Preparing your home for the colder months
Autumn is here and it’s time to get your home ready for the colder weather. These tips can help you stay warm and prevent damp and mould in your home. Check your boiler Take these three simple steps to make sure your heating is working: • Set your thermostat to 30°C. • Turn radiators to 4 or 5 and leave on for 30 minutes. • Check if the boiler and radiators are warming up. If not, report the problem via our website’s Contact Us form or call our Customer Hub. Protect your home against damp and mould Improving ventilation stops condensation building, and these tips can really help: • Keep extractor fans and trickle vents on windows open at all times. We’ve been installing new fans in many of your homes which are even more efficient and cost about £3 per year for each fan to run.
• Leave small gaps between furniture and walls and radiators. • Open windows slightly each day. Opening two windows on opposite sides for 30 minutes is ideal. • Use ventilation fans or open windows when cooking or having a bath or shower, and keep doors closed to contain moisture. Heat your home effectively with these tips: • Use your thermostat to help keep a steady temperature. 18–21°C is ideal. • Set radiators low in rooms you don’t use often. • Keep heating constantly on low in kitchens and bathrooms as these rooms can have a lot of moisture To reduce the excess moisture which causes damp you can: • Wipe condensation from windows daily. • Cover pans while cooking and turn them down once they start boiling and don’t leave kettles boiling. • Dry clothes on an airer or clothes horse instead of radiators, and put
this in a room where you can open a window or with a fan to provide ventilation. Use an airer in a ventilated room. • Run cold water first when filling a bath to reduce steam. If you spot mould in your home, or are concerned about how bad it is getting, report it via our online form or call 0161 448 4200.
Check your gutters Falling leaves can block gutters, leading to damp. Contact us to get them cleared if you notice them getting blocked.
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