Winter Ready 2025: Essential Tips for Irish Homes with Calor

Essential winter checks for every home

Winter prep is a lot like a service for your car; routine checks that keep everything running smoothly when you need it most.

Insulation & draught proofing

A huge amount of household heat is lost through poor insulation and hidden draughts. In fact, SEAI warns that up to 25% of your home’s heat can escape through the roof if it isn’t properly insulated, while uninsulated walls can account for as much as 35% of heat loss.

That means even small upgrades can have a big impact:

• Walk through your home on a windy day with a lit candle or incense stick. If the flame flickers, you’ve found a draught.
• Add draught excluders, sealing strips or door snakes around doors and windows.
• Top up attic insulation to the recommended 300mm depth.
• Fit thermal-lined curtains or blinds to reduce heat loss through glass.
• If you don’t use your fireplace regularly, consider a chimney balloon to prevent warm air escaping.
• Place rugs on bare floors to reduce heat loss through uninsulated ground floors.
• Check loft hatches and around recessed lights, small gaps here can leak surprising amounts of warm air.

Improving insulation and sealing draughts not only keeps your home warmer and more comfortable, it also cuts fuel bills and reduces carbon emissions.

Service your boiler & heating system early

There’s never a good time for your boiler to stop working, but a breakdown on the coldest night of the year is the scenario every homeowner dreads. Servicing your boiler before winter is one of the simplest ways to avoid this and it offers multiple benefits:

• Efficiency: A clean, well-maintained boiler burns fuel more effectively, which can reduce your energy use and bills.
• Safety: Servicing checks for leaks, faulty components and carbon monoxide risks, giving you peace of mind.
• Reliability: Early detection of wear and tear prevents costly breakdowns later.
• Longevity: Regular maintenance extends the life of your heating system, delaying the need for a replacement.

Don’t wait for a full breakdown. Look out for these warning signs that your boiler may need servicing or even replacing:

• Strange noises such as banging, gurgling or whistling.
• Frequent loss of pressure or leaks around the system.
• Radiators take longer than usual to heat up.
• Hot water turning lukewarm or running out too quickly.
• A yellow flame instead of a strong blue flame.
• An unexplained rise in your fuel bills.

If your boiler is over 15 years old, replacement is often more cost-effective than repeated repairs. Modern condensing boilers are designed to be significantly more efficient, and when paired with LPG or BioLPG, they can lower both running costs and carbon emissions. Thinking ahead can save you money and hassle. Learn more in our guide to replacing your boiler before winter.

Protect pipes against frost

Frozen pipes are more than an inconvenience. When water expands as it freezes, pipes can crack or burst, leading to flooding, water damage and costly repairs. Insurance claims for burst pipes typically spike during cold snaps in Ireland, and repairs can run into the thousands. The good news? Prevention is straightforward.

• Insulate exposed pipes: Use foam lagging (pipe insulation sleeves) on outdoor or attic pipes to keep water flowing.
• Keep the heat ticking over: On freezing nights, set your heating to a low constant temperature instead of turning it off completely. This keeps water moving and reduces the chance of ice forming.
• Know your stopcock: Find the stop valve (usually under the sink or near where the mains water enters your home) and practice turning it off. In an emergency, acting quickly can limit damage.
• Leave taps dripping: In extreme cold, a gentle drip from the tap can help prevent pipes from freezing solid.
• Check outdoor taps: Disconnect and drain hoses, and insulate outdoor taps with covers.

A few minutes spent protecting pipes in autumn can prevent major disruption and save you from a freezing household mid-winter.

Bleed and balance your radiators

Your radiators are the final step in getting heat from your boiler into your living spaces. When they’re not working properly, your system has to work harder, costing you more while keeping you less comfortable.

Over time, air gets trapped in the system. This creates cold spots at the top of radiators, meaning they never fully heat. Bleeding removes this air and restores efficiency, helping your home warm up faster.

