My 87p candle hack can save £70 on energy bills – it’s a top trick of the trade

MANY households are still facing continued pressure from the high cost of living and are doing their utmost to balance their budgets.

Although bills will drop in April, there are still steps you can take to keep energy costs down and save money.

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A simple trick that can help you keep the bills under control requires just a simple household item that you may already have lying around the house.

This is what Dean Taylor, insulation expert and founder of The Loft Boys, says.

He told The Sun: “A really easy way to check for drafts around your windows and doors is to look for ‘leaky’ spots with a candle.

“You can buy candles quite cheaply in the supermarket or online, although you may have a few on hand.

“Ideally, you want a thin, tapered version.”

For example, at Asda you can get a box of 10 tapered candles for £3 and Dunelm sells two tapered candles for 87p.

Before you start, make sure that there are no other drafts that could interfere with operation.

Take a moment to close all windows, vents, and doors in the area.

“Once you have your candle, bring it close to the edges of your windows,” Dean said.

“Start in a corner and slowly move it along the frame. You should watch for changes in the direction or intensity of the flame as this could be a sign of a ‘leaky spot’.

“This is an old trick of the trade that is very effective.”

You can then do the same with your doors.

“If a draft is found, the flame will flicker and bend,” said the energy-saving buzzer.

“In severe cases it can be blown out. Make note of any locations where you notice significant movement, as these are the areas you want to repair.”

The key is to repeat this process throughout your home, as even small leaks can lead to significant energy loss over time.

“Checking for drafts this way can take some time if you do it right, so give yourself plenty of time to do it thoroughly,” says Dean.

“Also, be very careful when using a candle because you want to make sure you don’t burn yourself or catch fire somewhere if there are flames near curtains and furniture.”

Alternatively, another hack involves checking for drafts around windows and doors using toilet paper.

How to fix ‘leaking spots’

Once any leaks have been identified, you can take steps to address them.

“Any draft around doors or windows can be resolved by installing weather stripping or foam insulation,” says Dean.

“With weather stripping, you use a flexible material, such as rubber, foam or vinyl, that you apply to create a good seal. You should be able to purchase these products quite cheaply.

You can get a 3.5 meter roll of Stormguard rubber foam from Dunelm for £6. You can find rolls of foam weatherstripping on Amazon for less than a fiver.

“Make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying the tape,” says the DIY pro. “Measure the space and cut the tape to the correct length before applying it evenly along the window edge and pressing firmly to seal.”

If you have a very drafty window, you may want to consider applying a second layer of tape.

Dean added, “Overlapping the tape can also be helpful to ensure a better seal.”

Another way to deal with drafts is by applying sealant.

“This ‘sealant’ is a filling material that is often applied with a caulking gun,” he says. “It helps you permanently close any gaps.”

At Wickes you can buy a 300ml tube kit from around €1.20.

According to the Energy-saving confidenceBy making your windows and doors draught-free, you can save up to €70 per year on your energy bill.

While you’re at it, why not also look at draught-proofing your floorboards?

Dean has another neat trick to help you find air leaks under your feet.

“We like to use what we call ‘the string test’,” says the insulation enthusiast. “Simply tie a string to a paper clip, feather or other small, light object.

Then slowly move the object along the edges of the floorboards. If there is a draft, you will notice that the string moves in the direction of the draft.”

Although it is possible to use the same candle trick with floorboards, Dean warns that it is not that simple.

“It can be a little trickier to get the right angle on the floorboards without burning your fingers,” he said.

“You’ll probably find that string works better.”

This will cost you next to nothing. At Tesco you can buy a 40 meter ball of rope for €1.35.

“If your floorboards are drafty, you can reapply a sealant, such as caulk,” said the insulation supremo.

“You can also use expanding foam. Make sure you apply it evenly and make sure it dries completely before walking on the floor.

You can buy expanding foam from Screwfix for around £6.

Self-adhesive draft strips can also be installed along the edge of floorboards to help prevent draughts.

Dean added: “Another tip, which may be a bit obvious, is to think about investing in a carpet or thick rug as this soft furnishing can work wonders.

This can sometimes be the simplest solution for drafty floorboards.”

Rugs don’t have to cost a package. At Dunelm you can find rugs from around €15.

Although there is the option to have underfloor heating insulation installed, this will be much more expensive, with bills easily running up to £1,000.

According to Checkatrade, the average cost of floor insulation in the UK is around £6,000.

That said, both this and loft insulation (which can cost up to £100) can be a worthwhile investment if you’re serious about keeping your home warm in winter – saving you both heat and money.