December 1 means advent calendars and excitement for some, but marks the start of the dreaded colder months for others, as Tuesday is the start of the meteorological winter.

British Gas expects its engineers in Uxbridge to be busy as they work together to help customers stay safe and warm in their homes.

Sheena Anker, a British Gas engineer based in Uxbridge , said: “Winter-proofing your home can make a real difference in keeping warm as the temperatures drop.

“We’d encourage people to do some simple checks around the house that can help keep homes cosy as the days get colder.

During winter 2014, British Gas fixed 1.8 million boilers and received 3.6 million customer service calls.

Ms Anker added: “There’s also plenty of help available from British Gas on our website, including practical tips for keeping your home warm this winter. Here are some of my top tips to get you started.”

Here are the top tips for staying warm this winter:

  1. Love your boiler: Check to make sure your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler the more inefficient it will be. If you have a pressure gauge make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.
  2. Wrap up your water tank and insulate hot water: The materials can be purchased from most DIY stores and help to conserve heat and save you money.
  3. Insulate your pipes: Burst pipes are a huge issue for UK households during winter months. To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from most DIY shops.
  4. Save money on bills by insulating your home free of charge: If your home is suitable, you could save as much as £160 a year by getting your cavity walls insulated and as much as £140 by getting your loft insulated. Click here for more information.
  5. Block the breeze: Make sure all of your home’s windows and doors seal properly to stop warm air escaping. For those that don’t, fitting draught excluders, which you can buy from most DIY stores, is a quick and cheap way to cut down on your energy bills.