To stay warm and healthy, keep your home heated above 18 degrees C
If you above Pension Age and don’t already receive Pension Credit, visit the GOV.UK website to see if you qualify
Keep basic items such as soup, long life milk and teabags in the cupboard in case you can't get to the shop
Have plenty of hot food and drinks to keep you warm
Take advantage of the winter flu jab available through the NHS or in some cases your employer
Try to keep active to stay warm. If you cannot walk around, try chair-based exercises
Layer up - several thin layers are better at keeping you warm than one thick layer
Know where your stop tap is located - you'll need to turn it off quickly in the event of a burst pipe
Keep your kettle filled and store bottles of water in case your water is turned off
Be a good neighbour - keep an eye on others living around you and if you have any concerns, please let us know.

Frozen Pipes

To prevent pipes freezing, you should insulate them using pipe lagging. Frozen pipes can cause your heating to stop working and result in bursts. If pipes inside your home freeze, you can gradually introduce heat to the frozen pipe to avoid bursts, using a hair dryer or fan heater. Turn off the main water supply at the stop tap until the pipe is thawed.

If the pipe bursts, make sure the stop tap is off and drain the system by opening all the taps to the basin, sink and bath.

Outside Taps

It is recommended that you turn off the water supply to your outside tap using its stop tap. Open the tap to drain any water from the pipes and lag exposed pipework to prevent frozen and potential burst pipes.

Frozen Condenser Boiler

If your condensing boiler stops working in very cold weather, the condenser waste pipe outside your home may have frozen. Try defrosting it with hot water. Once thawed, the boiler must be reset.

Emergency Repairs

In the event of heavy snow, we may offer a limited emergency repairs service only - allowing us to channel resources to the most urgent cases.

Anyone telephoning our Contact Centre during sever weather will be told the level of service we are operating and the likely timescales.

You can report an emergency repair by calling 08000 121 621 24-hours a day 7 days a week.

We will put information on our website and social media:
Twitter: @Rykneld_Homes
Facebook: @RykneldHomes

Planet First Energy

The Planet First Energy Advice Centre offers a free energy advice service which is open to everyone in the North East Derbyshire area.

The Drop In centre opens on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 10am until 4pm at 1 Dronfield Court, Dronfield Civic Centre, Dronfield S18 1NQ.

Call them on 01246 386740 or email info@theenergyadvicecentre.co.uk.

Portable Gas Heaters

The cost of living has resulted in many of us having to think a little more about the energy we are using in our homes.

We have been made aware that some customers may be trying to reduce their energy costs by using portable gas heaters, camping cookers and gas/electric cookers to heat their homes.

There are a number of risks associated with using portable gas heaters but they can also cause condensation and damp in your home. They produce about a litre of moisture for every litre of fuel that is used.
Alongside Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS), we are urging our customers to take simple steps to protect themselves from accidental fires and the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Visit the DFRS website to carry out an online home fire safety check for you and your family.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Tiredness
Headaches
Nausea
Drowsiness
Becoming increasingly erratic
Feeling light-headed.

If you experience any of these symptoms, turn off the appliance immediately, open the windows and seek medical attention.

Top safety tips when using portable heaters:

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
Only buy a heater if it has a British or European safety mark
Keep your heater at least one metre away from furniture and curtains
Do not move a portable heater while it’s switched on
Switch off and unplug heaters before going out or going to sleep
Use fireguards to prevent children and pets from touching them
Never dry washing on heaters or put anything on top that will obstruct the air grilles
If you are using a portable gas heater, please ensure that you store the spare gas cylinders safely in line with the Rykneld Homes Tenancy Agreement. The cylinders must be stored outside of the home, out of direct sunlight or frost.