BE WINTER SMART

4 PAGE WINTER SPECIAL in association with British Gas and the Daily Express

IT’s that time of year when the winter really starts to bite!

Hardy Britons know it’s important to be prepared at this time of year, especially after the icy blasts and snowstorms that have hit the nation over the last few years.

Now, thanks to this British Gas and Daily Express guide, you can be

better prepared than ever. Because we’ve got lots of really

useful ideas and advice to get you through the remaining months of winter whatever the weather does.

Our four-pager is packed with tips and hints to help make sure you don’t get caught out in a cold snap, with practical things that you and

your family can do. Plus, over the coming weeks,

we’ll be bringing you some great ‘how to guides’ in association with British Gas – each from an expert engineer.

Why not grab a cuppa and read up on some great winter tips with our fact fi lled pull-out.

Get through winter with our great cold weather pull-outThe ultimate guide full of practical help and advice

INSIDE: TOP TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME>>>

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU THIS WINTER

ASK AN EXPERT

DO you have a question about how to deal with a burst pipe,

look after your boiler, plumbing, drains, electrics or kitchen appliances? Then why not ask British Gas’ Engineer of the Year Neil Smith.

He’s available to answer questions that’ll help you get through any cold

snap. All you have to do is email your question to us here at the Daily Express. It could be anything from how to check your thermostat to how to bleed your radiators.

We’ll be featuring the best questions and answers on our website in the coming weeks. Visit, microsites.express.co.uk/british-gas

Got a question? British Gas’ Engineer of the Year Neil Smith, is here to answer your queries

For more tips and advice visit the British Gas website at britishgas.co.uk/wintertips

PAWS FOR THOUGHT: It’s not just the family that need to be kept warm this winter. Your pets might be covered in fur but they need looking after too. Take dogs for shorter but more regular walks and remember to keep them away from rivers and lakes, as they could fall in and become trapped. On really cold nights think about keeping cats inside.GOING AWAY? Are you planning to visit family and friends, jet off for a short break together – perhaps you’re going skiing? Before

you leave remember to set your heating on a timer, and at a lower temperature than usual. Making sure your home is heated – even if only for a few hours per day – will reduce the likelihood of frozen pipes, which can potentially lead to fl ooding.HELP IS AT HAND: British Gas has a dedicated support team to help vulnerable customers. They can provide support with bills, details of Warm Home Discounts and free gas safety checks. Call: 0800 072 8625.

MOTOR THROUGH WINTER: It’s not just in the home that it pays to be prepared. Do some basic checks on your vehicle to make sure it will run well through winter. Check screenwash and engine coolant levels as well as your tyres. ICE IDEA: Keep a ‘winter pack’ in your car in case you get caught out in cold weather whilst on the road. Things it might include are an ice scraper and de-icer, torch and spare batteries – or a wind-up torch, warm clothes and blankets, boots, a fi rst aid kit, jump start cables, food and a warm drink in a thermos, a shovel, a refl ective warning sign and a mobile phone charger.

BE IN CHARGE: During winter car batteries get more punishment. Consider getting your car battery health checked especially if it is going to be staying idle for long periods. TAKE CARE: Always make sure you’re prepared for winter driving conditions. Carry a map, allow longer for journeys and stick to main routes which are more likely to be gritted. Slow down – stopping distances are longer in ice and snow.

The RAC have some great tips on winter driving, visit rac.co.uk/advice/winter-driving

KEEP IT IN: It may sound simple but closing all internal doors helps to keep rooms warmer, stopping the cold air drifting through your home. It’s also a good idea to move furniture away from radiators so that the warmth spreads through each room.BREATHE EASY: Remember to leave air bricks and vents clear as your home needs ventilation to stop condensation and ensure a supply of fresh air. Wood-burning stoves, gas boilers and open fi res also need a good air supply to make sure they burn effi ciently. Outside, get someone to clear out gutters and check roof tiles – this will help avoid damp or leaks. BE A DETECTIVE: As well as regularly maintaining your gas appliances you can help alert your family to potentially lethal Carbon Monoxide leaks this winter by installing a Carbon Monoxide alarm. Carbon Monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that you cannot see, smell or taste, so you may not be aware that it’s there until it’s too late. The alarms are easy to set up. If you already have one, make sure you test it regularly. See our giveaway offer for more details on your chance to get a free alarm from British Gas.

