How to keep your home safe and warm

Many of us will be trying to limit our gas usage this winter, but it’s important to try and stay warm. Some of these tips may mean spending a little bit of money, but they should result in savings over time.

• Check your thermostat. The recommended temperatures for British homes in winter is between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius. The Energy Saving Trust has put together a detailed guide to help you understand your home’s heating controls, so you can keep warm and save on bills.
• Try to patch up any draughts in your home by filling in the gaps around windows and doors. You might also want to consider using a draught excluder – but remember that you also need some ventilation to keep mould at bay. We have more tips on the section below.
• Close your curtains before it gets dark and whilst you’re out of the house. This will stop warmth escaping from the windows. If you can, consider investing in some thermal curtains.
• If you have exposed floorboards, covering them up with rugs can help to stop warmth escaping.
• Set your heating to come on just before you get up and switch off after you’ve gone to bed.
• If you can, investing in radio thermostats offers an extra level of control over the rooms you’re heating, as you can choose to only heat up the rooms you’re using at the time.

You could be entitled to a discount if your communal heating is provided through a Heat Network.

The government’s Energy Bill Discount Scheme has been set up to support non-domestic energy bill payers – this includes housing associations. The scheme means we can apply for a discount to purchase energy subject to certain eligibility criteria. If a discount is awarded, we must in turn pass on any savings to residents to whom we bill for communal heating costs provided through Heat Networks.

Get in touch with us if you think you’re eligible for the Energy Bill Discount Scheme but have not yet benefited. Email info@poplarharca.co.uk

Find more about Heat Networks, including whether your home is supplied by one here, and on the Energy Ombudsman’s website.

Winter is the busiest time of the year for our heating contractors. If you have heating or hot water issues, please report a repair as soon as possible to avoid delays in getting it fixed.

Depending on how serious the issue is, you might be able to fix it yourself. Check out our handy how-to repairs guides here.

Portable gas and electric heaters are a serious fire risk, which is why we don’t allow them in our homes. We know it can be tempting to look for alternatives to using your central heating, but you shouldn’t compromise on safety when trying to save money.

You can read more about the risks of portable gas and electric heaters on the London Fire Brigade website.

The heating system in your home is designed to be safe. If you’re struggling to pay to use your central heating, there is help out there – scroll down to the section below for links to local organisations who can support you. It’s better to get help than to take matters into your own hands.

If you’re struggling to keep warm this winter, there is help on hand. Here’s a list of organisations and services that can support you, including safe, warm spaces to spend time when it’s cold.

In the winter months, the moisture in warmer indoor air hits cold surfaces, like windows, and causes condensation to form. A build-up of condensation can cause mould, which could seriously affect your health. Left untreated, mould can even cause structural issues with your home.

While there are other causes of mould, condensation is the usual suspect – and one of the easiest to prevent.

Having a well-ventilated home (for example by opening your windows) and keeping the heating on are two of the best ways to prevent issues with mould. This year many of us will be trying to shut the cold out by keeping windows closed and not rely too much on central heating, but it’s important to get the balance right.

The good news is that there’s lots of practical things you can do to prevent both condensation and mould:

• Keep your home ventilated. Change the air by opening a window for a small amount of time each day. Keep window vents open, and air vents uncovered.
• Turn on the extractor fan in your bathroom to reduce moisture. They use less energy than a lightbulb!
• Keep doors inside your home closed and windows open when washing and cooking.
• When filling a bath, run the cold water before the hot water to reduce steam.
• When cooking, keep lids on pots and pans to prevent moisture escaping.
• Wipe off any water droplets on windows when they appear.
• Dry clothes outdoors, or in a room with the doors closed, windows open and the extractor fan on. If you’re using a tumble dryer, make sure the ventilation pipe runs to the outside of your home.
• Where possible, leave a gap between walls and furniture to allow air to circulate.
• When using your heating, keep it at a constant temperature.
• Use a fungicidal spray on areas already affected by mould.

Simply fill out our online form and tell us about the mould in your home here or via your MyHARCA account.

Need some extra support? You can call us to report an emergency repair at any time on 0800 035 1991.