Is your home ready for winter?

It’s the little things in life that make a big difference.

Prices are rising for reasons way beyond our control. And, while there’s not much we can personally do about the cost of living crisis, there are some lifestyle tweaks we can make to save water, energy and money.

So, here are suggestions from Thames Water for ways we can make our homes winter-ready. These small changes can have a big impact, helping you to keep your home safe and warm and even save you a few quid too.

Insulate those pipes

When big coat weather rolls around, it’s important to make sure your home has got its winter wardrobe ready too. Most importantly, we’re talking pipes. Just like us, those water pipes like to be kept toasty warm.

When it gets cold, pipes can freeze as the water expands and causes the pipes to crack. When the ice thaws, water leaks out of the cracks and into your home. And, if that does happen, you could be left with a hefty plumbing bill to repair the pipes, plus any costs to repair water damage in your home. Eek.

To avoid this, you can get pipe insulation, which will only set you back about £1.75 a metre. To insulate pipework in an average sized home costs around £20 - much cheaper than a plumber.

ICE: The Stop Tap

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. And, if the worst were to happen and your pipes did freeze, you need to know where the stop tap is.

As the name suggests, the stop tap cuts off the flow of water into your home and is the only way to turn the water off in an emergency. Most can be found under the kitchen sink but other common places include under the stairs, a downstairs loo or airing cupboard. Find it, and hopefully you’ll never need to use it.

Shorter showers

Changing up your shower routine is a great way to save water, energy and money.

We’re not suggesting anyone goes full Wim Hof here and starts taking short, cold showers each morning (hey, if that’s you, then go for it). But simply cutting down showers to four minutes could save a typical household up to £95 a year.

Smarter washing

If it’s possible, try to reduce the number of washing loads you do and make sure you fill up the machine before putting it on. Just one less load a week could save you money on your bills.

Washing at 30 degrees also saves energy and has the added perk of keeping the quality and colour of clothes better than hotter washes. Doing one less load a week and washing at 30°C could save you as much as £34 a year.

Radiator reflectors

We all love a DIY hack. And, this one could help to heat your home more quickly and efficiently.

Making your own radiator reflectors helps to ensure you’re making the most of the warmth that’s being generated by your radiator. To make one, grab a piece of card that fits behind each radiator and wrap it in kitchen foil.

Placing the foil-wrapped card behind the radiator will reflect the heat back into the room, meaning that the heat won’t be lost in the wall, saving as much as £17 a year on bills.

For more tips on making your home winter-ready, visit the Thames Water website.