THE weather has already taken a cold turn and most of us are dying to put the heating on.
Unfortunately, energy bills are way too expensive to do that so we’re all looking for alternatives to stay toasty.
B&Q are selling a winter essential to keep you cosy[/caption]
The electric blanket is a bargain price at the moment[/caption]
Fortunately DIY store B&Q has a must-have buy to keep warm this winter and it’s super affordable too.
Available online, not in stores, the electric blanket is the perfect way to cosy up at bedtime without freezing.
The heated electric under blanket goes underneath your fitted sheet to warm up the bed before you get in.
It has a safety feature to ensure it doesn’t overheat and turns off when it does.
Plus, the blanket has three different heat settings which can be changed with the attached remote to personally suit your needs.
It comes in three sizes with the single costing £16.99, a double for £29.99 and king size for £34.99.
The blanket is also machine washable so you don’t need to worry about spilling a cup of coffee or your breakfast in bed on it.
B&Q bosses say: “Designed for the modern lifestyle, our heated under blanket is the perfect companion for those cosy Sunday mornings when breakfast in bed becomes a cherished ritual.
“Picture this – you can indulge in your favourite morning treats without the anxiety of accidental spills.
“T”he washing machine friendly feature means you can savour your breakfast in bed, guilt-free, knowing that any mishaps can be effortlessly washed away.”
According to research from Uswitch, these gadgets use 100 watts of energy to warm a double bed before switching to a sleep setting or being turned off.
A 100W electric blanket run for seven hours a week would use 0.7kWh.
Based on the current cap, it costs 24p to run a 100W electric blanket for one hour a day for seven days.
If you were to use an electric blanket for one hour a day, every day of the week for a year, it would cost you £12.48 in total.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Using an electric blanket instead of turning the heating up can save you cash off your bill, according to the experts.
Uswitch energy expert Sarah Broomfield said: “Using an electric blanket to warm the bed may mean you can turn the temperature of your thermostat down, as you won’t need your bedroom to be so hot.
“Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can save you as much as £80 a year.”
