UK Big Freeze: How to keep warm... and save money

With temperatures set to plummet and many Brits back to working from home full time again - there’s never been a more important time to stay clued up on the most efficient ways to heat your home.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, offers some helpful tips on ways to keep costs down while keeping your home warm, ahead of the big freeze:

Keep the thermostat down and at a steady temperature - Keeping the temperature down by just one degree could reduce your bills by £80 a year.

Fit curtains as well as blinds - This prevents cold windows from cooling down the room. Curtains are a great option for preventing heat loss - remember to close them at night when it's colder and open them again when the sun comes out to let the heat back in.

Bleed your radiators regularly - This can reduce your radiators from having cold spots and leaving you without warmth.

Keep your radiators obstruction-free -  It’s always advisable to keep your radiators as free from obstruction as possible. Objects that are in the way can absorb some of the heat from your radiator - and one of the biggest culprits for this is the sofa.

Don’t forget to claim for working-from-home tax relief - You can get a £6 tax reduction per week meaning you’ll take home more money and contribute this to your energy bills.

Draught-proof your home - Draught-proofing is a quick and cost effective way to warm up your home and you can even save around £20 per year on your utility bills

One of the best ways you can draught-proof your home is by fitting door seals between the door itself and the frame. For gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor, you can buy a special 'brush' or hinged flap draught excluder.