Winter Chill? Use Fischer’s Tips and Tricks to Keep Warm in 2024

A yellow warning sign stating 'cold weather ahead' within a snowy backdrop.

The UK is experiencing it’s annual freeze and this year temperatures feel a little lower than usual.

The average temperature last month in January is usually between a high of 7C and a low of 0C. This year, it’s dipped as low as -7C!

This time last year, in January 2023, around 1 in 5 adults reported that they were occasionally, hardly ever or never able to keep comfortably warm over a period of two weeks.

 So to stop a repeat of the same issue, we’ve compiled a list of tricks to get through the chilling conditions.

Add Some Layers

It’s an age old comment, always expected when complaining about being cold:

‘put a jumper on’ 

It’s simple but effective. When it gets cold, there is no such thing as too many layers. It’s important to keep in mind that several thin layers work better than big ones, as the warm air is trapped more efficiently. And thinner layers allow you to keep some level of mobility.

When layering, don’t forget about your head and shoulders. Keeping a scarf, hat or  blanket handy around the house can also provide an extra or emergency degree of comfort. 

 

Draftproofing

The cold air will do everything it takes to get into your home. Any small opening is going to let a draft in and add to any chill.

Commonly these are found in your: windows, doors and chimneys. Tackling the windows with self adhesive strips can stop simple drafts or going the whole shebang and installing energy-efficient windows (double or triple glazing). If upgrading the windows is out is outside the realm of possibility, heavy curtains will work wonders for getting the cold out.

 If you don’t use your chimney, it’s worth either capping off the chimney pot or filling in the fireplace. 

 

Don’t Neglect The Heating 

It might seem obvious but turning the heating on, just for a short while will work wonders. Electric heating feature room by room control so you can comfortably and safely heat the room you are using, without worrying about wasting energy heating empty rooms. 

Most electric heating doesn’t need to be constantly drawing energy to give off heat. With Fischers 40mm HeatCore, the heater will keep you warm long after it’s been switched off. 

 

Comfort Food

Stocking up on the soups, stews and broths and work over the winter months might seem like overkill, but a warm hearty soup will provide warmth on the inside and out. It can be an idea to get experimental in the kitchen when the temperatures drop, oven heat is as good as any and the longer you are cooking, the more heat is going to be provided. 

Ps. Keeping the over door open and releasing that pent up heat after dishing up will give the home a welcome boost of warmth.

Get Up and Move

Keeping active and getting the blood pumping will provide you with a good source of heat. Avoid staying stationary for extended periods of time and walk around at least once an hour. 

There are plenty of indoor exercises to keep you moving without venturing into the cold outside. Even ones you can do from the comfort of your home, and to take it one step further, sat down!

 

 

Warming Myths to Avoid In The Cold Snap

 

There are still myths out there that should be avoided when it comes to trying to keep warm. Some might even make matters worse. We can help break fact from fiction by going through some of the most common warming myths out there.

 

Alcohol warms you up

If you’ve been out in the snow, what could be better than a nip of something alcoholic to warm you up? Hipflasks have been carried in the mountains since the 18th Century and mulled wine is still popular in ski resorts today as people come off the slopes from a long day skiing and head into a bar to warm up.

Alcohol can reduce the natural shivering response of the body and make you ‘think’ you are warming up.

It warms the skin but not the core temperature of your body, which is the important part. The alcohol sends blood towards the surface of the skin, making you flush. If you touch your face it will feel hotter. The problem is by doing this, the blood has now moved away from the main parts of your body, dropping your core temperature.

You Lose Most Of Your Heat Through Your Head

All you need is a hat and you’ll warm right up. That’s a tip just about everyone has been told in the past. Just putting a hat on to cure any slight chill dates back to the 1970s when a US army survival guide recommended covering your head because you lose ’40-45%’ of heat from it.

It’s been a long time since the 1970s. Multiple studies have taken place debunking the myth. One even claims that if that percentage of heat loss were correct, humans would be just as cold without a hat as they would be if they left the house without wearing any trousers!

 

The More Layers The Better

This myth isn’t exactly untrue. Wearing and adding a never ending amount of layers is going to keep you warm. But you don’t need to put on 15 big jumpers to feel the benefits.

As we mentioned, several thin layers work better than big ones, as the warm air is trapped more efficiently. And thinner layers allow you to keep some level of mobility, so you aren’t stuck walking around like a scarecrow. 

 

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