Finding the cash to heat your home can be a real issue in the cost of living crisis, as families face bills nearly double the amount that they were last winter.
With the energy price cap standing at £4,279 for the year, households do get some relief against spiralling bills, in the form of the energy price guarantee (EPG) which caps average bills at around £2500 per year and the £400 energy rebate, paid as a monthly £66 or £67 until March 1. But there's no disguising the fact that last year's energy price cap was £1,277, leaving hard-up bill payers feeling the pinch as we go into the two coldest months of the year.
The internet is awash with tips on how to save heating bills - some better than others - but the wilder claims of saving hundreds of pounds per month are probably far wide of the mark. However, there are some things you can do which, while may not save you a fortune on their own, can generate cost reductions if you have a go at a few of them at the same time.
Read more: Help you can get from British Gas, EDF and Shell if you're struggling to pay your energy bills
We've gone around your house to see where you can cut back room by room, with help from Brandon Hire Station.
Living Room
Tinfoil insulation - While it might not be the best look in the world, using tin foil behind radiators can help reflect heat back into the room, retaining the warmth and preventing it from escaping through the walls. If you want to maximise the savings, go DIY by covering a thin sheet of cardboard with tinfoil and stick it behind your radiators. You can also buy pre-made foil insulation such as this if you would rather buy ready made.
Floating shelves - Staying with the radiators, strategically placing shelves above your radiator will not only add more storage space around your home but will push the heat into the room, stopping it from rising up to the ceiling where you can’t feel it.
Kitchen
Use your oven - If you usually close the oven door when you've finished cooking, think again. Leaving the oven door open is a good way to let the heat you have already paid for shift throughout the kitchen slowly, rather than wasting it.
Bedroom
Thermal curtains - Using thermal-lined curtains retains heat in your home, or you can use blackout curtains for a cheaper alternative. Keep the curtains open during the day to allow the sun to shine through, but remember to close them mid-afternoon to keep the heat inside, especially when the heating is on.
Bedding - Make sure you use a winter duvet on cold nights. Other ways to keep you warm throughout the night are electric blankets, which cost just pennies to run, and thicker, brushed or 'teddy' bedding.
Bathroom
Reseal windows - Cold air can enter your bathroom through cracks on the edges of your bathroom window, as over time the silicone sealant can deteriorate. By resealing the window edges you can stop the heat from escaping and it is a simple DIY job. Another option to stop heat seeping through windows is to apply self-adhesive foam tape around the window frame.
Clean and dry - if you take baths, switch to showers. If you already take showers, try to cut down on the length of time you spend in it, especially if you have an electric shower, which can cost as much as 61p for a 10-minute shower if you have a powerful 10.8kW model. You can find out more about shower costs here and you can het a free shower timer from Northumbrian Water here to help you keep on track.
Hallway
Insulate doors - The smallest gap around your door can allow the heat from your home to escape. If you install weather stripping between the door and frame you can prevent heat from escaping. A good door should fit snugly into its frame; if it opens too easily, chances are that it’s letting heat out. Another way to check is to place your hand over the part where the door meets the frame, if you can feel even a slight draft your door needs to be insulated.
Attic
DIY loft insulation - Hot air rises, meaning a poorly insulated loft can result in your home rapidly losing heat making it harder for your home to retain heat. However, loft insulation can be expensive. A cheap solution is to use loft insulation foam rolls, but other materials such as mineral wool or recycled paper can also be used. Three rolls of 8in deep foam should be enough to give most lofts an important layer of protection.
Now read:
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