We know it’s going to be a tough winter this year. As it starts to get cold, with the rising cost of gas and electricity, it might be helpful to try other ways to keep warm.
Here are 5 top tips to keep your home warmer:
1. Identify where you are losing heat in your home.
Common places include windows, doors, floorboards, chimneys and loft hatches. You can hold a candle near windows, doors and other areas to see if the flame dances around, suggesting a leak.
2. Draught-proof your doors
For gaps at the bottom of doors you can make your own draught excluder with rolled up towels, or stuff old clothes in tights and put them in the gap. You can also buy a cheap draught excluder on Ebay.
3. Seal your windows
You can use clingfilm on the inside of window frames and seal with a hairdryer.
You can also buy thermal curtains for less than £15, which will stop heat leaving through the windows in the evening.
4. Bleed your radiators
This ensures there is no air trapped in your radiators, keeping your central heating system running efficiently. Find out how to bleed your radiator with this short video.
5. Insulate for free
Barking and Dagenham Council are working with E.ON to offer free measures such as cavity, party wall and loft insulation to qualifying homes through the Cosy Homes scheme.
It is open to people who:
- In receipt of certain benefits
- An Owner Occupier or private tenant
- An annual household income of less than £30,0000
You can also find out more about support with your gas and electricity on our Homes and Utilities page.