Tips to Keep Your Home Warmer This Winter Amid Rising Energy Costs

As colder weather approaches and energy prices continue to rise, households are seeking ways to keep their homes warm without significantly increasing heating bills. Experts and families are sharing a range of tips, from simple adjustments to home insulation, to manage warmth more effectively.

Staying Warm Through Diet and Layers

One approach to staying warm involves modifying personal habits. Wearing multiple thin layers of clothing can trap body heat more effectively than a single thick garment, according to advice from the British Heart Foundation. Some individuals have found success by switching to thermal base layers for use around the house. Beyond clothing, warm meals such as stews and pasta bakes can contribute to internal warmth, with some even incorporating light physical activity like dancing while cooking.

Optimizing Bedtime Warmth

With the evenings drawing in, preparing for colder nights is essential. Utilizing thicker duvets, often available affordably, is a common step. An older, yet effective, method involves placing a blanket beneath the mattress to block drafts. Alternatively, some prefer a blanket between the mattress and the fitted sheet. For pre-warming beds, hot water bottles can be used, but safety precautions are advised, such as allowing boiled water to cool slightly before filling and ensuring the bottle is not overfilled or held directly against the skin.

Electric blankets are highlighted as a cost-effective way to heat beds or provide warmth on sofas. Studies suggest that running an electric blanket typically costs between 2p and 8p per hour on its highest setting. Safety guidelines recommend unplugging electric blankets before getting into bed unless they have thermostat controls, avoiding their use with hot water bottles, and replacing them every decade.

Harnessing Natural Heat and Insulation

Keeping doors closed is a simple way to retain heat within occupied rooms, and adding curtains or blankets over doors can provide additional insulation. Maximizing natural light by opening curtains during sunny periods allows sunlight to warm rooms. Once the sun sets, closing the curtains helps to trap that heat inside. Some suggest leaving an oven door ajar after cooking to allow residual heat to warm the kitchen, though this is not advised in households with young children.

Soft furnishings like rugs can also contribute to a room's warmth. For those with fireplaces, using a log burner can be more economical than heating the entire house, though the cost of logs is a consideration.

Addressing Drafts and Window Insulation

Heat can escape through gaps around doors and windows. Draught excluders, which can be fashioned from old socks or tights, can be placed around door frames. Sealing other drafts with foam strips or sealant is also recommended. For single-glazed windows, options include secondary glazing, thermal curtains, or a more budget-friendly method of applying bubble wrap to the panes. However, it is important to maintain some ventilation to prevent dampness.

Strategic Use of Central Heating

While the advice focuses on reducing reliance on central heating, experts caution against turning it off entirely due to potential health risks and the possibility of frozen pipes. When using central heating, consumers can explore off-peak electricity tariffs offered by suppliers. Bleeding radiators can improve their efficiency, and moving furniture away from them ensures heat is not blocked. Radiator foil, whether commercial or homemade, can be used to reflect heat back into the room. Some households only heat occupied rooms or maintain a low level of heating when away to prevent issues like mold or burst pipes, utilizing frost protection settings on radiators if available.

Adjusting the flow temperature of combi boilers, often done during a service, can also lead to savings. Additionally, free public