DRAW UP A PLAN: Hang heavy, lined curtains at windows to help keep the heat in and close them as soon as it starts getting dark. If you have Venetian blinds tilt the blades so they face down (curved side to room). You can also fi t thermal linings to your curtains to keep more heat in. DRAUGHT IN EXTRA RESOURCES: Fit draught excluders to any gaps and get keyhole covers for your external doors. Available at DIY stores they only cost a few pounds and could

make a big difference. You could even fi ll a pair of tights with unwanted clothes to make draught excluders for the bottoms of doors.

WATER WAY TO GO: Insulating your hot water tank and pipes can reduce the amount of heat that escapes and can help ensure your hot water stays hotter for longer. A hot water tank jacket could save you around £45 and pipe insulation could save you around £15 in the fi rst year1.

INSULATE TO ACCUMULATE:

Did you know your home loses a third of its heat through the walls? Insulating wall cavities could keep your home warmer and save you up to £140 a year1 according to the Energy Saving Trust who also report that making sure your loft is insulated with at least 270mm (10” –11”) of insulation could save you up to £180 per year1 on fuel bills.FREE INSULATION: You could be eligible for free or subsidised insulation under the government’s ECO initiative. Find out more at britishgas.co.uk/eco

WE’VE celebrated the start of a New Year, but when it comes to the weather it’s still deepest winter – so how do you make

sure you prepare for the weeks of cold still to come?

British Gas is an expert when it comes to helping you run your home both inside and out. Over six thousand engineers around the country help take care of their customers’ boiler and central heating systems, electrics, plumbing and drainage as well as provide assistance with carbon monoxide detection too.

Now British Gas and the Daily Express have teamed up to bring you a unique guide to coping with the elements, come rain, hail, ice or snow.

Our tips, covering everything from your central heating system to your car, will make sure you beat the chill…

Our guide, in association with British Gas, will

help ease you into 2014

AROUND THE HOME

YOUR HEATING SYSTEM

ON THE ROAD

YOU, THE FAMILY & YOUR PETS

(1) Savings based on a gas-heated 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Full details at energysavingtrust.org.uk

To ask a question simply email britishgas@express.co.uk now

THE TIME IS RIGHT: Make it one of your New Year resolutions to check that your central heating clock or timer is working properly. Make sure that it’s switched on and showing the correct time. Also, check your thermostat. If you have a wireless one see if the batteries need replacing.

GET SET: As a guide your thermostat should be set at a recommended 21°C (70°F). However, if we have an unusually warm spell then it’s worth remembering that reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent, typically saving around £65 per year1 according to the Energy Saving Trust. Another tip to avoid turning up the thermostat is to set it so that it comes on thirty minutes before you get up or get home, so that the house is nice and warm when you get out of bed or arrive home.

TAKE CONTROL: With Hive Active Heating™ you can control your heating remotely from your mobile, tablet and laptop – so you don’t waste energy heating an empty home.

