As winter tightens its grip and the UK's energy price cap keeps bills painfully high, millions of households are desperately seeking ways to cut costs. In a significant move to help its customers, Octopus Energy, which recently overtook British Gas as the UK's largest supplier, has shared a remarkably effective and affordable energy-saving tip.
The £80 Draught-Proofing Secret
One of the most impactful pieces of advice from Octopus Energy focuses on a common yet often overlooked issue: draughts. The company highlights that a continuous draught can swiftly undo all the heating efforts in your home, essentially wasting energy and money.
By identifying and sealing gaps around doors, windows, and other openings, homeowners could potentially reduce their annual energy bill by around £80. When cold draughts are ignored, your heating system is forced to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, which in turn increases both your energy costs and your carbon footprint.
How to Find and Fix Draughts Yourself
You don't need to spend hundreds of pounds on professional draught-proofing to reap the benefits. Octopus Energy suggests a simple DIY approach. You can start by checking for draughts in common areas such as windows, doors, floorboards, skirting boards, chimneys, loft hatches, and around pipes.
A quick method to detect draughts is to use the back of your hand to feel for cool air entering your home. For a more stubborn draught around a door, the energy supplier recommends a creative solution: making your own draught excluder by stuffing old tights with spare materials like socks, rice, or plastic bags.
For those seeking a more conventional and still very cheap fix, self-adhesive draught-proofing foam strips are an excellent option. Octopus notes that these are the cheapest commercial solution, though they may not have the longest lifespan.
Where to Find Bargain Draught-Proofing Supplies
While Octopus Energy does not endorse a specific brand, these foam strips are widely available at major homeware retailers including B&Q, Toolstation, Screwfix, Argos, IKEA, and The Range.
Shoppers on Amazon can currently find a Single Sided Adhesive Closed Cell Draught Excluder Foam Tape for as little as 99p, making the path to significant savings incredibly accessible. This advice is backed by the Energy Saving Trust, which states that professional draught-proofing can save around £85 per year, but a DIY approach is far more budget-friendly.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to squeeze finances, this simple, sub-£1 hack from the UK's leading energy provider offers a tangible way for households to fight back against high winter bills and keep their homes warmer for less.
