Soaring energy bills remain a pressing concern for households across the UK, with Ofgem's price cap ensuring costs stay high. In these challenging times, homeowners are actively seeking effective and affordable ways to reduce their monthly outgoings.
The Expert-Recommended Solution
Octopus Energy, which officially became the UK's largest energy supplier in 2024 by surpassing British Gas, is at the forefront of offering practical advice. Renowned for its customer service and smart tariffs, the company has published a list of energy-saving tips. One standout recommendation involves tackling draughts, which could potentially save customers £80 per year.
According to Octopus Energy, a continuous draught can quickly undo the work of your heating system, forcing it to consume more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature. This not only increases bills but also your carbon footprint.
How to Identify and Stop Draughts
The company advises homeowners to check for cold air leaks in common areas such as doors, windows, floorboards, skirting boards, chimneys, and around pipes. You can detect draughts by using the back of your hand or a thermal camera.
For a DIY approach, Octopus suggests making your own draught excluder for doors by stuffing old tights with spare materials like socks, rice, or fabric scraps. However, for a more efficient and still very cheap solution, they recommend self-adhesive draught-proofing foam strips.
Where to Find the Bargain Item
While Octopus does not endorse a specific brand, these foam seals are widely available at retailers like B&Q, Toolstation, Screwfix, Argos, IKEA, and The Range. For a particularly bargain deal, shoppers on Amazon can find Single Sided Adhesive Closed Cell Draught Excluder Foam Tape for as little as 99p.
This advice is supported by the Energy Saving Trust, which states that unless you live in a new build, your home is likely losing heat through draughts. They estimate that professional draught-proofing can save around £85, but the DIY method is significantly cheaper.
By taking this simple, low-cost step, UK households can trap warmth inside their homes, reduce energy waste, and see a meaningful reduction in their bills this winter.
