Now winter is under way, it is important to ensure that our homes are well prepared for the colder weather conditions.

If you plan for the winter it will mean that you are fully prepared for any emergencies as well as being able to greatly reduce costly repair bills that may come your way.

The level of preparation that you undertake will often depend on your budget as well as the amount of time you have before the winter months set in. Larger preparation jobs will include installing double-glazing or investing in loft insulation. However, if time doesn’t permit there are simple and cheaper draught excluders available that can be used as a stop-gap.

In the winter the main problems are caused when the temperature drops. Often pipes will burst due to the changes in temperature and therefore it is important to know how to turn off the main water supply if this should happen. Therefore as a preventative measure it will be important to insulate pipes to keep them warm and dry.

As well as preparing for the possibility of water damage you should consider how you can cope if there was a power cut that caused disruption to the electricity as well as the gas supply. This could result in you losing the ability to run your central heating system and therefore you will be unable to heat your home or get hot water.

So, how do you prepare for all these emergencies?

All households should prepare by packing an emergency kit that is in an easily accessible place so that everyone in a household can access it if they require. This kit should include:

• An emergency list of telephone number such as gas engineers or information regarding your home insurance policies.
• A torch which is either battery operated (with spare batteries available) or a wind up torch.
• Bottled water to drink in case the water supply gets cut off.
• A first aid kit which also includes essential toiletries.
• Any spare keys to the home so that they are all located in a central place.

With the cold winters that the UK has witnessed over the past few years no one can say what weather this winter will bring. So it is better to prepare for the worst. It is also not only important to prepare the home for winter but also prepare your families regarding the risks and how to react and cope in an emergency.

Finally, it is important to prepare your car for winter in case there is a lot of snow and ice to contend with. This includes putting an emergency kit in the car as well as checking the weather conditions before you travel.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

A thermostat is a device used by a central heating system. The device regulates the temperature of the system and turns it on and off as necessary. A household therefore sets the desired temperature they want to maintain and the thermostat will switch on and off the heating dependent on whether the temperature is met.

Conventional thermostats would have been fitted to walls but nowadays wireless thermostats have been developed as an alternative option. Wireless thermostat use radio frequency that transmit the on and off signal to a receiver which can control the boiler and switch that on and off as required. This also means that wireless thermostat can change the temperature from any room in a house.

There are many benefits of using a wireless thermostat remote compared to a conventional one.

Firstly, wireless thermostats are perfect for households wanting to relocate their thermostat. Many households find that the location of their existing thermostat is incorrect causing the boiler to come on when not required. By using a wireless thermostat they can move it to a better position without the need for complex and possibly untidy wires to move the existing thermostat.

Secondly, you can take the thermostat remote with you around the house. For example, if you are cold in bed in night you can reach over and adjust the temperature if you have a wireless thermostat meaning that you don’t have to get out of bed. This portability can be very useful for many households such as the elderly and disabled with limited mobility.

Thirdly, you have flexibility as you can put the thermostat in any room and adjust the houses temperature in accordance to the temperature in that room. This would be particularly important to a family with a new baby, for example, as they can ensure the baby’s room remains at the right temperature for the baby by placing the thermostat in their room.

Finally, you can have multiple wireless thermostats in different rooms to help you control the heating system. Or you can install technology that allows you to control the temperature in each room separately. This could possibly help you reduce your energy bill as you will be controlling the temperature in each room.

Therefore, there are many advantages to installing a wireless thermostat. Even though the cost of installing one can be expensive, they are particularly useful if a household wants to try and control their energy bill more closely. The thermostats will also come with the latest digital technology (compared to a conventional one) which means they are considered more accurate.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

To ensure that you get the most out of your boiler it is important to understand its controls and know how to use them correctly.

This will not only ensure that you can keep your home comfortable and warm, but will potentially reduce your carbon emissions and the cost of your heating bills.

There are two main controls on your boiler that should be familiar with which are as follows:

Thermostat

A thermostat connects to the boiler and regulates a room’s temperature so that the heating will come on until a desired temperature is reached and then will turn on again once the temperature drops. A programmable thermostat controls the temperature in a house and combined with a time control will allow households to set different temperatures at various times throughout the day. If a household wants to regulate the temperature they can install a thermostatic radiator valve which senses the air temperature around them and regulates the flow and heat of the water sent to the radiator it is fitted to.

It is important to ensure that you can use your thermostat correctly as if you do this can mean savings on your energy bill. As by just reducing the temperature by a degree it will mean you can save up to 10% on your heating bill.

Timer and programmer

A timer is a device on a boiler that sets the time that you want the boiler to come on whereas a programmer allows you to set times for the boiler to come on, on different days. The difference between the two is that a timer operates the boiler at the same time every day where the programmer allows you to choose different times dependent on the day of the week.

These controls are important to understand as you can set ‘on’ and ‘off’ time periods. You may also be able to control both the central heating as well as the hot water. The controls mean that you can calculate how long it takes to warm up your house and set the timer to do this for you. Therefore, in the morning before you get up and in the evening when you get home from work, the heating timer can warm up the house for you.

The timer and programmer control combined with the thermostat control means you can set the heating to come on and regulate what that temperature will be in each room.

