Tips for heating a student house

The winter months are upon us and the temperature is starting to drop. For students this time of year is when they tend to spend more of their loans and grants in order to keep their student accommodation warm. Cover4students has put some useful tips together in order to help students keep warm over the cold winter months ahead

• Check your insulation: Make sure you and all your housemates are shutting windows and doors properly. If there is a gap and a draught getting through, get some cheap draught proofing strips and fill it up. Alternatively, use your housemate's socks, that they keep leaving round the house.
• Put clingfilm on windows:  If you put a sheet of clingfilm over a draughty window this should trap a small layer of air creating a second layer of glazing, which will stop heat escaping. 
• Use Central heating rather than Electric heaters: Electric heaters tend to be one of the most expensive forms of heating, so best to use the central heating but make sure that you use the thermostat settings in rooms and/or on radiator valves so that you are not heating rooms or areas that aren't in use rather than just the main thermostat control.
• Put  a reflective panel behind your radiators: This will reflect heat back into the room rather than escaping through the wall.
• Close doors:  Close your doors to keep the heat in, this will also let the heat circulate around your room rather than escape into the halls and landing areas.
• Hot water bottles: Hot water bottles will help warm up your bed before you get in it and also provide a source of heat during the night. You don't want to leave the heating on all night as this will cost you a small fortune, you should set it to a temperature so that it kicks in if the temperature drops too much. This will also help prevent your pipes from freezing.
• Extra layers: That extra jumper, duvet and blanket can make you a lot warmer. Two pairs of socks is always a good move as well.
• Hot drinks: Nobody doubts tea is an essential part of British culture and it can also serve as a hearty, warming beverage. Although hot drinks don’t technically warm your body, they warm your mouth which can act as a placebo for the rest of your body.
• Go to the library: Pack your books up and get to the library. You’re paying £9,000 a year so why not make use of the heating and electricity provided by the university?
• Leave the oven door open after cooking: Although your oven may only be used to heat up leftover takeaways or a frozen pizza, leaving it open afterwards creates warm flow of air.
• To the pub! Perhaps the library: would be the better option in regards to your education but the pub should never be ruled out. It’s warm and is full of alcohol. Plus, would you rather spend money on heating or beer? 
• Switch energy suppliers: According to ofgem you could save up to £300 by switching suppliers.  Compare energy suppliers 

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