Ready & Sorted: Winter
Winter, sorted
Cold snaps, dead boilers and sulking heat pumps: how to keep a home warm and safe when the heating stops, and how to get it going again.
The guides
Heating and warmth
Which hand warmers are best? Rechargeable, reusable or disposable, and how to use them safely
Air-activated sachets for long days out, reusable click packs for short trips, rechargeables for frequent use. Use with gloves, never on bare skin.
Updated 1 October 2026
Heating and warmth
How to prepare for snow and ice: your home, path and car (UK)
Check the Met Office warning for your postcode, avoid non-essential driving, clear fresh snow early and never pour water on a path: it refreezes.
Updated 1 October 2026
Heating and warmth
How to keep warm in a power cut without heating: a safe plan for a cold snap
To keep warm in a power cut, wear thin layers, gather in one room and shut doors and curtains. Never use a barbecue or camping stove indoors.
Updated 30 September 2026
Heating and warmth
Does a heat pump work in a power cut? What happens, and how to stay warm
A heat pump stops in a power cut. Learn what happens to heating and hot water, when batteries help, how to restart, and how to stay warm safely.
Updated 30 September 2026
Heating and warmth
Will my boiler work in a power cut? Combi, system, oil and LPG explained
Most boilers stop in a power cut. See what happens to combi, system, oil and LPG boilers, what hot water remains, and how to restart safely.
Updated 30 September 2026
Get the free household plan
Two printable pages: your numbers, your kit, your plan. Free to download, no email needed.
Download the plan (PDF)Then, if you’d like, a short email every Thursday: what to get ready for next.
From our shop
The Essentials Kit puts the non-food essentials from the Prepare list in one bag. It isn’t on sale yet.
Layers first. Heroics never.