KNOWING how to keep warm without your energy bills soaring is definitely vital knowledge right now.
A property expert has shared some handy tips on how to warm your cold house this winter.
TikTok/ThatPropertyGuyKeeping energy bills low this winter is a priority for everyone – here are some tips[/caption]
TikTok/ThatPropertyGuyA property expert has shared his top tips to save money this winter[/caption]
The top tips come from That Property Guy on TikTok, otherwise known as Kyle Mattison.
He lists 10 ways that you can still stay cosy at home but without it costing the earth.
The tips range from easy fixes to some DIY jobs that could save you cash.
At the moment average energy bills are capped at £2,500, but that’s just the unit charge.
How much you pay can be higher depending on usage, so it does pay to keep it as low as possible.
Households are trying to cut back as much as possible during the colder months when bills are typically higher.
Putting the heating on is one of the biggest drains on your energy bill anyway, Kyle’s tips could help you save money and energy.
Here’s Kyle’s list of the 10 things you can do to keep your house warm this winter.
Bleed your radiators
Kyle says bleeding your radiators is a good way to make them run more efficiently.
Bleeding a radiator is a quick job that takes seconds to do, but many people can forget.
By bleeding them, you are removing trapped air that can create cold spots and stop your radiator working at its best.
All you need is a radiator key and some old clothes or sheets to catch any water that comes out.
Never bleed a radiator when the boiler is on as you may risk scalding yourself.
Experts say bleeding your radiator at least once a year is a must, otherwise they won’t work in keeping your home warm, regardless of how long you keep your boiler on.
If it’s your first time bleeding a radiator, there are plenty of free videos on YouTube to show you the ropes.
Boost your radiators
He also says that by sticking reflective foil behind your radiator, you can effectively reflect heat back into the room.
Putting radiator foil – or tin foil if you’re on a tight budget – behind your radiator would work for this.
It works by reflecting the hot air coming from the back of your radiator back into the room, instead of your radiator blowing hot air at the wall.
This means that you won’t be wasting energy – and adding money onto your bill.
Simply put sellotape on the corner of the foil and pop it behind your radiator.
British Gas says the trick could save you over £25 a year.
You can by radiator reflector panels for as little as £7.99 from Screwfix. The exact cost will depend on how much you need and where you buy it from.
But you don’t have to fork out as much to complete the tip – at Asda foil costs only 68p and will work just as effectively.
Thermostatic valves
Kyle recommends installing thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on all of your radiators to avoid wasting energy.
With TRVs households can set the temperature of each room individually, so they’re not wasting energy – and cash – on heating spaces that are empty.
Despite potentially saving a fortune, the valves can be picked up for less than £4.
Programme your thermostat
The property pro says that programming your thermostat can ensure you’re not wasting money throughout the day.
Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by just one degree can save you over £100 a year, according to experts.
Most households will regularly set their thermostat above 22°C, especially as the colder weather sets in.
When it comes to your thermostat, Energy Saving Trust recommends you should set it to the “lowest comfortable temperature”.
For most of us this is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
Close curtains and blinds
Another handy tip is to keep all curtains and blinds closed so that you can keep the heat inside your home.
The thicker our curtains are the more they’ll stop heat from escaping, especially if you have drafty windows.
Give radiators space
Having your furniture too close to your radiators can also be a waste of money.
The furniture is absorbing the heat as it come out of the radiator and stopping it from spreading into the room.
Consider rejigging your room to allow the heat to cover all bases.
If you can’t rejig your furniture, you should at least allow for breathing room by creating a gap between the radiator and obstruction.
Insulate walls, pipes and loft
Kyle says that insulating wall, pipes and your loft can be “very” cost effective.
Installing installation in these parts of your home can prevent draughts flowing through the gaps and keep your house warm.
Most DIY stores sell foam lagging, which can be cut to fit the pipes and fixed in place with insulation tape.
Loft insulation can save you up to £315 per year on your energy bills, so pays for itself fast.
According to experts, it’s not too difficult to insulate it yourself – however, those who need their walls insulated are better off calling experts.
Draught proof windows and doors – can also be cost-effective
One of the most effective and easiest ways to spend less energy and save money is draught-proofing – and there are plenty of ways homeowners can do this.
Listing their recommendations, the engineers suggested opting for self-adhesive foam strips, which are perfect if there’s a gap between your door and the floor.
Even small areas, such as keyholes and letterboxes, can allow cold air into homes, so it’s important to get these covered too.
Rugs aren’t just for show
Perhaps one of the simplest tips is to put a rug down.
Kyle says this keeps your feet warm if you’ve got tiles or wood flooring.
Rugs will provide greater insulation to keep heat in and add sound insulation.
Give your oven some overtime
For his final trick Kyle says that by simply keeping your oven door open after you’ve cooked you could warm your house.
This is something that has been recommended before by savvy savers, it means that rather than heating the inside of your oven when you’re done cooking you can at least make the most out of it.
More help with energy bills
From October 1, all households started getting a £400 energy bill discount.
The payment is being dished out by your energy supplier and will be split across six discounts on bills between October and March next year.
Households received a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and will get a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
Between November and March 2023, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” started being paid out to eight million households.
It is being given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Millions of households have also started to get the £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023.
Check out more energy bill help you can claim worth as much as £3,435 a year.