Skip to main content
Home
  • Home
  • About us
    Back
    About us
      • Our people
      • Our fire stations
      • Fleet and equipment
      • How we respond to emergency calls
      • Community Risk Management Plan
      • In your area
      • Information and data transparency
      • What we spend
      • Our performance
      • Request information
      • Have your say
        Back
        Have your say
        • Community conversations
        • Complaints
        • Compliments
      • Developing our Service
      • Our environmental strategy
      • Equality and diversity
      • Work with us
      • Covid-19 response
      • Fire Authority
      • Fire, rescue and safety training (Red One)
      • Firefighters' pensions board
  • Newsroom
    Back
    Newsroom
    Pete Bond
    Staff story
    24 Mar 2023

    Assistant Chief Fire Officer Pete Bond looks back on over 25 years in the fire and rescue service

    Ed stood outside 10 Downing Street
    News
    17 Mar 2023

    Ed receives Queen's Commendation for Bravery

    • Incidents
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media
  • Safety advice
    Back
    Safety advice
      • Safety at home
        Back
        Safety at home
        • How to stay safe
        • Smoke alarms
        • Home safety visits
        • Risks in your home
        • Advice for carers
        • Advice for parents
      • Business safety
        Back
        Business safety
        • Risk assessments
        • High rise buildings
        • Guidance for businesses
        • Landlords and holiday lets
        • Inspections and enforcement
      • Safety outdoors
      • Safety on the road
  • Careers
    Back
    Careers
      • Vacancies
      • Become an on-call firefighter
        Back
        Become an on-call firefighter
        • Application process (on-call)
        • On-call firefighter pay
        • On-call vacancies
        • How on-call firefighters benefit businesses
      • Become a wholetime firefighter
        Back
        Become a wholetime firefighter
        • Application process (wholetime)
      • The role of a firefighter
      • The role of a fire control operator
        Back
        The role of a fire control operator
        • Become a fire control operator
      • Support staff roles
      • Looking after our people
        Back
        Looking after our people
        • Embracing equal opportunities
        • Supporting women in the Service
      • Pay rates
      • Benefits
      • Request a careers talk
  • Education and young people
    Back
    Education and young people
      • Early years, reception and year one
      • Primary schools
        Back
        Primary schools
        • Fire and road safety resources
        • Great Fire of London
        • Primary school fire safety visits
      • Secondary schools
      • Fire starting behaviour in children
      • Young drivers
      • Join the fire cadets
      • Work experience
      • Fire station visits by youth groups
Search

People often search for...

When should I test my smoke alarm?
Home safety visits
Thatch fire safety
Report a problem with a fire hydrant
How safe is my heater?
Chimney fires

Contact

  • Contact us
Accessibility Tool
  • Zoom in
  • Zoom out
  • Reset
  • Contrast
  • Accessibility help

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. What safety advice are you looking for?
  3. Stay warm safely this winter
FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsappMessenger Share

Stay warm safely this winter

You might be thinking about making a few changes at home to bring down the price of your energy bills and adapt to the cost of living. It’s important that you do this safely.

Think fire safety when saving money

Early detection can save lives

One important thing to do is to fit a working smoke alarm on every level of your property so you’re alerted quickly in the event of a fire. Read our smoke alarm advice.

Burning any fuel means there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

We recommend you have a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where fuel is burnt.

You should have an alarm in every room containing:

  • boilers
  • cookers
  • ovens
  • open fires
  • wood burners.

Choose safe heating methods

If you’re able to switch off certain radiators in some rooms this could save you money. You could also keep doors shut to retain heat.

You may want to use a portable heater but bear in mind this may be just as costly as using central heating. There are a few general safety rules that apply to all portable heaters, but there are also some types that are safer than others. If you’re looking to use an existing heater or buy a new one, read our blog to find out which type of heater is the safest.

Safety advice for using portable heaters

Grey
  • Buy heaters brand new from a trustworthy retailer. We recommend an oil-filled radiator rather than anything with a visible heating element. Choose a heater with a trip switch (this means it will switch off if knocked over).
  • Whatever type of heater you have, always place it on a flat surface, at least one metre (3.3 feet) away from anything flammable.
  • Register the heater when you purchase it, so you’ll be made aware of any product recalls.

