Free Insulation and Boilers

Other ways to cut your energy bill

Also ensure you're on the cheapest energy tariff and do the energy-saving basics:

1. Consider fixing to beat price hikes

   Locking in with a cheap fix is one way to avoid higher price, and cut your costs – especially if you're on a standard tariff.

   Our Cheap Energy Club checks you're on the cheapest deal and handles the switch for you. Plus to encourage you, there's up to £25 cashback if you switch via Cheap Energy Club.

   It's the same gas, the same electricity, the same safety. All that changes are the customer service and the price you pay. For more on this, plus top fixes, see our Cheap Gas & Electricity guide.
   

2. Thrifty heat-saving tips

   If you wander round the house in boxers or bra 'n' knickers with radiators on full and windows wide open... STOP IT.

   Sensible changes can save you large, from insulating your chimney to notching down the thermostat. Here are a few thrifty ways to keep your home toasty.

   Make your own sausage dog draught excluder

   

   Draught excluders stop heat escaping in gaps between the door and the floor. For a cheap version, roll up a towel and use that instead.

   If you're a creative type, you can always make your own sausage dog draught excluder from an old pair of woolly tights filled with some stuffing or old socks (use buttons for eyes).

   Stuff your chimney

   If you've got an open, uninsulated chimney you could be losing money on wasted heat. There are a couple of ways you can block the chimney to stop heat escaping, and it can cut down on noise too.

   One option is a chimney balloon, which is an inflatable 'pillow' that can block your chimney. You can pick them up from DIY shops such as Wickes for around £14. Another is Chimney Sheep, a wool draught-excluder which comes in a range of different sizes, starting at £16. According to Chimney Sheep, you could save about £50/year by blocking the chimney.

   Chimney Sheep is made from felted sheep wool - it's naturally breathable and allows moisture to pass through, so you shouldn't have any issues with damp. Be fire aware though – make sure there's nothing blocking your chimney if you're planning to use it.

   Line curtains with cheap fleece

   Chunky window-wear, especially lined and insulated, will keep the warmth in. If you're on a budget, line curtains yourself with cheap fleece blankets (from about £2 at places like Ikea and Asda) - but remember to check it's fire retardant. See how to line your own curtains with fleece.

   Remember, the sun can also help heat your house. During the daytime, keep curtains open and let it do the work for you.

   Keep doors closed

   It's better to keep doors closed for the area you want heated. Radiators, electric panel heaters and convection heaters all work by creating a convection current in a room. As hot air rises, it circles around to the other side of the room, cools and sinks and travels back along the floor to the heater to be reheated again.

   Keep windows closed too. According to not-for-profit energy company Ebico, 25% of heat is lost through open doors and windows.

   Put shelves above radiators

   Even if you're not handy with DIY and your shelving slopes like a ski resort, a well-placed ledge can help. Putting a shelf above a radiator helps prevent the heat rising, especially if you have high ceilings, keeping the warmth closer to the ground.

   However, don’t put any shelving directly on top of a radiator, which will trap the heat rather than channelling it around the room.

   Don't leave the heating on low all day

   You'll save energy, and therefore money, by having the heating on only when it's required. Using a timer is best, because your thermostat is designed to turn your heating system on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it.

   If you’re really worried about getting chilly, switch the timer on a little bit earlier, so the house will be nice and toasty when needed but you’re not pumping out energy all day.

   Put reflective panels behind radiators

   Most heat, 35% in fact, is lost through external walls. Radiator reflector panels bounce heat back into the room rather than let it pass through external walls. The Energy Saving Trust says homes with uninsulated walls will get the most benefit.

   
   

   For more tips, join the Old Style forum board's Prepare for winter thread. Also see the Great Energy-Saving Hunt and our Energy Mythbusting guide. If you use heating oil to heat your home, you can save, too - follow the simple steps in Cheap Heating Oil.

3. See if a smart thermostat can save you

   Smart thermostats can also help some save on their energy bills. These gadgets give you greater control over your home's heating, letting you adjust it on the move via a mobile app or online, and set more complicated heating schedules than your traditional thermostat.

   They can be pricey though, so see the Smart Thermostats guide to check if they're right for you.

4. 

   Don't assume dual fuel is always cheapest

   Logically, dual fuel (gas and electricity from the same supplier) should be cheaper and it often is, yet not always.

   During your comparison, you can also check the cost of the cheapest dual fuel supplier against separate cheap gas and cheap electricity suppliers by using the 'Fuel Type' filter options in Cheap Energy Club.

5. Switch to monthly direct debit

   Fixed monthly direct debit payments, where you pay a fixed estimate each month, save you 5-10%, as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. These should be refunded at the end of the year.

6. Do a meter reading every time

   Every time you receive a bill, do a meter reading. Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate, these are often way out. If they're underbilling, you'll have a big whack to pay when they get an actual reading. If they're overbilling, then they've unfairly got your cash.

   If your direct debit is way off-kilter, call up and request it's changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See the full Energy Direct Debits guide for template letters.

   You can also check with your supplier to see if you can get a free smart meter, which sends automatic meter readings to your supplier - so no more estimated bills. For more, see our Smart Meters guide.
   

7. Switch to your company's online tariff

   It'll usually save you up to 7% over the standard tariff, and all it really means is you get your bills emailed.

8. Avoid prepayment meters if you can

   While a push from the Government means it's getting better, those on prepayment meters are still pretty hard done by compared with those who pay by direct debit. If possible, switch to a billed meter. You may have to pay for one, but the savings are usually worth it.

   Often, firms won't let you switch meters because of credit score or income difficulties. For full info on how to ditch a prepayment meter for a credit meter – or if you can't, how to save on a prepay meter – see the full Cheap Prepaid Gas & Electricity guide.