WINTER SAVE
The five bargain gadgets from Argos, B&M and The Range that can save £430 on energy bills according to an engineer
The average household could slash their heating costs by a third with these tips
AN engineer has highlighted five bargain gadgets that could save you up to £430 on your energy bills.
The average household spends £1,200 on heating costs annually, around 50% of average energy bills.
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As the last few years have seen energy bills rise for millions, it's a great time to cut costs.
The Ofgem price cap rose by £149 last month, meaning the average household on a dual-fuel tariff is now paying £1,717 a year.
Of course, how much extra you are paying depends on your usage as the price cap sets a limit on the amount you are charged per unit of gas and electricity, and not everyone in the UK is on the price cap.
Luckily, there are several devices you can use to lower your usage and save money - and they won't break the bank.
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Nicholas Auckland, heating expert at has shared his top buys that could cut hundreds of pounds from your bills.
Electric blankets
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Electric blankets or throws can help keep you warm and toasty through the night, without switching the heating on.
Blankets fit underneath your sheet, while throws rest on top and come in a variety of colours and materials.
Nicholas said a blanket or throw will set you back between £20 and £50 and could save you up to £100 over the course of a year.
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They cost between 29p and 44p for 12 hours of use, amounting to between £8.99 and £13.64 a month.
The electric fleece throw pictured above from The Range costs £31.99.
What is the energy price cap?
It comes in either silver or sage and will cost 16p to run for four hours.
The throw also features nine heat settings and has a timer to pre-set a shut-off time.
Heated airer
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Heated airers can be a great way to dry laundry for less.
The gadgets cost around 59p to run for eight hours, compared to the £1.70 cost of running the average tumble dryer for two hours.
Airers can cost around £40 to £70, although prices do go higher for larger or higher spec models.
But, they can save you between £50 and £80 a year on your energy bills.
This three-tier model from The Range costs £64.99 and will cost 59p for every eight hours it is used.
Oil-filled radiator
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An oil-filled radiator can be used instead of central heating to target the specific rooms or areas you're using.
Nicholas warned that these radiators can be costly if used excessively, but if they're used selectively they can be cheaper than switching on your central heating.
An oil-filled radiator will set you back between £50 and £100 and cost around £1.47 to use for four hours.
This could amount to an annual saving of between £75 and £150.
This Blaupunkt model from B&M will set you back £39 and has three heat settings and an adjustable thermostat.
Thermal curtains
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Thermal curtains are a great way to trap heat in your home and cut your energy bills.
They help prevent heat from escaping through windows as well as blocking colder air from entering.
The curtains can set you back between £25 and £75 but have no additional running costs.
And they could save you between £30 and £50 on your annual energy costs.
This pair of Habitat thermal blackout curtains cost £60 from Argos and come in a variety of colours.
Draught excluders
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A good draught excluder will cut down your energy bills by keeping warm air in and cold air out.
The excluders can be used to plug gaps that allow chilly draughts to enter.
They're the cheapest of Nicholas' recommended gadgets and could set you back as little as £5, but save you an impressive £20 to £50 a year.
This £8 draught excluder from Dunelm is the perfect size to plug under door gaps.
When you're shopping for energy-saving gadgets it's important to check that specifications meet your needs, for example, does a heated dryer hold all the laundry you need it to?
And remember to shop around and check prices to make sure you don't pay more than you need to.
There are plenty of comparison websites out that compare prices across hundreds of retailers, including Google Shopping and Price Spy.
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If you're worried about energy costs this winter there are other ways to cut your bills, including checking where you could be losing energy from your home.
The Energy Saving Trust has also shared its tips to make sure your appliances aren't costing you more than they need to.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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