Heating tips for the elderly - How to look after your #ManOnTheMoon.
Unfortunately the title heating tips for the elderly is not very flattering and in most cases the older generation has more experience with heating systems as they have generally had possibly more than one boiler in their lifetime. Whilst we would love to end this guide now by recommending booking a cruise somewhere nice and warm till the cold weather passes and the hot weather returns, its just not always practical due to the long periods of time the UK winter covers, so here are our heating tips for the elderly.
At Mr Central Heating we often take calls from customers who could be on their third boiler from us and it is always interesting to see the way the boiler has performed over its lifetime and how good it has been. In most cases it is positive and they often want a replacement, like for like.
Unfortunately, things have moved on in the last ten years and with condensing and now ErP boilers it is quite difficult to get an exact swap out but we can definitely suggest the easiest and best replacement. The topic for this blog is important now and for you man or woman on the moon it is important to get them set for the winter. The reason being is that most elderly people do not complain and do not want to be a burden and most can actually go out and do it themselves.
Being in a cold house or without hot water is pretty critical to ones well being and why wait until the cold winter is upon us and do not leave it up to a person at risk to tell you, go and check or get an engineer in to check the health of the boiler or system. If you are an older adult, are more than capable of sorting out your central heating, and have access to the internet then there are a few tips to making sure your boiler is going to last the winter.
Firstly make sure it has been serviced recently and it always works when you need it too. If it is a combination boiler or conventional and you have only been using it for hot water then turn on the central heating just to test it. Make sure all the radiators get hot and you can switch between heating and hot water settings. If you have a programmer it might be worthwhile setting the heating to come on early morning at a low temperature for 1 hour or so. If you experience any issues with the boiler or smell gas then call you local installer or your local Mr Central Heating shop and we will recommend you an installer for piece of mind. Depending where you live will also depend what sort of extreme or severe weather you will get. In most parts of Scotland and Northern England and Wales the temperature can drop well below 10*C so make sure that any outside pipework is insulated and the drains and waste pipes are free from debris. Freezing pipework is the main call out for plumbers during rough weather and making sure you have everything insulated is key. we have some great high quality Class O lagging that will survive any of the UK’s harshest weather.
With all things it is better to be prepared and look at the worst case scenario, and as in last year it is not just cold anymore but water and flooding. There are loads of ways to make sure that you are not caught out by a broken boiler and it is not just John Lewis that can look after the man in the moon you also can make sure that if you read this article and you know anyone that is vulnerable this winter you make sure that they are ready for what could be a cold one.
As we age we are also more likely to suffer from health conditions. For many people these health problems can be made worse if the home is damp and cold. While elderly people have a slightly lower body temperature, the real reason many older people refrain from running their heating system in the winter to help reduce heating costs.
There are many health risks associated with the cold and it is not always the best idea to avoid heating your home. It's worth spending the money you receive for your winter fuel payment (if you are eligible). For those with elderly family members or loved ones it is worth checking in with them regularly in the winter months to ensure that they are fine whether at home, or if at an assisted living center such as a senior center. It is common for people to stay indoors more in the winter, and as we age, so a cold home can cause health issues such as blood circulation and can even affect mental health.
Because the body's ability to recover from illness reduces as we age, it is very important to maintain higher temperatures in the home to help reduce the possibility of becoming sick in the first place or exacerbate existing chronic medical conditions and warning signs. A cold home also increases the chances of damp and the heating should be switch on periodically to keep the home dry and comfortable. For older individuals the guidelines recommended heating the home to around 21° degree centigrade or around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You may not want to heat the entire home all the time and in these cases on way to save money on your heating bill is to just heat one or two rooms in the home. Typically the hottest part of the home is the living room or kitchen since this is the area we spent most of our time so you should at least heat these areas.
Age UK offers some great advice on keeping warm in the winter. Complete with a downloadable guide. and we recommend visiting their site, our guide is heating tips for the elderly.
