Plenty of companies offer excellent value for money across Co. Wicklow

WE’VE seen some pretty chilly weather of late. Waking up to see the garden laden with frost and the car frozen solid leave us in no doubt of what time of year it is. While ordinarily, we might be grabbing some breakfast and a hot cup of tea before heading off to work, unfortunately, the Covid-19 situation means that the vast majority of us are now stuck at home.

For many, the commute is now a much shorter affair - opening up a laptop at the kitchen table and getting to work. Far from getting their uniforms on and heading out the door, the kids are now learning plonked in their pyjamas in front of a laptop screen.

Although strange for us all, and with a very real risk of cabin fever setting in, the very least we can do is make sure our house is a nice warm and cosy space to work in right? For that reason, it’s important to ensure that you are well stocked up. Whatever your means of heating your home is, make sure you are prepared in advance. If you’re a sucker for an open fire, make sure you have plenty of coal, blocks and kindling bought in in advance and don’t let yourself run out. Similarly with home heating oil, be sure to monitor your levels so that you’re not left for long without.

Across Co Wicklow, there are many companies selling home heating oil and fuel who have scarcely been so busy. With people staying in and working from home, homes need to be warm for longer periods of the day. It’s therefore important to have all your ducks in a row and to leave yourself plenty of time to get your delivery in.

Heating your home can be an expensive thing. While there are plenty of companies who offer excellent value for money, when you’re scarcely leaving the house, you’ll find that you’ll burn through your reserves at a rapid pace. There are little things you can do to save yourself money though. Having thicker curtains and ensuring they are pulled in the evenings will help keep the heat in. Covering up exposed pipes will stop heat escaping. Draught excluders will stop heat escaping out through the gaps in your doors and window frames and turning your thermostat down by just one degree can actually save you up to €100 per year!

If you are one of those working from home, there are also tax reliefs you can avail of. You’re employer may pay up to €3.20 per day without deducting PAYE, PRSI or USC to cover additional costs such as heating. If your employer doesn’t make this payment, you can claim a percentage of your allowable costs. Information on all of this is available on revenue.ie.

In the meantime, there are plenty of Wicklow companies who will offer you the very best value for money when it comes to heating your home and will be able to draw on years of experience to advise you on exactly what you need to ensure that you and your family are nice and toasty for the rest of lockdown and whatever else the winter may throw at us.