Cut your water bills

Households across much of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can bag a range of free insulation and water-saving gadgets. While the freebies are funded by the water companies, it's water efficiency company Save Water Save Money that manages the distribution of 'em.

Products vary by water company, and you can get one of each item per household. What you can get also depends on where you live and what's available at the time.

Right now, there are new winter insulation kits on offer, as well as the usual water-saving products...

• 15,000 winter insulation kits. There are 15,000 winter water pipe and tap insulation devices available from nine water companies – see below. The products on offer include tap guards (normally £5.55), tap jackets (norm £4.99) and pipe lagging (norm £6.99). 
  
  These products can help protect your pipes and taps from freezing during the winter, which can lead to your pipes bursting and costly repair bills.  
  
  
• 250,000+ water-saving devices. These are available from almost all water firms, and the gadgets include shower heads (which help regulate water usage, norm £20), tap inserts (to regulate water flow, norm £5), garden hose nozzles (also to regulate flow, norm £2.50) and 'Buffaloo' cistern bags (which you place into your toilet cistern so each flush uses less water, norm £2). 

How do I check if I can get them and how do I apply?

Most can go straight to the freebies via this Save Water Save Money link (see below for more). Simply enter your postcode in the 'free water-saving devices' box to see what's available, then enter your details to get 'em sent for free within 28 days.

• Winter insulation kits. These are available to customers of Affinity Water, Cambridge Water, South Staffs Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent, South East Water, United Utilities, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water.
  
  If you're with Affinity Water, Cambridge Water, South Staffs Water or Welsh Water, you'll need to go via Save Water Save Money's savings calculator to access the freebies.
  
  It'll ask you questions about your usage, and at the end gives you a free report that lets you know how much water you're using, what freebies you can claim, and also sets challenges that can help you cut your usage.
  
  For all other firms, you don't need to use the savings calculator – you can order the products directly via the Save Water Save Money website.
  
  
• Water-saving devices. Not all the gadgets are available for customers of all water firms, but it's likely you'll at least find a decent selection of products where you are. 
  
  If you're with Affinity Water, Northumbrian, Thames, Welsh, South Staffs, Cambridge, SES, Wessex or Essex and Suffolk Water, you'll need to use Save Water Save Money's savings calculator to access the freebies. 
  
  If you're with Anglian or Southern Water, you'll need to go direct to their websites to bag the freebies.
  
  Everyone else can order the products directly from the Save Water Save Money website.

How much could I save? 

Savings vary by supplier and usage, but the Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing an inefficient shower head with a water-efficient one could save a family of four £70 on their gas bill and about £115 on their water bill (if metered) each year.

And with the new winter insulation freebies, not only could you cut down on leaks, but they will protect you from costly repair bills from burst pipes. 

What's more, reducing water consumption helps the environment. The Energy Saving Trust says it can cut energy use, reduce the impact on your local environment and limit carbon dioxide emissions by using less energy to pump, heat and treat the water.