MANY households are still facing ongoing pressures from the high cost-of-living and are working hard to try to balance their budgets.
Although bills are set to fall in April, there are still steps you can to keep energy costs down and save cash.
Insulation expert Dean Taylor shares a trick of the trade that can help slash bills
One simple trick which can help you keep a lid on bills requires just a basic household item you may well already have lying around at home.
This is according to Dean Taylor, insulation expert and founder of The Loft Boys.
He told The Sun: “A really easy way to check for draughts around your windows and doors is by using a candle to look for ‘leaky’ spots.
“You can pick up candles pretty cheaply from a supermarket or online, though you might actually have some to hand.
“Ideally you want a thin, taper one.”
At Asda, for example, you can get a box of 10 tapered candles for £3 and Dunelm, sells two tapered candles for 87p.
Before you begin, make sure there are no other draughts that might interfere.
Take a moment to close any windows, window vents and nearby doors.
“Once you’ve got your candle, bring it close to the edges of your windows,” said Dean.
“Start at one corner, and slowly move it along the frame. You are looking out for changes in the flame’s direction or intensity, as this could be a sign of a ‘leaky spot.’
“This is an old trick of the trade which is very effective.”
You can then do the same with your doors.
“If a draught is found, the flame will flicker and bend,” said the energy-saving whizz.
“In severe cases, it might get blown out. Take note of any locations where you observe significant movement, as these are the areas you’ll want to fix.”
The key is to repeat this process throughout your home, as even small leaks can add up to significant energy loss over time.
“Checking for draughts in this way might take a while if done properly, so give yourself sufficient time to carry out a thorough job,” said Dean.
“Also be very careful when using a candle, as you want to take care not to burn yourself, or catch fire to anything when you’ve got flames close to curtains and furniture.”
As an alternative, another hack involves checking for draughts around windows and doors using toilet paper.
How to fix ‘leaky spots’
Once any leaks have been identified, you can then take steps to address them.
“You can resolve any draughts around doors or windows by applying weather-stripping or foam insulation,” said Dean.
“Weather-stripping involves using a flexible material, such as rubber, foam or vinyl which you apply to create a tight seal. You should be able to pick these products up pretty cheaply.”
At Dunelm, you can get a 3.5m roll of Stormguard rubber foam weather strip for £6. On Amazon, you can find rolls of foam draught excluder tape for less than a fiver.
“Before applying the tape, make sure the surface is clean and dry,” said the DIY pro. “Measure the space and cut the tape to the right length before applying evenly along the window edge, pressing firmly to seal it.”
If you have a very draughty window, you could think about applying a second layer of tape.
Dean added: “Overlapping the tape can also be helpful to ensure a tighter seal.”
Another way to deal with draughts is by applying caulk.
Cheap gadgets to help you stay warm
MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but stay warm.
Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
“This ‘sealant’ is a filler material, often applied using a caulking gun,” he said. “It helps you permanently seal any gaps.”
At Wickes, you can buy a 300ml tube of caulk from around £1.20.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing your windows and doors could save you up to £70 a year on your energy bills.
While you’re at it, why not look into draught-proofing your floorboards too?
Dean has another nifty trick to help you find air leaks under your feet.
“We like to use what we call ‘the string test,’” said the insulation aficionado. “Just tie a piece of string to a paperclip, feather or other small, light object.
Then slowly move the object along the edges of the floorboards. If there’s a draught, you’ll notice the string moving in the direction of the draught.”
While it is possible to use the same candle trick with floorboards, Dean warns that it is not so easy.
“It can be a bit trickier to get the right angle on the floorboards without burning your fingers,” he said.
“You’ll probably find that string works better.”
This will cost you next to nothing. At Tesco, you can buy a 40m ball of string for £1.35.
The exact temperature to set your thermostat to save on energy bills and stay warm
ENERGY bills remain relatively high leaving many worrying over the thermostat.
Energy experts have revealed the exact temperature to set it at so that you can save cash and still keep warm.
When it comes to your thermostat, the Energy Saving Trust recommends you should set it to the “lowest comfortable temperature”.
For the majority of us, this is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
It’s just the right balance between keeping your home warm, and keeping those energy bills as low as possible.
If you have your thermostat set at a higher temperature you can probably afford to turn it down and still keep cosy.
Of course, there are exceptions like anyone who is in ill health, and there is support available to cover extra costs.
Just by turning down the temp by a single degree, you could save as much as £100 a year.
If you cut it by more you will obviously make even bigger savings.
The Energy Saving Trust also says that you don’t need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside, the house will still heat up to the set temperature.
“If your floorboards are draughty, you can again use a sealant, such as caulk,” said the insulation supremo.
“You can also use expanding foam. Just be sure to apply it evenly, and make sure it dries fully before walking on the floor.”
You can pick up expanding foam from Screwfix for around £6.
Self-adhesive weatherstripping strips can also be applied along the edge of floorboards to help prevent draughts.
Dean added: “Another tip, which might sound a bit obvious, is to think about investing in a carpet or a thick rug, as these soft furnishings can work wonders.
This can sometimes be the simplest solution to draughty floorboards.”
Rugs needn’t cost a packet. You can find rugs at Dunelm from around £15.
While there is the option to get underfloor insulation installed, that will be much more expensive, with bills easily running into the £1,000s.
According to Checkatrade, the average floor insulation cost in the UK is around £6,000.
That said, both this, and loft insulation (with costs running into the £100s) can be a worthwhile investment if you’re serious about keeping your home warm over winter – helping you to save both heat and money.