Keeping your home warm

Keep your home warm - if you can't afford to heat the whole house, keep your living room at 21 degrees Celsius and your bedroom at 18 degrees Celsius. Give your bedroom a boost before you go to bed each night. Get to know how your heating controls work - if you are unsure, ask a friend or neighbour for help.

Help with heating repairs

If your heating breaks down and you need help to stay warm, we have some heaters available on a short term loan. Contact the Care and Repair team or call 0300 123 5017 (select option 4).

If you need help finding a reputable heating engineer, the Buy with Confidence scheme has details of local, reliable plumbers, electricians, builders, gardeners and many more trades, Contact the Consumer Protection team on 0300 123 5015 or visit the Buy with Confidence website.

If you can't afford the heating repairs, or if you don't have any heating at all, help is available for low income households and people with certain health conditions. Visit help with heating your home for more information.

Insulate your home

Insulate your home to save money and keep the heat in. Loft insulation can save you up to £250 per year off your fuel bills, and cavity wall insulation up to £280 per year savings. Don't forget to draught proof your windows and doors too – that could save you on average £20 per year – it all adds up. If you have a hot water tank, fitting an insulation jacket to it could save you as much as £100 per year. 

The Energy Saving Trust provides independent and impartial advice about ways to improve your home and reduce your spending on energy.

Make sure your heating is safe

Get your boiler and heating services regularly by a qualified engineer.

If you have a gas boiler or other appliances, check that your engineer is Gas Safe registered.

Install a Carbon Monoxide detector - it will alert you if there is a problem. Don't use this as a substitute for servicing your gas appliances though.

If you have a coal fire, remember to have your chimney swept regularly.

Oil-fired heating needs servicing too - choose an OFTEC-registered technician.

Help with heating costs

1 in 10 older people cut back on their winter heating to make ends meet. A range of help is available to help you cover the costs of winter, so make sure you receive your payments.

Winter fuel payments

If you were born before 23 September 1958 you could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025. This is known as a ‘Winter fuel payment’. You may be eligible if you or your partner get certain benefits. To find out if you are eligible, visit winter fuel payment: overview.

Cold weather payments

For when temperatures fall to an average of 0 degrees Celsius for 7 days. If you qualify, you should receive a payment automatically. For more information, visit advice on cold weather payments.

Warm home discount

Check with your energy supplier if you are entitled to a discount of £140 on your fuel bill. Some people will automatically receive the discount; other who qualify will need to claim. For more information, visit advice on warm home discount. 

Money matters

Thousands of Cheshire East residents are missing out on extra financial support that they are entitled to. Here are just some of the organisations who can help:

• Contact the Benefits team on 0300 123 5013 to find out more about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.
• If you are over 50 and living in the Crewe, Nantwich, Audlem, Sandbach, Alsager and Middlewich areas, contact Age UK Cheshire on 01606 881 660.
• If you are over 50 and living in Macclesfield, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, Knutsford, and Poynton areas, contact Age UK Cheshire East on 01606 612 958.
• The Citizens Advice Bureau have services across Cheshire East. For more information visit the Cheshire East Citizens Advice Service website or contact 08444 111 444.

Dress for warmth

Wear several layers of clothes rather than one chunky layer; this will trap the heat better to keep you warm.

Cover yourself with a blanket or shawl if you are sitting for long periods. Try to put your feet up too! The air is colder near the floor.

Burst pipe

Don’t panic! Collect the water in a bucket and switch off your central heating. Turn off your stop tap and turn on your sink taps to drain your water system. Don’t touch wiring or switches which you suspect may have been affected. If in doubt turn off your electricity at the mains and call a plumber.

Visit the United Utilities website for more information.

Related links

• Gritting and snow clearance