If you have a hot water tank you can even control your hot water too. Visit hivehome.com for more information.AT YOUR SERVICE: It always pays to be safe. And Gas Safe recommends that all boilers need to be checked out and serviced once a year by an expert. Even if your boiler seems to be functioning properly it might not be operating at its optimum level, meaning you’re wasting money and energy. British Gas’ HomeCare 100™ boiler cover includes an Annual Service to help ensure it’s running safely and effi ciently. See britishgas.co.uk/homecare for more details.BLEED THE RADIATORS: If your home doesn’t feel as warm as it should then it’s worth checking that your radiators are working properly, by bleeding them to get rid of any air that might have built up inside.RADIATE HAPPINESS: Why heat a room you’re not using? Installing thermostatic radiator valves lets you adjust the temperature to suit your needs in every room, helping you to save energy and money.

remember: help is at hand this winter

Boiler on the blink? Call the British Gas teamIt’s freezing outside and suddenly you notice that it has gone cold inside

too. You check the boiler and realise it’s broken down. What do you do? This winter there’s no need to panic.

With British Gas you can rely on an expert to deal with the situation promptly and efficiently.

One-off emergency boiler repairs cost from only £791 and you don’t even have to be a British Gas customer.

There’s nothing like getting a call in the middle of the night from your tenant saying their boiler is broken or that the flat is flooded.

With Landlord Pro from British Gas you can get everything sorted without it having to cause you loads of hassle. They will handle boiler, plumbing, drains and even electrical

problems for just £21 per month7, per property, with a £50 excess per completed repair – that even includes a gas safety certificate for your boiler too. Parts and labour are included5 and there is only one number to call, 24 hours a day and they’ll even arrange appointments directly with your tenants.

Peace of mind for your homeMany people worry about who to call when their boiler breaks down and how much repairs are going to cost.

With British Gas’ HomeCare 100™ you can be covered for boiler maintenance and breakdowns from just £9 a month3 with a £99 excess per completed repair.

An Annual Service is also included to help ensure that everything is working safely and efficiently.

British Gas has expert engineers around the country, ready to come to your rescueYOU’VE got family visiting but suddenly there’s no hot water. You’re looking forward to a cosy night in with your favourite TV show but the house is suddenly freezing. Or maybe you’re just sitting down to a romantic meal out when the

tenants call to say there’s a leak.If these scenarios sound familiar then see

if British Gas can help. British Gas has a nationwide team of experts there for you.

Here we reveal three ways they can help…

Promotional Feature

Five great reasons to choose British gas iF there’s a proBlem• Competitive fixed prices, no matter how complex the job• Boiler diagnostic and safety check, to quickly identify the problem• Parts and labour included2; so you avoid costly extras• 12 month guarantee on all work for peace of mind• A UK manned customer helpline open 24 hours a dayso why not keep this number handy, in case you need it during the winter months…

Five great reasons to choose landlord pro From British gas• Boilers, central heating, plumbing, drains and

electrics covered• Boiler gas safety certificate included• Unlimited call outs4, plus parts and labour

included• 24/7 manned customer helpline• 10% multi-property discount until 31st March

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Five great reasons to get your Boiler covered with British gas• Includes boiler repair and maintenance with

unlimited call outs4 plus parts and labour5

• An Annual Service and accidental damage cover• A 24 hour manned customer helpline• 6000 highly trained engineers ready to help• Engineers that call ahead so you can plan your day6

For one-off emergency boiler repairs call 0800 000 999

Find out more about all the services available from British Gas, from one-off repairs to ongoing care by visiting britishgas.co.uk

don’t miss our great winter ‘how to guides’ – coming soon in the daily express

(1) Price correct at time of print and applies to most households outside the M25. Prices for households within the M25 will vary. Subject to availability. (2) Terms and conditions apply, for details visit britishgas.co.uk/demand (3) Price available to new customers for the first year (paying by Direct Debit). Prices for households within the M25 vary. (4) Your breakdown history will be taken into account in determining next year’s pricing. (5) Limits and exclusions apply, see T&C’s at britishgas.co.uk/homecare-terms. (6) Excludes contracted out services. (7) Price available to new customers for the first year (paying by Direct Debit). Prices for households within the M25 vary. Only one Gas Boiler Safety Certificate (CP12) per HomeCare® package per property. (8) Introductory discount for landlords with 2-9 properties, offer ends 31st March 2014.

Landlord? Let British Gas take the strain