Keeping North East homes warm this winter
One in 10 homes in the North East could be setting themselves up for a Christmas disaster because they have not prepared their homes for seasonal weather.
One in 10 homes in the North East could be setting themselves up for a Christmas disaster because they have not prepared their homes for seasonal weather.
Even in the relatively mild Christmas forecast, the festive season can be ruined if boilers or central heating go wrong.
Yet British Gas research found more than a third of residents don’t check their heating is working ahead of the holiday period.
More than a third of North East residents say family get-togethers are their favourite festive activity.
But engineers expect to be called out to more than 2,300 homes in the region next week, so engineers are urging families to check their homes are ready for the winter break.
Last year nearly 200 homes in the North East faced a boiler breakdown on Christmas Day.
Working over Christmas, Stephanie Walker, an engineer in the region, is hoping to avoid crashing any celebrations.
She says preparation is the key to steering clear of domestic disaster over the holiday period.
Stephanie said:
“Our priority is to keep our customers’ homes and businesses warm, safe and working this winter, and engineers like me are on standby to visit homes and businesses over Christmas.
“Simple things like blocking draughts to stop heat escaping, or bleeding your radiators, can help keep your home warm, yet our research shows that very few people do them to prepare for the winter months.
“By carrying out a few quick checks, everyone can focus on enjoying the Christmas they’ve been hoping for.”
The engineers have a list of tips which will help North East households keep our heating running smoothly throughout the Winter months.
1. Bleed your radiators: to make sure they are working properly. If your radiators have cold spots at the top, this means you have air in the system, so you will need to bleed them to get them working efficiently.
a. To do this, turn the system off and, when cool, turn the radiator key until the air stops and water runs consistently. Once you have turned the system back on, the problem should be solved.
b. Cold spots in the bottom or centre of the radiator may be an indication of sludge build up and the need for system flushing.
c. Bleeding your radiator may result in pressure dropping. If you have a pressure gauge make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.
2. Block the breeze: Make sure all of your windows and doors seal properly to stop warm air escaping. For those that don’t, fitting draught excluders, which you can buy from most DIY stores, is a quick and cheap way to cut down on your energy bills.
3. Stay safe: It’s vital to have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and that you test it regularly. From the 1st October 2015, it became a legal requirement for private landlords in England to install working carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a solid fuel burning combustion appliance.
4. Love your boiler: Check to make sure that your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler, the more inefficient it will be.
5. Wrap up your water tank and insulate hot water: The materials can be purchased from most DIY stores and help to conserve heat and save you money.
6. Insulate your pipes: Burst pipes are a huge issue during winter months. To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from most DIY shops.