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Many UK houses are anxious about the upcoming winter months, and with good reason. Many people are experiencing the highest rise in energy bills they have ever seen. Due to multiple global crises and record inflation levels, gas and electricity prices have reached an all time high, forcing many UK households to refrain from switching on their heating on all winter.
Even after the government announced the Energy Price Cap, there are still factors that many households are worried about. There are, however, ways to navigate the difficult months ahead and ease the burden on your purse strings.
Apply for governmental support
The government’s Energy Price Cap is already putting a buffer between households and soaring energy bills, but if that is still proving too expensive, there are other schemes that you can apply to.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 discount for eligible households this winter. All households with domestic electricity connections in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible and do not need to apply for the discount. It will automatically be applied to eligible candidates’ bills for 6 months starting October 2022.
Insulating your home
If you are living in a house with minimal insulation, the rise in heating bills will be an even bigger shock. Insulate your home to ensure that you are benefiting from all the heating you’re paying for.
Consider replacing your single glazed windows with double glazed windows, insulating the roof and installing wall cavity insultation to reduce heat escaping from your home. Insulating your hot water tank and pipes is also a good idea. Invest in quality plumbing and heating equipment that will increase energy efficiency and keep your house warmer for longer.
Draught proofing
Keep warm air from escaping through gaps around the house and save up to £60 a year. Draught proofing is one of the cheapest ways to make your home more energy efficient. Add easy-to-apply draught excluders around your windows, place draught stoppers in front of your doors and install a chimney balloon or chimney cap to minimise the amount of warm air escaping.
Letter boxes are also notorious for letting warm air out, so add a sturdy brush strip to minimise heat loss. Don’t forget about other small holes like keyhole and install some keyhole covers.
Service your boiler
Make sure your boiler is running efficiently and have it checked over by an expert. An inefficient boiler is akin to throwing money down the drain and you definitely want to get your money’s worth this winter. According to Energy Saving Trust, upgrading a G-rated gas boiler to a newer A-rated model can save the average household £540 a year.
