Keep warm in Stoke Newington this winter

With the winter chills coming in and the announcement from a major gas company that prices may raise by up to 9.4% and electricity bills shortly to follow, here at Stoke Newington People, we have compiled a short list of ways to keep warm this winter and shave a few pence off your daily utilities bills.

Switch Your Provider

It is a horrible image of someone having to turn their heating over the winter because they cannot afford the bills. Try shopping around for the best rates from all energy suppliers. Now we are not saying that this will help all people, but it might just stretch your budget that little further. With several sites to chose from, there is no reason not to look around.

Thermostat Setting

By turning your thermostat down by one degree centigrade, you could save up to 6% of your heating bill. With such a minor temperature drop, you will hardly notice the difference. But if you do still find it cold try setting the boiler to come on a little earlier, that way you will not be cold waiting for your house/flat to warm up.

Layering

You might think this is an obvious one, but many people don’t realise that the best way to keep warm is by wearing lots of thin layers of clothing, rather than just one bulky item. Slippers indoors are another great way of keeping you toasty, and it’s also a good idea to wear a hat or headscarf outside, as lots of heat is lost through the head.

Eating Right

If your body is not fuelled properly it will not keep itself warm, eating a balanced diet can make a real difference and can also help your body fight those pesky colds and flu. Hot dinners and hot drinks.

Exercise

A bit of exercise does wonders to get the blood flowing and keep you warm. However, you don’t have to sign up at your local gym in order to keep fit; doing a little housework, like vacuuming, will keep you moving and help to keep you warm.

Sitting for long periods of time makes you colder so you could try spacing activities out through the day, so that you can alternate between rest and activity.

Ditch the Smokes

Since the smoking ban came into place, all smokers have to go out into the cold whenever they want to light up. But giving up has another way of keeping you warm too; smoking actually slows down your circulation so you’ll get colder quicker.

The benefits of stopping smoking are huge - and fast. According to the Department of Health, 2006, within just eight hours of giving up your blood oxygen levels return to normal and circulation begins to improve after just two weeks - helping to keep you warm from the inside.

Tucked up in Bed

Many people forget the importance of keeping wrapped up and warm at night. You don’t need to keep your heating running all night though. Just set it to come on about half an hour before you get up, and wear bedclothes and socks. You could also use a hot water bottle, or an electric blanket - though not together of course. If you are in a relationship, then I find being close to your partner and stealing their heat is much better than a hot water bottle.

Close the Windows/Shut the curtains

Radiators are usually situated underneath a window, as hot air rise it does not take a scientist to work out that heat will escape. If you want fresh air at night open the door to the room.

Another little tip is at dusk close your curtains as this acts as a layer on insulation keeping the heat in your room.

Boiler Checks

If your boiler is more than 10 years old it might need replacing. By law all new boilers fitted in the UK have to be energy-saving condensing boilers. These A-grade boilers are extremely efficient - using as much as 96% of their fuel - and can cut your heating bills by up to 40% a year, which can be as much as £200. Definitely a good investment.

Use our business directory to find our local plumbers and boiler service companies.