Research reveals the top 50 most annoying things about winter
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Scraping ice off the car, having to get into a freezing bed at night - and your cuppa going cold quicker than usual are among Brits’ biggest winter bugbears.
A study of 2,000 adults also found that brollies being blown inside out by the wind and constantly having chapped lips are among the 50 worst things about the chilly season.
And at a time of year when we’re most likely to seek refuge from the weather indoors, it seems Brits often get wound up by things in and around the home.
Having to get out of a warm, cosy bed when the house is freezing cold, having higher heating bills to pay, the laundry taking too long to dry and draughts around the house also featured on the list.
And with eight in 10 enjoying nothing more than curling up on the sofa in their warm home when the weather sets in, one in four said a broken boiler would be their ‘worst nightmare’ - especially over the festive period.
Sheena Anker, service and repair engineer for British Gas, which commissioned the research, said: “There’s plenty to like about winter - although, as our survey found, there are also plenty of things that aren’t quite so popular.
“Around the home at least, there are some simple steps people can take to help make sure their heating system is working effectively and efficiently.
"As well as keeping everyone warm and safe, a system that’s in good shape will keep bills down, too.”
The study also found that on average, Brits get wound up by something winter-related six times a week.
And it takes just five weeks after the official ‘start’ of winter on December 1 for people to feel sick of it and wish for spring to arrive.
While 17 per cent suffer with cabin fever from not spending enough time outside, the flipside for 30 per cent is a fear of leaving the house when there’s slippery, and potentially dangerous, ice outside.
In fact, 48 per cent said given the choice, they’d prefer to batten down the hatches entirely and hibernate for the whole season.
It also emerged that one in five adults can’t stand not seeing daylight before or after work.
And a further four in 10 feel unhappier in winter than they do in summer.
A fifth think they are less productive, and more than a third confess to doing less exercise during the colder months.
In fact, one in 10 have even moved to a different country to escape Britain’s bleak winters, and another third are considering it.
To help create a haven for themselves on cold nights, a third of Brits have already bled their radiators this year, and another quarter plan to.
One in five have been busy fitting draught excluders around the house and three in 10 have insulated their hot water systems to protect them from the cold.
But 34 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, admit they are yet to have their boiler serviced this year, putting themselves at risk of a heating or hot water crisis.
And if simple heating-related problems like frozen pipes were to arise in the home during winter, more than half of the nation wouldn’t feel able to resolve them without calling on an engineer for help.
Sheena added: “It’s encouraging to see that lots of people are proactively making sure their homes can withstand the weather, to reduce the likelihood of a heating or hot water crisis in the coming weeks and months.
“During the now-legendary Beast from East, frozen pipes were the most common problem faced by our customers.
"Wrapping your pipes up warm is the best way to stop the water inside from freezing - and insulating materials are an easy, cost-effective solution, available from most hardware stores.
“Regular boiler servicing is another tried and tested way to spot any small problems before they become big ones, and turning your central heating on for at least an hour a day - even if you’re away - will help keep it running smoothly."THE TOP 50 MOST ANNOYING THINGS ABOUT WINTER:1. The days being too short2. Having higher heating bills to pay3. Missing the sun4. Scraping ice off the car windscreen5. Dangerous driving conditions6. Always being cold7. Falling, slipping and sliding on ice8. Having to get out of bed when the house is freezing cold9. Hanging laundry indoors and it taking ages to dry10. Getting out of the shower when it's cold11. Having wet feet / shoes from snow and rain12. Not being able to get warm13. The boiler breaking / heating not working14. Everyone has a runny nose and sniffles15. Not seeing daylight before and after work16. The car taking ages to warm up17. Having dry skin18. Hands being too cold to do anything19. Getting into a cold bed at night20. Draughts around the house21. Christmas music, again and again and again22. When it's too windy to use an umbrella23. People are grumpier24. Having chapped lips25. Having a cold for what seems like the entirety of winter26. Shops are always packed with people doing their Christmas shopping27. Having to wear multiple layers28. Going shopping when it's freezing outside and far too hot in the shops29. Never getting any fresh air because it's too cold to open the windows30. Sludgy leaves on the pavements31. Traffic being worse than usual32. Having to wear more clothes around the house33. Cabin fever from not being able to go outdoors enough34. Overindulgence and putting on weight35. Eyes watering every time you go outside36. Public transport struggling and being busier than usual37. Writing Christmas cards38. Having to think about what to wear on a night out when it's cold39. Worrying about old people/older relatives40. Being too hot on busy public transport with a coat on41. Having dry and frizzy hair42. Having to wear socks or tights43. Shovelling snow in the mornings44. Inability to use a smartphone with gloves on45. Walking the dog in the cold46. Having to put on extra layers to take out the bins47. Spending too much money on other people48. Your tea goes cold quicker49. Suffering from vitamin D deficiency50. Having the same conversations with colleagues about the weather