Being the coldest winter in 30 years damp and cold related illness is on the increase. In the UK damp and cold related illness costs the NHS an estimated £1 billion to treat each year so help keep your family healthy this winter by following some of the advice below.

It is said that 50% of the heat in a typical home is lost through the walls and roof making insulating your home  hugely important. With this in mind, the government has asked the big energy suppliers to help people save money and energy. Being one of the biggest suppliers in the UK, npower has introduced a scheme throughout the UK called ‘Health Through Warmth’ which is free if the resident is over 70, is in receipt of certain benefits or is on a certain income. The scheme has helped more than 50,000 vulnerable people and homes to get better insulation helping to prevent the likelihood of developing damp and cold related illness.

The most affected people by far are the elderly and illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, eczema and heart disease can sometimes be fatal coupled with the mental stress caused by worry about the cost of heating. This highlights that something had to be done on a large scale to protect the vulnerable and help improve the lives of thousands of people. Each case is looked at on an individual basis and funding is sought from a variety of sources  including government grants, charitable funds and the npower crisis fund which helps to finance necessary insulation and heating measures.

The recommended amount of loft insulation is 270mm and normally costs around £150 depending on the size of the house and with an annual saving of up to £170 per year it could easily pay for itself and with the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly, it really is a small price to pay for better health both for you, your family and your home.

Related posts:

1. Fixing Rising Damp – Damp Course and Damp Proof Membranes
2. How To Tackle Rising Damp In Your Home
3. Don’t Get Left Out In The Cold With Roofing Work This Winter
4. Consumer Focus Call For Gas and Electricity Companies to Cut Fuel Bills
5. The 1st of October : “Central Heating Day”