air from escaping.

Keep your home above 12°C to help prevent damp and avoid pipes freezing. It’s also a good idea to know where your stop tap is located. If you notice any leaks or issues with your pipes, please report them to us as soon as possible.

• Take extra care when walking outside, ice can be hard to see. Walk slowly, wear shoes with good grip, and use handrails where available.

• Use salt or grit on paths, steps, and driveways you are responsible for to reduce slipping risks.

• Keep entrances well-lit so you can spot icy patches more easily in the dark.

• Avoid carrying heavy bags that could throw off your balance on slippery surfaces.

• Be cautious when getting in and out of vehicles, as ice often forms in parking areas and on kerbs.

• Dress warmly and in layers to prevent hypothermia if you’re outside for longer than expected.

• Check pipes and outdoor taps, insulate or turn them off if possible to prevent freezing.

• Report any dangerous icy areas in communal spaces so we can address them.

• Plan extra time for journeys and avoid travelling in severe conditions unless necessary.

• Keep a charged phone with you when going out in cold or icy weather.

Outdoor taps can cause issues in the winter, because water expands when it freezes and that can create pressure that can damage pipes and fittings and cause unwanted leaks in your home. If you have an outdoor tap, prevent this from happening by:

• Locating the tap's indoor isolation vale
  In most UK homes, the outdoor tap is fed by a pipe that has an isolation valve inside the house. Common locations can be under the sink, in a utility room, near to where the pipe goes into the wall, or in the garage (if the tap is near or on the garage wall)
  
  
• Turn off the valve
  Once you've found it, turn the valve a quarter turn (for lever valves) or clockwise (for screw valves) to shut off the water supply to the outside of the house. 
  
  
• Test the tap
  Go outside and test the tap has been turned off, by turning it on. Allow any remaining water to drain out, and eventually it should stop and will remove any remaining water from inside the pipe, preventing it from freezing if the temperature dips to zero.
  
  
• Disconnect any hoses or attachments 
  Leaving hoses connected could keep water inside the tap head, which is the most common cause of split taps and burst water pipes in UK winters. Remove the hose and drain it before storing away.