Keep warm at home

Living in a cold or damp home can be bad for your physical and mental health.

It can worsen a range of health conditions like heart disease, asthma and breathing issues. It can also increase your chance of falls, getting colds, flu and pneumonia.

If you’d like to talk to an adviser to get help on keeping warm and avoiding damp, contact the Warm Home Check service.

Here are some tips to keep warm and well at home:

Keep warm

Heat your home to at least 18 degrees in the rooms that you regularly use.
Stay active and move around the house every hour.
Wrap up warm with lots of layers.
Have hot drinks and meals.
Use hot water bottles or electric blankets (not together).
Get heating and cooking appliances serviced.
Sign up to the Priority Services Register for extra help from your energy or water company. This includes notice of planned cuts and priority in an emergency.
Check the weather forecast and the news so you can plan to keep yourself and others safe during periods of cold weather.

Keep well

Stock up on food and medicines before cold weather.
Get vaccinated. Some are done each year like flu and covid and others at certain ages and stages of life.
Maintain good hand hygiene.
Keep an eye out for damp and mould. You can find information from the Energy Saving Trust on how to avoid and get rid of the problem. You can also contact the Warm Home Check service for advice.
Make sure your house is well-ventilated.