Winter has arrived early in Scotland bringing gale force winds, power cuts, plummeting temperatures and even some snowfall for most regions over the last few days.
This week is set to be cold and wet, but while some people may be reluctant to crank up, or even switch on the heating due to the hike in energy bills, there are a few things every householder can try first which may save them some cash over the winter months.
Energy experts at ElectricalDirect have shared six simple, but effective ways to keep your house warm without putting on the heating and while you may have to pay for one of the tips on the list, the rest are easy to do and could make a huge difference, fast.
Six top tips for keeping your home warm this winter
Keep windows and doors shut
Insulate your home for free by keeping the warmth inside. Don’t let heat escape by keeping your windows and doors completely closed whenever possible. Even leaving one window on the latch can cause the temperature to decrease, so stay vigilant.
Use the curtains and blinds
The sun heats your home for free, so make the most of it. Open curtains and blinds during the day to let heat in and shut them once the sun goes down. In the dark, curtains and blinds act as another layer of insulation to keep warmth inside the home.
Close the chimney
Heat rises, so one very common way heat escapes is up the chimney. To prevent this from happening, use a chimney balloon to close your chimney and keep heat inside.
Use draught excluders
Even when you keep your doors closed, heat can escape a room through the cracks of a door frame. If you don’t use some of the rooms in your home as often, there is no point in heating them. Keep the warmth inside the rooms you are using by placing a draught exclude r underneath the closed door.
Put down a rug
A considerable amount of heat is lost through cold floors, especially if you have hardwood or stone flooring. By placing down a rug you can help prevent heat from being lost to the cold floor.
Install window insulation film
Window insulation film is a plastic film similar to cling film that is applied to glass to reduce heat loss. It is a cheap and simple way to keep your home warm without putting on the heating.
Not on the list, but one of the most obvious ways to heat up is to put on an extra layer. If you’re feeling the cold, pop a jumper or cardigan on and you’ll feel warmer in no time.
However, if all else fails and putting on the heating is a must, one way to effectively control the heating usage is by upgrading to an automated smart home heating system.
Smart home heating systems allow householders to easily control their heating even when they are not at home. This can keep usage to a minimum and potentially reduce energy bills – all year round.
How to keep up to date with the latest Record Money news
Did you know there are a number of ways you can stay up to date with the latest money saving and benefits news from the Daily Record?
You can join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, benefits news, consumer help and advice plus the latest shopping deals.
Sign up to our weekly Record Money newsletter to get our best stories sent straight to your inbox. You can sign up either by entering your email address in the sign up box further up this page or click here.
You can also follow our Twitter account @Recordmoney_ for regular updates here.
Commenting on the energy tips, Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “The price of electricity in Europe has reached record highs and consumer electricity bills have increased yet again.
“Such a price hike is deeply concerning for consumers, especially considering that electricity is now used to power cars, home heating systems, and more appliances than ever. However, heating or insulating your home need not be expensive.”
Get the latest money-saving and benefits news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Money newsletter here.
