CUTTING down on energy this winter doesn’t have to be as difficult as you’d think.
In fact Kyle Mattison, otherwise known as ThatPropertyGuy on TikTok, has a few handy tips for you if you’re struggling.
Here’s some top tips for surviving winter as energy prices soar
These hacks are simple and quick
The 29-year-old says anyone who’s looking to cut down on energy prices this winter should proof their house in 13 simple ways.
There are lots of tricks out there that are worth paying attention to – such as this boiler hack which saved one savvy saver £100 in one year.
Remember how much you save depends on how much energy you use, what appliances you own and what settings they’re on, but it’s always worth trying what you can.
Sometimes trick are as simple as switching off your plug sockets – one homeowner saved a whopping £180 by doing so.
Here’s 13 things you should do to prepare your house for a cold winter:
Draught-proof strips
These are rolls of tape which you can line your doors with to retain warmth – you can get a roll for as little as £1.75.
Kyle said: “It’s a good idea to start draught-proofing around windows and doors.”
Program your thermostat
Kyle said: “Program your thermostat so you’re not wasting heat at different times of the day.”
This means you can set “on” and “off” time periods on your thermostat throughout the day to make sure you’re getting heat when you need it and not, for example, when you’re out of the house.
You can ask your energy supplier to help you out if you’re not sure how to do it.
Use slow cookers
Kyle said: “When it comes to cooking, slow cookers use less energy than ovens.”
The average built-in electric oven costs £64.18 per year to run.
In general, electric ovens are more energy efficient and do better in cost-saving tests.
You can also turn off the oven a few minutes before food is ready, leaving it to continue cooking in what’s left of the heat (check it’s piping hot before eating though!)
You can also get away with not pre-heating the oven in most cases too.
Where possible, consider using the microwave instead as these are much cheaper to run.
Bleed your radiators
Neglecting to bleed your radiators could force them to work harder, and it means you could end up wasting energy heating nothing.
They might develop cold spots, where air gets trapped inside.
You can use a small valve key – like this one from Screwfix – which normally cost under £2 from any hardware store.
All you need to do twist the radiator key slowly anti-clockwise on the square valve you’ll find on the side.
If you hear a hissing sound, it means the trapped air is escaping – once this stops, close the valve to stop water coming out.
Turn down the radiator valves
Kyle said: “While you’re at it, you might as well turn the radiator valve down to use less energy.”
The valve is the large knob at the bottom of the radiator – if you twist it, you’ll see numbers to guide you. It’s best to turn it down to number three – although it’s up to you and how much heat you feel you need.
Insulate pipes
You can pop foam tubes over pipes in rooms you don’t want to heat up – such as the attic or basement – as well as external pipes.
You can just use a long swimming float if you’re not sure – or call your local DIY store to ask if they have any.
Boil only what you need
Kyle said: “When you’re making a cuppa, only boil the amount of water that you need to use.”
A cup of tea is morning must-have for millions of people, but if you’re using your kettle wrong, you could be boiling up your energy bills.
Overfilling the kettle and leaving it on standby are two ways you might be wasting cash.
The more water there is in your kettle, the harder it has to work to get it to boiling point. And that’s a waste of energy if you’re only making one cuppa.
To avoid this common mistake, get your mug, fill it with water and pour that into your kettle – this way you are only heating up the water you’re wanting to use.
Meanwhile, according to Utilita, leaving a kettle switched on at the wall adds around a fiver to your annual energy bill.
Switch to LED lights
One bill payer saved £40 a month on energy by using all LEDs.
Taking to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, she wrote: “I know people are worried about rising costs but don’t waste your money on battery powered lights.
“Please go to a pound shop and buy LED lightbulbs. We got them for £1 each so ok initial outlay but we changed every bulb and it saved £35 to £40 a month. So paid for itself in the first month.
“When you think that lights can account for 15 per cent of your energy costs it’s worth changing your bulbs.”
The post quickly notched up more than 1,000 likes and nearly 400 comments as other Facebook users shared their thoughts on the idea.
Turn lights off
Although it may seem obvious, many people forget.
Having the lights on when no one’s home is a good burglar deterrent, but it will push up your energy bills.
According to Utilita, the cost of leaving a lamp on all day, every day is £36.79 a year. If you leave it on a timer for three hours a day, it’ll be just £4.60.
Manual lawn mower
Kyle says to “pack up the electric lawn mower”.
Not only could they save you bags on the electric bill – they’re also cheaper to buy.
Have a browse of Argos’ range – but remember to factor in delivery costs.
Draught excluders
This is a good idea if you have draughts coming underneath doors.
We’ve also rounded up the best ones you can buy here to help keep your home warm without the extra-pricey heating bills.
Radiator foil
Kyle says: “Radiator foil behind radiators can give them a boost, especially on radiators on external walls.”
You can buy radiator foil from most DIY stores – this roll from Screwfix is £6.93.
Shower at the gym
Kyle says: “Spend less time in the shower and maybe use the one at the gym.”
We typically spend eight minutes in the shower. But cutting this to just four or five minutes can save up to £88 a year.
A Uswitch energy expert said: “Reducing the time you spend in the shower to just four minutes should cut the average household’s energy bills by £70 a year, estimates the Energy Saving Trust.
Read our roundup here of the kitchen appliances that add hundreds to your energy bill.
And don’t forget to try the top tips to avoid letting appliances run away with bills – how much you save differs for everyone, but it’s worth a try.