You should never:

  • use any heaters that are faulty, or have broken or damaged wiring
  • use your heater to dry your washing
  • cover your heater.

Never use BBQs, camping stoves or patio heaters for heat indoors. These are designed for use outdoors in well-ventilated areas. They pose a fire risk and a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Using open fires or log/wood burner

Grey
  • Getting your chimney swept (by a professional chimney sweep) is the most important thing to do before you start using your fire. Dirty chimneys can lead to chimney fires, which will cost you a lot more money than the cost of a sweep. 
  • It’s also important to make sure you’re burning the correct fuel. Some types of wood can be highly toxic when burned, so you can’t just burn anything. You must burn seasoned (specially dried) wood, smokeless fuels or coal.

Read more about chimney safety and find out how often you should be sweeping your chimney.

Using items which need power or charging

Grey

Be wary of electrical/chargeable ways of heating yourself, such as heated throws, jackets and gloves, that use electricity to build heat. Anything that heats up needs a lot of electricity and could be a fire risk. Follow our electrical safety advice about charging devices.

You may also consider using electric blankets or wheat bags to stay warm, both of these need to be used carefully.

  • Heat wheat bags according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Never use wheat bags as bed warmers because when insulated by bedding they can continue to heat, which could result in a fire.
  • Follow our electric blanket safety advice.

Emollients and staying warm safely

If you or a loved one uses emollients (special skin moisturising treatments used to treat various skin conditions), you should be aware that they make clothing and bedding extremely flammable. Make sure anyone using emollients sits a safe distance away from fires or heaters, and also take extra care when cooking or using candles. Read more about emollients.
 

Use candles safely or avoid using them altogether

Take extreme care with candles. They should only be used when you are in the same room.

Always place them in a heat-proof holder, and keep them well away from shelves, curtains, furnishings and books.

The safest way to use candles is to buy battery-powered versions. Most importantly they have almost no fire risk at all, plus they’ll last longer and are better for the environment because you can replace the battery (recycle or recharge it) and continue to reuse the candle.

Safe storage of fuel

If you need to store petrol or diesel, you must take care. These substances are extremely flammable, and if they are not stored correctly, could start a fire.

Read more about safer storage of fuel.

Worried about costs or paying your heating bills?

We have advice and links for local and national help.

Online home safety check

Find out more

Home safety advice

Find out more

How fire safe is your heater? Different types and top tips

Find out more

Footer menu

  • Home
  • About us
      • Our people
      • Our fire stations
      • Fleet and equipment
      • How we respond to emergency calls
      • Community Risk Management Plan
      • In your area
      • Information and data transparency
      • What we spend
      • Our performance
      • Request information
      • Have your say
      • Developing our Service
      • Our environmental strategy
      • Equality and diversity
      • Work with us
      • Covid-19 response
      • Fire Authority
      • Fire, rescue and safety training (Red One)
      • Firefighters' pensions board
    • Newsroom
      • Incidents
      • News
      • Events
      • Social media
    • Safety advice
        • Safety at home
        • Business safety
        • Safety outdoors
        • Safety on the road
    • Careers
        • Vacancies
        • Become an on-call firefighter
        • Become a wholetime firefighter
        • The role of a firefighter
        • The role of a fire control operator
        • Support staff roles
        • Looking after our people
        • Pay rates
        • Benefits
        • Request a careers talk
    • Education and young people
        • Early years, reception and year one
        • Primary schools
        • Secondary schools
        • Fire starting behaviour in children
        • Young drivers
        • Join the fire cadets
        • Work experience
        • Fire station visits by youth groups

Translate the website

Footer contact

  • Contact us

Staff login

Always call 999 in an emergency

Did you find this page useful

  • Yes
  • No

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Follow us
  • Print this page

Footer bottom

  • Our website
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies
  • Privacy notices
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Accessibility

Disability Confident employer logoEmployers Network for Equality and Inclusion logoBritish Quality Foundation logoEmployers network for equality and inclusion logoFire pride and allies logo