Get set for winter

To help you prepare for the winter months, here are our top tips to help make sure your home can handle the falling temperatures, plus some information on fuel discount schemes you may be entitled to.

How to get set for winter

  1. Get your boiler serviced. A poorly maintained boiler can waste energy, cost you more money, and run the risk of leaking carbon monoxide. If you rent your home, it's essential that you allow us to access your property to carry out the annual gas safety check. For leaseholders, always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when you book in your service.
  2. Check your heating. Turn your boiler on for at least 15 minutes (turn the room thermostat up to above the current room temperature by two or three degrees) and check that all your radiators are heating up. If any radiators or controls are not working properly, get in touch with us.
  3. Bleed your radiators. If your radiators are cooler at the top than they are at the bottom, then they have trapped air inside, which stops the heat circulating properly. Bleeding the radiators will release the air and allow them to run more efficiently. For assistance, contact our repairs team to arrange a visit from a gas engineer.
  4. Fit draught excluders. Check the edges of your doors and windows for draughts. Any gaps can be sealed with self-adhesive draught strips that you can buy from your local DIY store.
  5. Make sure you’re on the best energy deal. Check whether you’re on the most cost-effective energy tariff by visiting websites that compare prices from different suppliers such as MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch. View our energy savings tips to learn more. If you have a communal heating system, you won't be able to switch suppliers - gas is procured at the best possible rates to ensure your heating and hot water is cost effective. See below for a range of fuel discount schemes for people on lower incomes.
  6. Protect your pipes. Burst pipes can cause a lot of damage and are more common during winter due to rapid freezing and thawing. The best way to protect your pipes is to keep them warm with lagging, which will prevent them from freezing. You can buy all kinds of lagging in DIY shops, and most of them are easy to fit yourself where pipes are accessible. Get in touch with us if any insulation or 'lagging' around external pipes needs replacing.
  7. Home insurance. Check to make your that your home insurance policy covers you for any winter-related damage.
  8. Guttering. During winter, gutters and drainpipes may start to fill up with fallen leaves and create a blockage. Water can then start backing up into the guttering and leaking into the roof and down the walls of the house. If you notice these signs, please contact our repairs team.

Winter fuel bill savings and discount schemes

With colder weather just around the corner, many of us are thinking about the cost of keeping warm. There are a number of schemes available to help towards the cost.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Did you know you might be eligible for £140 off your electricity bill this winter through the Warm Home Discount Scheme? The scheme is open to people who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or those who fulfil their energy supplier’s low-income criteria. How you apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depends on how you qualify for the discount. To find out more, please visit the government's website dedicated to Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Cold Weather Payment

If you receive Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest, you might be eligible for £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments. Find out more about the Cold Weather Payment.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born on or before 5 October 1954, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. You usually get this Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you’re eligible and get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit). If you’re eligible but don't get paid automatically, you'll need to make a claim.