With Arctic air sweeping across Britain and temperatures predicted to plunge to -7°C, households face a perfect storm of soaring energy costs and freezing conditions. Energy bills now sit approximately £600 higher annually compared to 2022, with gas prices up by 50% and nearly one million UK families falling behind on payments.
Five Cost-Free Solutions from Over 100 Experts
After consulting more than 100 heating specialists, five unanimous recommendations emerged for reducing heating expenses without spending a penny. The best part? Every suggestion requires zero financial investment while delivering substantial savings.
1. Draught-Proof Your Home - Save £85 Annually
This was the most frequently recommended action, identified by experts as the single most impactful measure available. Properties can lose 10-20% of their heat through windows and external doors, making draught-proofing essential.
Christine Matthews, heating appliance specialist at gr8fires.co.uk, explained: "Draught-proofing is your first and most cost-effective line of defence."
Martyn Bridges of Worcester Bosch and Liz Hunter from MoneyExpert both confirmed draught-proofing could deliver annual savings of £85.
Expert recommendations include:
- Use draught excluders or rolled-up towels under doors
- Apply cheap sealer around draughty windows
- Open curtains during daylight, close them after dark
- Use rugs on cold floors for extra insulation
- Install chimney caps or inflatable pillows in unused chimneys - saving another £65 annually
An Octopus Energy spokesperson advised: "Stopping heat loss makes a huge difference. Fill any draughty gaps around windows or doors, and don't forget letter boxes or unused chimneys."
2. Master Your Thermostat - Save £120 with One Degree
Many households make the costly mistake of cranking thermostats to maximum upon entering a cold house. Experts confirm this approach is flawed - your home won't heat faster, but your bills will certainly increase.
Gav Murray, heating director at Hive, clarified: "Cranking up the thermostat won't heat your house quicker. It uses more energy to reach the higher temperature, costing you more."
Essential thermostat strategies include:
- Set it correctly from the start - experts recommend 18-21°C
- Turn it down by just one degree - saving approximately £120 annually
- Only activate when needed, don't run it low all day
Ricky Sharma of Engineering Real Results noted: "Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could cut your bill by around 10%, equating to an average of £120 a year back in your pocket."
3. Heat Only Occupied Rooms
While smart thermostats enable room-specific heating, a simpler solution exists: turn off radiators in unused rooms and keep doors closed to contain warmth.
Christine Matthews suggested: "If most household members are in one room, consider using a space heater or electric fire for that space rather than heating the entire house."
Another clever tip from Christine Ciavardini of MD Energy Advisors: "After cooking, leave the oven door open to enjoy residual heat. It's a great way to take the chill out of the house."
4. Optimise Boiler and Radiator Efficiency
Many homeowners never check whether their heating systems function correctly. Outdated boilers work harder while heating less efficiently, significantly increasing costs.
Crucial maintenance steps include:
- Service your boiler regularly
- Adjust boiler flow temperature appropriately
- Bleed radiators annually
- Avoid covering radiators with furniture or curtains
Sam Carter of Appliances Direct explained: "Lowering your boiler flow temperature from 80°C to 60°C can reduce gas use by up to 9%. Dropping to 55°C could save 12% - up to £65 annually - without sacrificing comfort."
Nick Duggan from The Radiator Centre emphasised: "Bleeding radiators at least once a year is essential. Air buildup prevents water from reaching all sections, reducing heating efficiency and tempting homeowners to increase temperatures or duration."
5. Warm Yourself First
Sometimes the simplest solutions prove most effective. Dressing in layers, using blankets and hot water bottles can significantly reduce heating requirements.
Kevin Pennington of Lancashire Air Conditioning observed: "Heating the home for someone wearing summer clothing is incredibly expensive compared to heating it for someone wearing warm layers like a thick dressing gown or hoodie."
How to Bleed Your Radiators
Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance expert at Domestic & General, provided clear instructions for this essential maintenance task:
"Bleeding your radiators is important because inefficient operation drives up energy costs. If your radiator feels cold at the top and hot at the bottom, trapped air prevents hot water circulation."
Required tools: radiator key, cloth, and bucket. Method: switch off heating, allow radiators to cool, place cloth beneath the valve, turn key anti-clockwise until hissing stops (indicating air release), then tighten valve immediately.
With yellow cold health alerts active across parts of Britain until Friday, implementing these expert recommendations could provide crucial financial relief during the challenging winter ahead.
