Recent research commissioned by Smart Energy GB indicated that rising fuel costs will make it difficult for many renters to pay their energy bills. With 62% indicating they may struggle to even pay their rent this winter. So we thought what better time to share our top tips to keep your home warm this winter without increasing your utility bills. 

Here's our top tips on how to insulate your home while keeping it budget friendly.

Bleed your radiators‍

Easy to do and it makes your radiators work so much more effectively. (If you’re not sure how to do this there’s lots of useful videos on Youtube which will talk you through this step by step.)‍

Use radiator insulation

This is a great way to make full use of the times that you do have your radiators on and maximise the heat from them. You can purchase these from any DIY store or online for between £6-£10. 

Leave your oven door open after use

Okay we agree that this one may seem a little odd however hear us out. Ovens reach temperatures of 200 degrees and after use that heat needs somewhere to go so why not let it heat up your kitchen? 

Draught proof doors and windows

Now you’re probably wondering how you’re meant to do this if you're not a builder but it’s fairly straight forward. You can pick up a kit from amazon for as little as £2.5 and it's as simple as peeling off a sticker and placing it round your windows!

Get a smart meter to help manage your energy costs‍

If you're the one paying the bills, you can have one installed by your energy supplier without the permission of your landlord. Don't be put off doing this - you won't lose your deposit for having one installed.

Talk to your landlord or agent

If you're concerned over the amount of energy being used and your bills then it's always worth a chat with your landlord or agent to see if they can do anything to help. From looking at insulation measures to installing a new boiler or double glazing, there are things your landlord can do to make the home you live in more energy efficient. Plus improving the efficiency will benefit them in the long run. So if you don't ask, you don't get....

Move your furniture

Okay this last one may seem a little obvious but it’s always worth a mention. Move your furniture away from radiators to give the warm air room to circulate around your room. More often than not many of us will place sofas, beds, tables against our radiators without realising just how much heat will get trapped and a study has shown that by having furniture against a radiator you can lose up to 60% of the heat produced!

We hope our top tips are helpful to keep your household warm this winter and we’d love to see you put them to use. If you do use them please # us on social media using #Canopystoptips for a chance to be featured on our page.