How to know it’s time:

• Radiators are hot at the bottom but cold at the top.
• You hear gurgling or knocking noises in your pipes.
• The system is slow to heat up, even when the boiler is working.

Sometimes, even after bleeding, some radiators heat more quickly than others. Balancing involves adjusting the valves so hot water flows evenly to every radiator. It’s a job for a plumber, but it can stop the problem of one room roasting while another stays chilly. Bleed your radiators at the start of each heating season, it only takes a radiator key and a few minutes. If you’re unsure, ask your plumber to show you during your boiler service.

Heating & energy tips for winter

When temperatures drop, energy use rises. Staying on top of your supply and making smart energy choices helps keep your home cosy without unnecessary worry.

• Check your LPG or BioLPG tank levels: In cold periods, usage spikes. It’s wise not to wait until you’re nearly empty, especially when storms in Ireland can obstruct delivery routes. If you track your tank levels weekly during winter, you can spot unusual usage (maybe a thermostat issue or heat leak) early and plan ahead for delivery.
• Choose automatic top-ups for peace of mind: With Calor’s automatic top-up service, we track your usage and schedule deliveries so you’re never caught short. It’s one less thing to think about when the weather turns.
• Practice smarter heating habits: Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can reduce heating bills by up to 10%. Use zoned heating to focus on the rooms you use most.
• Consider upgrading to BioLPG: For those thinking longer term, Calor offers BioLPG, a greener alternative to traditional LPG. Made from sustainable sources, it can reduce your home’s carbon emissions by up to 90%. The best part? It works seamlessly with your existing LPG system, no major changes required. Plus, upgrading to BioLPG now means you’re future-proofing your home as Ireland pushes towards its net-zero 2050 targets.

Safety & emergency preparedness

Winter storms and power outages are part of Irish life now. Even well-prepared homes benefit from a backup plan.

Carbon monoxide safety

With boilers and fuel systems in use, carbon monoxide (CO) risk rises.

• Install CO alarms near sleeping areas and test them monthly.
• Replace batteries annually.
• Always use appliances in well-ventilated areas and have them serviced by licensed professionals.

Build an emergency kit

When power goes out, sometimes for hours or even days, being prepared makes all the difference. Some essentials to consider include: 

• Spare Calor cylinders or a portable heater.
• LED torches and spare batteries. (candles pose fire risks)
• Fully charged power banks.
• Bottled water and non-perishable food.
• Warm blankets and layered clothing.
• A stocked first-aid kit and essential medication.

Create a storm plan 

In the event of severe weather or grid outages:

• Keep a printed contact list for Calor’s 24/7 emergency line, your GP, and emergency services. 
• If you’re rural, check your access routes and keep tools (like a handsaw or shovel) handy for fallen trees or snow.
• Let a neighbour know your plan for severe weather. Local support networks are invaluable during storms in Ireland.

Visit our dedicated safety hub for more tips on keeping your home safe during winter and beyond.

Winter ready for off-grid homes in Ireland

Life in a rural or off-grid home comes with many benefits; space, privacy, and a closer connection to nature. But it also brings unique challenges in winter.

Common challenges off-grid families face, include:

• Delivery delays due to snow or flooding.
• Longer periods without mains electricity during storms.
• Limited access to emergency services or repair crews.

Unlike electricity, LPG and BioLPG are not dependent on the grid. They reliably power central heating, hot water, cookers and even backup generators- perfect for rural households. With flexible tank sizes and cylinder options, Calor ensures every rural or remote household can find a solution that fits. And for complete peace of mind, our 24/7 emergency support line means help is always just a phone call away, even in the most rural corners of the country.

How Calor can help Irish families this winter

Choosing Calor means more than arranging fuel deliveries. It means knowing you’ve got:

• Reliable nationwide supply, even in storms.
• A dedicated customer care team available around the clock.
• All new Calor customers now receive a 10% blend of renewable BioLPG.
• Over 85 years of experience supporting Irish households.

Whether you need advice on switching to BioLPG, a new boiler, or just peace of mind during storm season, our team of home energy experts are here to help.