AS the temperatures are beginning to drop, Brits are faced with the dilemma – whether to save money or keep warm.
Millions of households will be stung by a hefty £149 hike to energy bills when Ofgem‘s new price cap comes into force in days.
As of next month, millions of households will be stung by a hefty 10% hike to their energy bills[/caption]
As of October 1, around 29million customers on their supplier’s standard variable tariff will see their bills skyrocket rise from £1,568 a year to £1,717 a year.
The increase in energy prices will be a worry to many cash-strapped bill payers, especially now that the weather is getting colder.
As the harsh winter season is lurking around the corner, when is the best time to put your heating on?
According to experts in the industry, the ideal date to turn up the thermostat this year is Sunday, October 27 – which coincides with the clocks going back and temperatures beginning to dip.
Chatting with The Mirror, heatingpro Mark McShane from Boiler Cover UK said: “Turning on your heating at the end of October is a good strategy, as it allows you to prepare for the colder weather ahead while also avoiding the risk of frozen pipes.
”Maintaining a minimum thermostat setting of 10°C can protect your pipes from freezing, which can lead to costly repairs.”
However, it’s worth noting that some vulnerable households may need to switch the heating on sooner – and similarly, if the home is well insulated, you may find there’s no need to switch it on just yet.
How to stay warm and cosy thanks to a Dunelm bargain
As many are searching for purse-friendly ways to keep their home warm this season, Dunelm has come to rescue with an affordable buy.
Fans of the popular retailer have been raving over the Russell Hobbs Black Compact Ceramic Heater that’s selling for £25.
A cost-effective way to beat the cold without forking out a fortune, this mini device can be plugged into any socket and throws out 700 watts of heat.
The small yet mighty buy – which costs a mere 20p to run per hour – is ideal for smaller rooms and comes with a 12-hour timer.
Shoppers have been particularly impressed by the heater’s ability to warm up a room in what feels like no time at all – so it’s no wonder the product has received an impressive 4.2-star rating online.
One happy customer said: “Very powerful and efficient heating up a 13sq metre garden room would certainly recommend.”
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.
Another penned: “Excellent used in our garden room (4m x 3 m) to take the chill off and works very well.”
A third chimed in: “Excellent for small time use very powerful for such a small device it packs a mighty punch thank you.”
A fourth penned: “Really handy keeping a small reception warm. Love the high or low settings and temperature adjustment.
”Great mini heater, if I don’t use it at work I will definitely be bringing it home.”
However, despite the positive reviews, there was also some criticism, with one not recommending the buy.
“It doesn’t do what it needs to do.”
