As the weather starts to get colder, you might be thinking of when to put your heating on.
The energy price cap is set to rise by 4% to £1,723 a year for the average household from October meaning you might be looking for cheap ways to keep your home warm without using extra energy.
A door expert is urging people to spend just five minutes checking their doors for draughts this September.
Spending five minutes on this task could save the average household up to £55 a year.
How to save up to £55 on energy bills this winter
Ilja Medvedevs, director at modern internal door suppliers, Door Supplies Online, said: “September is a good time to check your doors because you can find the problem before you’re relying on the heating every day."
“Close the door and run your hand slowly around the frame, particularly along the sides and top.
“You can also hold a thin piece of tissue paper near the edges. If it moves when there’s no obvious breeze, check that area more closely.
“Then look underneath.
“If you can see daylight when the door is closed or feel cold air coming through, you’ve found somewhere worth investigating.”
You do not need to panic if you can feel cold air coming through your doors, as there is a cheap way to fix it.
You can easily DIY draught proof your home with strips for windows and doors that cost around £2 per metre.
The Energy Saving Trust says that by doing this, you can save around £55 a year on energy bills.
Around 3% of heat loss in a house is through doors so it is important to check them before winter.
Ilja said: "Find the actual gap before buying anything. There’s no point covering the whole frame if the draught is coming from one particular section."
“For a small gap around the edge of an older external door, a suitable self-adhesive strip can be enough. Measure the gap first, as something too thick can make the door difficult to close.”
“If the draught is underneath the door, a suitable brush or draught excluder can help. It just needs to leave the door opening and closing properly.”
Ilja also said homeowners should also check letterboxes to see if the flap closes properly and the seal or brush is in good condition.
He added: “If the door has dropped, is difficult to close or there’s a large uneven gap around the frame, a draught strip may not solve the problem.
“That’s when you need to look at why the door isn’t sitting properly first.”
Will you be testing out this cheap trick in the winter? Let us know in the comments.
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