Woonexpert shares 5 heating hacks that can save you over £700 on your bills

WITH Labour’s recent changes to winter fuel surcharge qualifications, many people are looking for ways to reduce their energy costs

Another 100,000 pensioners could face financial difficulties if they lose their winter fuel payments, according to government figures.

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Wellbeing Minister Liz Kendall has released internal estimates showing the scale of the cuts.

Fortunately, experts have Auction House London have revealed five simple ways to stay warm this winter, insulate your home and reduce your energy consumption.

As winter approaches and news of winter fuel savings follows, the home experts reveal their best heating hacks here.

Draft exclusions

An average saving of €35 per year

Draft excluders for your windows and doors are a simple and effective way to retain heat in your rooms and keep drafts out.

They can help you save 2-5% on your heating costs each year by retaining heat for longer.

This could mean a saving of around £20-£50, as the average annual gas bill for a three-bedroom house in Britain is £887.59, according to British Gas.

Older, less energy efficient homes can achieve even higher savings. You can find draft stoppers from €8. Amazon.

Rearrange your furniture

An average saving of €30 per year

In winter, many of us rearrange the furniture to make room for the Christmas tree.

While you’re rearranging, it may be worth moving your seating area away from drafty corners and closer to your room’s heat source (without pushing it directly against the heater so that heat can circulate properly ).

By moving furniture to warmer places you can avoid turning up the heating by 1-2°C, saving the average household around €20 to €40 per year – all without you having to worry about it. only costs a cent.

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Hot water bottles

An average saving of €100 per year

Heating yourself instead of the whole house is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce energy consumption.

Adding a few extra layers is usually enough, but a hot water bottle is also a good option, especially if you don’t like sleeping in multiple layers.

Placing a hot water bottle in your bed can keep you warm for hours, with the cost of boiling a kettle to fill it costing just 3 cents.

If you normally leave the heating on at night, switching to a hot water bottle could save you around £100 on your energy bill each year.

Hot water bottles can usually be picked up for around £3, like these from Asda.

Bleed your radiators

An average saving of €350 per year

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It is essential to keep your heating running efficiently in winter.

Bleeding your radiators is a simple way to ensure they are working properly.

This process removes trapped air, allowing hot water to circulate freely and provide the most heat without wasting energy.

To test them, feel the radiator when it is on and check whether all rooms emit the same amount of heat.

If it’s cold in some places and hot in others, it may be time to bleed your radiator.

By bleeding your radiators you can reduce your energy bill by up to 20%, saving you almost €350 per year.

Heated air vents

Average savings of €87 per year

Heated airers are a great alternative to clothes dryers when winter arrives.

Your tumble dryer will cost you around £1.54 per cycle, while a heated airer will cost you less than a third of this, at around £42 per wash load for a 6 hour drying time.

In Britain, temperatures drop half the year (between October and March), meaning you can use your tumble dryer at least once a week for 26 weeks.

According to Zanussi, most Brits will use their dryer three times a week during the colder season.

This would cost you an average of £120 per year to run, compared to just £33 if you used a heated airer instead – an annual saving of £87.

You can buy a heated airer for just £29.99 from places like The Range.