The clocks went back last weekend, which often signals the time when households switch on their central heating for the winter months.

As temperatures drop and households start to feel the chill, many are concerned that every penny counts and heat is not wasted. The average household currently pays £1,843 a year for energy bills under Ofgem's energy price cap, which was altered last month to reflect lower average usage in the cost of living crisis. However, as the Government is not paying the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme, bills are expected to be about the same as last year, so it pays to have a look around your house and see what you can easily do to make sure most of the heat you are paying for stays in your home.

The better insulated your home is, the cosier it will feel – and the less energy you'll need to use and pay for to heat it up. And, according to consumer group Which? now is the best time of the year to make updates, as you'll feel the benefit straight away and throughout the winter months.

• Read more: The best temperature to run your heating and five mistakes that waste energy
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Loft, wall or floor insulation will all make a big dent in your heating bills, but these big projects are expensive and disruptive, and not suitable for everyone to take on. However there are plenty of smaller jobs that you can do with just a couple of hours of DIY that will make your home warmer and more pleasant to be in.

If you've nothing planned for this weekend, here are three of the easiest - and cheapest - ways to quickly increase your energy efficiency and reduce your heating bills are

1. Draught-proof your windows and doors

Storm Ciaran has probably made you well aware of where cold air is coming into your home, but common places to find draughts are around external windows and doors, open chimneys, loft hatches or in gaps around floorboards and skirting boards. You can get weatherstripping or foam strips cheaply at DIY or hardware stores and these are both an easy way to seal the gaps.

You can also buy insulating window film if you're looking for a quick fix to stop heat escaping through single glazing and if you've got a bit more time and budget, fitting thick curtains to draughty windows can make a room feel much warmer.

2. Buy draught-excluding products

If you've got gaps that foam strips can't fill, you'll need specialist products. For air coming in around the base of doors, you can buy door sweeps and brushes that attach to the bottom and letter box brushes fit around your letter box to keep draughts at bay.

Draught excluders put along gaps under doors or on windowsills and if you have an open fireplace, you can buy specialist draught excluders that fit up inside the chimney to keep warm air in, and prevent cold draughts from coming down. Of course, you need to remove these if you're planning to light a fire. You can buy chimney draught excluders from most DIY or homeware stores such as Amazon or Wickes

3. Insulate your water tank and pipes

If you've got a hot water storage tank, you should make sure it's wrapped up well with a water tank jacket to keep your water warm for longer periods. This means you'll use less energy to reach the required temperature, resulting in cheaper bills.

Jackets can be made from foil, foam, or other insulating materials. They're wrapped around the tank and secured with straps or tape. Make sure the jacket is kept away from the heating element or flue outlet of the tank, to stop any risk of fire or damage.

You should also lag any exposed pipes and valves that carry hot water around your central heating system. As well as improving your energy efficiency, lagging pipes can also prevent damage caused by freezing during cold weather. Amazon, B&Q, Screwfix or Toolstation are all good places to find what you need.