I’m a home expert & my 5 heating hacks will save you over £700 on your heating bill, it’s perfect for those on a budget

WITH Labour’s recent changes to the qualifications for the Winter Fuel Allowance, many people are looking for ways to cut their energy costs

According to government figures, up to 100,000 more pensioners could face financial hardship after losing their Winter Fuel Payments.

Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall released internal estimates, revealing the extent of the cuts.

Fortunately, experts at Auction House London have revealed five easy ways to keep warm, insulate your home and cut down on your energy usage for less this winter. 

With winter drawing closer and following the news of the winter fuel cuts, here, the home experts reveal their top heating hacks. 

Draught Excluders

Average saving of £35 per year

Draught excluders for your windows and doors are a simple and effective way to retain heat in your rooms and keep draughts out. 

They can help you save 2-5% on your heating bills each year by keeping warmth in for longer.

This could mean a saving of around £20-£50, considering the average annual gas bill for a three-bedroom home in the UK is £887.59, according to British Gas. 

Older, less energy-efficient houses might see even higher savings. You can find draught excluders for as little as £8 on Amazon. 

Rearranging Your Furniture 

Average saving of £30 per year 

In winter, many of us rearrange furniture to make room for the Christmas tree. 

While you’re reshuffling, it might be worth moving your seating area away from draughty corners and closer to your room’s heat source (without pushing it directly against the heater, so the warmth can circulate properly).

By shifting furniture to warmer spots, you might be able to avoid turning up the heat by 1-2°C, potentially saving an average household around £20 – £40 per year – all without costing you a penny.

Hot Water Bottles 

Average saving of £100 per year 

Heating yourself rather than the whole house is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce energy use. 

Adding a few extra layers usually does the job, but a hot water bottle is another great option, especially if you don’t like sleeping in multiple layers.

By placing a hot water bottle in your bed, you can stay warm for hours, with the cost of boiling a kettle to fill it as low as 3p. 

If you typically keep the heating on at night, switching to a hot water bottle could save you around £100 on your energy bills each year.

Hot water bottles can usually be picked up for around £3, such as this one from Asda. 

Bleed Your Radiators

Average saving of £350 per year 

It’s essential to keep your heating running efficiently in winter.

Bleeding your radiators is an easy way to ensure they’re working properly. 

This process removes trapped air, allowing hot water to circulate freely and provide the most heat possible without wasting energy.

To test them, feel the radiator when it’s on and check if all areas are emitting the same amount of heat. 

If it’s cold in some places and hot in others, it might be time to bleed your radiator.

Bleeding your radiators can reduce your energy bills by up to 20% saving you nearly £350 a year.

Heated Airers

Average saving of £87 per year

Heated airers are a great alternative to tumble dryers when winter rolls around.

Your tumble dryer will cost approximately £1.54 per cycle, while a heated airer will cost you less than a third of this, at around 42p per wash load for a drying time of 6 hours.

In the UK, temperatures tend to drop for half of the year (between October and March), meaning you could end up using your tumble dryer at least once a week for 26 weeks.

According to Zanussi, most Brits will use their dryer three times a week during the colder season.

This would cost you an average of £120 per year to run, compared to just £33 if you used a heated airer instead – a yearly saving of £87. 

You can pick up a heated airer for as little as £29.99 from places like The Range.