Six wallet-friendly ways to get your home ready for winter as energy bills are set to rise

Households are bracing themselves for the highest heating bills they have ever paid this winter following a 5% increase in the energy price cap announced by regulator Ofgem last week.

The cap, which sets the upper limit that energy companies can charge for gas and electricity tariffs, has been raised to an average of £1,928 a year for a so-called typical family from January 1. This amounts to a £46 increase, but it is the tariff that is capped, not the bills, meaning that if you use more energy than average, your bills will be higher.

Although prices are lower than last winter, the Government is not giving £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme to every household this year, so that most families are in for an expensive few months after Christmas before the price cap is predicted to drop again from April 1.

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Google searches for ‘How to keep the house warm in winter’ rose by 54% at the start of November 2023, indicating many are concerned about the cost of the cold months ahead and are looking at ways to cut costs. Although there's no escaping the big bills, there are some ways you can try to limit how much you pay to keep your house warm. Here's six tricks that can help, all costing under £15, as suggested by Paul Stringer, of independent finance broker Norton Finance:

Seal cracks in walls

Expanding foam to fill in gaps around external pipes can help avoid cold air getting into your house, and stop the escape of that costly heat you’ve paid for. Silicone sealant is an effective alternative for smaller gaps like those found around wiring. A cartridge of all-weather silicone sealant costs less than £10.

Low energy lightbulbs

Making the switch to low-energy light bulbs is a clear way to save money without needing to spend big first. Depending on the type of bulb that you are switching from, the Energy Savings Trust says that you could save up to £6 per bulb per year. The average UK home has 67 lightbulbs, so you could save as much as £155 per year if you change all your bulbs from the least to the most efficient style.

Dimmer switches

Installing dimmer switches can save 20% on lighting bills, depending on the type of bulb and how you use the switch. Install them yourself for under £6 or ask an electrician.

Shower smarter

A high power electric shower can cost as much as 49p for 10 minutes at the current price cap. Water-saving shower heads are widely available for under £10, and switching can save 30% less water per shower. As well as saving water, you will also be saving on the cost to heat it, potentially savings hundreds of pounds a year if you are a family that uses the shower a lot. You can also reduce the time each family member showers by using a shower flow regulator.

Draught excluders for doors and windows

These are available from just £7 and plug gaps between doors or windows and their frames, a common cause of lost heat. Installing weather strips can make a real difference, ensuring a barrier between your home and the colder weather outside. To see if you could benefit from this, shut each door or window on a sheet of paper. If you can pull the paper out without it tearing, then you are losing heat, and your home would benefit from draught excluders.

Radiator reflector sheets

Half the heat produced by radiators goes into the walls behind them. Rather than turning up radiators, increase their effectiveness by installing reflective strips behind them. Costing about £15 per roll, reflective sheets have been shown to improve efficiency by up to 20%.