Energy-saving tips to help you prepare for winter

With shorter days and falling temperatures, we’re all reaching for the thermostat. But with the cost of energy on everyone’s minds, now is a good time to think about ways you can make your home energy more efficient.

Small changes can make a real impact on your bills, so we’ve put together some energy-saving tips to help you stay warm and cosy this winter.

Warm up your home more efficiently

As winter sets in, you may be wondering how to make sure your home stays at a comfortable temperature without having to crank up the thermostat. Here are some ways to improve your energy efficiency while warming your home in the colder months.

Bleed your radiators

Trapped air bubbles in your central heating system stops it from heating your home efficiently. The result? Higher energy costs for you.

Bleeding your radiators keeps your heating system efficient, and it’s simple to do yourself. If you’re not sure how, follow our step-by-step guide.

Upgrade your heating controls

The colder the months, the more reliant we are on the central heating. But as you have a cosy night on the sofa, are you heating empty rooms, too? Turning down the temperature in the spaces you’re not using can stop you from wasting money.

Upgrading to a smart thermostat allows you to manage the temperature in your house, whether you’re at home or on the go. While smart radiator thermostats give you greater room by room control of your heating.

Get your boiler serviced

Most of us don’t think about our boiler’s health until the worst happens. Regularly maintaining your boiler helps it work more efficiently and reduces the risk of costly unexpected breakdowns or repairs.

If your boiler is more than 10 years old, it may be time to replace it. Investing in a newer, more energy-efficient model can reduce energy waste, saving you money.

Install a smart meter

Smart meters have helped 86% of users feel more in control of their energy use. The in-home display shows how much you’re spending in real-time, making it easier to stay within budget with your energy bills. And because they send readings automatically, you can be confident you’re paying for the exact amount of energy you use.

Even better, we can fit a new smart meter at no extra cost to you.

Keeping your house warm in winter

So your house is warm and you’re feeling toasty – but can it stay that way when the temperature drops? Here’s a few simple tips to keep that heat in, without using more energy.

Block draughty gaps

Draughts can sneak into your home through doors, window frames, letterboxes and chimneys. Not only do draughts make you feel chillier, they also mean you use extra energy to keep your home warm.

If you’re comfortable doing some DIY, sealing gaps around windows and doors could save around £45 a year. Blocking an unused chimney could save an additional £65.

Be careful not to block air bricks, floor vents, extractor fans, and trickle vents, though. These provide the ventilation you need to stop moisture building up in your home.

Add carpets or rugs

If you’re looking for more ways to stay cosier in winter, flooring can make a real difference. A fitted carpet or a big rug stops cold air rising through the floor, and helps you use less energy to keep the room warm.

Insulating your floors could save around £75 a year in the average property (up to £125 for a detached house).

Close your curtains

Although the amount can vary from house to house, windows will always allow some heat to escape. An outside chill can cool the air in a room through the glass.

It may seem obvious, but drawing your curtains earlier in the day can be an effective way to keep more heat in. Covering your windows at dusk can reduce heat loss by 13-17%.

Supporting our customers

If you’re looking for more ways to reduce energy waste this winter, check out our room-by-room energy-saving advice.

If you’re worried about your bill or need any kind of extra help, please visit our support hub to see what’s available to our energy and broadband customers.