A chill is in the air and as the days get colder, many Brits are choosing to not turn on the heat until absolutely necessary.
This is not by choice, as people are now concerned to use gas and electricity for fear of racking up staggering bills, following the energy price cap increase.
The rising worry has added further stress to an ever growing cost-of-living crisis. But there are a wealth of tips out there, shared by energy experts who want to help you save money.
Energy expert and CEO at Utility Bidder Chris Shaw has shared five ways homeowners can heat their homes for longer this winter, reports the Express.
Chris Shaw commented: “The UK is currently facing an energy bill crisis, with homeowners around the country waiting anxiously to see how the October energy price increase will impact them.
"With the colder months closing in, many people will be wanting to heat their homes but with extortionate energy prices looming over our heads, switching the heating on isn’t as straightforward as what it once was.
Chris hopes his handy advice will help people to keep heat circulating within homes without "drastically" increasing bills.
He added: “Simple tips such as knowing where to place furniture in your home or leaving the bathroom door open when showering and allowing as much sunlight in as possible throughout the day will enable people to feel warmer for longer.
"With financially uncertain times ahead, simple changes around the home could potentially go a long way,” he said.
Make the most of shower steam
Chris explained: "When taking a hot shower, you’ll often find the bathroom becomes filled with steam which in turn produces heat."
He recommended "leaving the bathroom door open before, during or after taking a shower", so that some of the steam and heat warms the surrounding areas of the home, "which will hopefully leave you feeling warmer for longer".
Utilise daylight
Homeowners should make the most of the spells of bright sun throughout the autumn and winter months and "it’s important to use them to your advantage" in order to keep the house warm for longer, the expert recommended.
He added: "Make sure all curtains and blinds are fully open so that the light projected by the sun can help to heat up different rooms within the house.
Keep out any draughts
Any areas exposed to draughts can bring in cold air and let warm air out so homeowners should make sure they add a draft excluder at the bottom of all doors, especially the front door.
"Don’t forget about pet flaps and letter boxes," the expert warned.
"If you can, fixing your letter box so that any drafts can’t enter the home will have a big impact."
A letterbox draught-excluder is a simple way to stop cold air from getting into the house and it can be easily fitted and quickly attached to the internal side of any external door.
The tool uses a brush-like plate to keep the warmth inside and the cold draughts out, and it can help reduce waste and lower energy bills.
Letterbox draught-excluders are a great home addition this winter and they can be purchased on Amazon for under £5.
Sharing their thoughts in the review section, buyer @gordon007 said: "Ideal for stopping the letterbox flapping in the wind and stopping draughts coming in" and @janice commented: "Product is easy to install and worth the money."
Strategically place furniture
To use as little energy as possible, "make sure there are no items of furniture such as a sofa in front of the radiator".
This is important as they will soak up the majority of the heat, so instead, leave the radiators exposed in order for it to heat the whole room.
Place curtains behind the radiator
When radiators within the home are turned on, it is essential to not allow the curtains to cover the radiator as this will direct the heat towards the window.
"Instead, make sure the radiator is exposed by gently placing the curtains behind the radiator, which will help to heat the entire room," the expert at Utility Bidder advised.
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