GAS-TASTIC
Four ways to cut your gas bill this winter – including the thermostat secret that will instantly save you £80
Scroll down for more ways to keep warm this winter
IF you’re worried about rising costs and are looking for ways to save cash this season, you’ve come to the right place.
It turns out that many of us are making a few very popular mistakes, which are raking up our annual energy bills.
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So if you fancy pocketing some extra pounds, you’ll need to take notes.
According to the experts at , there are four very simple ways you can lower your heating bills, with barely any faff or effort involved.
Not only this, but one thermostat secret will instantly save you £80 - yes, you heard that correctly.
So if you want to take control of your energy and save cash on your gas bill this winter, you’ll need to take notes.
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Turn your thermostat down
According to the pros at EDF, the first thing you need to do is turn your thermostat down.
Whilst it almost sounds too simple, a recent study showed that 2.7 million households in the UK are turning their thermostats all the way to 25°C.
If everyone in the country lowered their thermostats, it could add up to a combined saving of £1.4 billion on heating bills, not to mention a huge amount of carbon.
Subsequently, the experts advise the ideal temperature to be somewhere between 18°C and 21°C.
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But prepare to be impressed, as the general principle is that for every degree you turn your heating down, you could save around £80 a year - yes, you heard that correctly.
Heat your home only when it needs heating
Not only should you turn your thermostat down, but it’s also important that you only heat your home when it needs heating too.
Home expert shares the sign you’re wasting hundreds on your heating bill - all you need to do is look out the window
We’ve all heard the theory that it’s cheaper to leave the heating on all day at a low temperature, but the results are in and according to those at EDF, it’s a very common myth.
It turns out that having the heating on only when you need it is the best way to save energy, so it’s important that you set a timer or use the programme function on your thermostat, so you can set up a schedule that works around your day.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
"Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark," he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of "insulation" between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
"Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly," he continued. "You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
"Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above."
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
"Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30," Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
"Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room," Joshua said.
"This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out."
5. Block drafts
Don't forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren't secure.
Whilst you might also be tempted to crank the thermostat right up to warm your house quicker, that’s also another heating myth.
The pros claimed that turning your thermostat up doesn’t change the temperature of the water flowing through your radiators and instead just means the thermostat won’t turn your boiler off until it reaches a higher temperature.
As a result, the experts claimed: “Your heating will simply stay on for longer, using more gas and costing you more money.”
Once you’re warmed up, keep it that way
As well as this, according to the experts at EDF, it’s important that once you’ve warmed up your home, it’s essential you keep it that way.
The pros advised: “Draught-proofing plugs the gaps in your property to help keep warm air in and cold air out.
“If there’s cold air coming in under your front door, a rolled up towel or blanket will do the trick.”
Not only this, but keeping draughts out through your letterbox is also key and even covering a small key hole will help too.
Don't heat the rooms you're not using
Again, it may seem simple, but the experts have shared an incredibly easy way to cut down your gas bill - and it’s to avoid heating rooms you aren’t using.
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So if you’ve got a spare room you barely ever go in, why waste energy heating it?
The experts stressed the importance of turning radiators down (or off completely), which will mean you use less energy heating a room you rarely use (and more cash in your pocket as a result).
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 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
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