AS the colder months roll in, many Brits will be finding themselves debating whether now is a good time to turn the heating on.
And with the energy bills going up again this month just as the colder weather hits due to the price cap jumping from £1,568 to £1,717, Brits will be even more reluctant to put the heating on.
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But one homeowner has found just the trick to help slash his energy bills.
And they revealed that the trick was simple, and even provided “free insulation.”
His advice came after another British homeowner was seeking advice on how to keep their home warm cheaply and efficiently.
They took to Reddit, and wrote a post which was titled: “What is a cheap way to heat a room now that winter is coming.”
READ MORE ON WINTER HACKS
The social media user then continued to write: “Here in the U.K. we are starting to get some very cold days and I am thinking if anyone can share what they do to keep warm cheaply and efficiently.”
The homeowner explained that they had blocked draughts coming in, “let sunlight come in during the days,” and kept their curtains and blinds “closed in the evening.”
They continued to write: “What I want to know is if there is a cheap way to actually provide warmth?
“I don’t want to use my radiators as they are old electric ones and cost too much to run and I don’t have a fireplace. What can I do?”
The post gained a lot of attraction with many offering their top tips including the use of electric blankets, and warm clothing.
Another even added: “Aside from all of the other advice: exercise. It’s amazing what 60 seconds of jumping jacks (or any other simple activity) will do to warm your blood.”
But one offered their heating hack which was completely free.
They wrote: “If you have bookcases, put them against outside walls (Free insulation!)
“If you have couches, put them against an interior wall, so people will not be sitting next to the cold outside wall.”
Another said: “Wool socks and sweaters. drink hot tea. do exercise/keep moving.”
You can wrap a piece of cardboard in foil and position it behind the radiator
Expert
We previously reported on how a homeowner discovered a £1 hack to heating your home, and it has “been expert approved.”
Lining the back of your radiators with foil is a quick and easy job that takes just 10 seconds, but it can significantly boost the warmth in your room.
“The foil acts as a reflector, bouncing heat back into the room and stopping it from escaping through external walls,” the expert explained.
£1 heating hack
To give this hack a go, just cut a piece of foil to match the length of your radiator and tape it securely to the back.
“For a more robust solution, you can wrap a piece of cardboard in foil and position it behind the radiator,” the expert suggested.
Foil is very affordable and can be purchased at the supermarket for roughly £1.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.