Knowing what these controls do is therefore important to ensure the energy efficiency of your household and can help you reduce your energy bills while ensuring the temperature of your house is always maintained.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

When people are looking to prepare their households for the winter months they are often busy concerning themselves with looking at ways to make their home energy efficient such as checking loft insulation. However, many people often overlook safety measures related to their property and buying the most important safety device of them all – a carbon monoxide alarm.

A recent service has shown some frightening statistics with only one in three households owning a carbon monoxide alarm and only one in five people knowing that this odourless gas can kill. Last year 50 people in the UK lost their lives through carbon monoxide poisoning and a further 4,000 people were hospitalised because of the gas, so households really need to take heed.

Carbon monoxide gas becomes an issue if a gas appliance such as a boiler becomes faulty or poorly ventilated. When this happens the appliance could leak carbon monoxide into the household and because the gas is odourless, colourless and tasteless it will be unknowingly breathed in by the occupants of the property. By inhaling the gas it will mean that the blood’s ability to transport oxygen around the body will be reduced and this can lead to confusion, coma and death in severe cases.

To ensure that your gas appliance isn’t leaking carbon monoxide then it will be important to get your appliance serviced regularly. You can also look out for tell-tale signs that your appliance may be leaking gas. These signs include the appliance burning a yellow or orange flame instead of a blue flame, soot appearing on the appliance and more condensation on inside windows than usual.

Your household should also have a carbon monoxide alarm installed for early warning against any leaking gas. These alarms aren’t expensive and are easy to fit so there is no excuse for not having one within your home. Prices for the alarm range from £12 to £50 and when purchasing one it is recommended that you buy one with an audible alarm which activates when carbon monoxide is detected. You should also ensure it has a British Standard EN 50291 mark or shown with the CE mark and have a British or European Kitemark, Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) or equivalent testing approval mark.

Once the carbon monoxide alarm is purchased you will then ensure an appropriate position for this device in your home. Ideal locations include a hallway or landing and the alarm should not be fitted to a ceiling but be visible at head height. The alarm should also be placed at least one metre away from gas appliances.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

If you are looking at ways to save money on your fuel bill then one of the easiest and quickest ways is to review your current energy provider and consider switching either your supplier or tariff to get a better rate.

How To Switch

Firstly, you need to do some research into the best supplier and tariff for you. The best way to do this is to look at some online comparison websites that allow you to compare the different energy prices and services online. This will detail all the suppliers and tariffs available and allow you to compare all the available rates.

You can also visit the individual supplier websites or call them to gain a better understanding of what they offer, as well as talking to sales people from energy providers who often come to your door or can be found in local shopping centres. It is also worthwhile letting your current supplier know that you are thinking of leaving them as they often will discuss and renegotiate the deal that you are on. However it is also important to note often the best deals are only available online as some tariffs will not be available to those who phone up for the offers.

Thinking Of Switching? Get In Fast!

The best advice at the moment, if you are worried about your electricity bill, is to find a cheap fixed tariff. But you have to be quick because many energy suppliers have a maximum subscription volume which, once met, means they pull the tariff.

So Many Tariffs, So Little Time

Most suppliers offer a variety of tariffs, which include:

• Electricity Economy 7

This basically means you pay a lower amount during the 7 hour night period.

• Online Tariffs

These tend to be the cheapest as suppliers try to incentivise people not to call and handle their accounts online. You generally have to provide your own meter readings and pay your bills online. However, be warned if you forget to provide a reading you run the risk of receiving a hefty estimated bill which can be annoying.

• Dual Fuel

You can obtain discounts for using one supplier for both gas and electricity. All the major suppliers offer this tariff which is useful if you want to make life easier.
 

• Fixed Tariffs

These are fixed for a set period normally a year or two but sometimes more. At the moment these seem to be the safest bet. As the market changes over the mid to long-term the benefits could be lost if prices fall.

There are a few other tariffs which offer benefits of their own depending on your usage and when you need to use the most electricity. Before signing up to a new supplier you should think about your current usage and find out which tariff will best suit your needs, especially if you have a large family or work from home. When comparing the different tariffs make sure you know how much energy you currently use by looking at a previous energy bill that you have received. Also if you have a dual energy supply then look at whether it is better to have the same supplier for gas and electricity or a different one providing each service.

Next you need to consider how you want to pay your bill as often savings can be made this way. Many companies charge you extra if you choose not to pay online or via direct debit, so this is a key consideration. Also when you get a quote then make sure whether this includes VAT as this is an extra expense that you may not have budgeted for.

Cutting Your Electricity Bills

What many people don’t realise is prices are different all over the country. Specific suppliers that once held a monopoly in a region often charge more. If you are using a local supplier you could save money by going with someone else.

It’s Not Always About Price

For the elderly or disabled it is not always about the price because some big suppliers offer special services which are helpful to those that need them. For example, N-Power offers a unique password service so customers can identify employees, which is great for security. They also offer Braille bills and you can even arrange for your bills to be sent to another address.

Finally when you have all the information and have made a decision about which supplier and tariff to use you can start the switching process. This process can take 4-6 weeks after your request so this may be something you will need to factor in.

Remember that at no point will you be without gas or electricity during the switching process, so there is no better time to switch if you are thinking of doing so. Your chosen energy provider will do all the work in switching your current supply and the only difference that you will experience is a change in the company name that sends you your bill.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain