Get Your Home Ready for Winter: Easy Ways to Stay Warm and Cut Energy Bills
6 Oct, 2026
With heating and hot water accounting for more than half of the energy used in a typical home, even relatively small improvements can add up over the course of the winter. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of pounds on major renovations. Many useful winter improvements are inexpensive, straightforward DIY jobs that can be completed in an afternoon.
Stop draughts around doors and windows
Start by checking your home for unwanted draughts. Windows, external doors, floorboards, skirting boards and unused chimneys can all allow cold air into the house.
Self-adhesive draught-proofing strips are inexpensive and easy to fit around windows and doors, while brush strips can help seal gaps underneath external doors. You could also use a removable chimney draught excluder if you have an unused open fireplace.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing around windows, floors and doors could save around £55 a year in Great Britain, as well as making rooms feel more comfortable (Energy Saving Trust, 2026b).
However, don’t block trickle vents, extractor fans, air bricks or other purpose-built ventilation. Good ventilation is important for managing condensation, damp and indoor air quality.
Check your loft insulation
Heat naturally rises, which means an inadequately insulated roof can be a major source of heat loss. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that around 25% of heat can be lost through the roof of an uninsulated home (Energy Saving Trust, 2026c).
If you have an accessible loft, check how much insulation is already there. Current guidance recommends around 270mm of mineral wool insulation. Topping up existing insulation can be a relatively straightforward DIY project in suitable lofts.
If you have damp, condensation, a flat roof or a loft that has been converted into living accommodation, professional advice is recommended before adding insulation.
Make better use of your heating controls
Before turning your thermostat up, check that your programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) are working correctly.
For most people, the Energy Saving Trust suggests setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature, generally between 18°C and 21°C. Turning a thermostat down from 22°C to 21°C could save an estimated £120 per year in Great Britain (Energy Saving Trust, 2026d).
Use your heating programmer to match your daily routine rather than heating an empty house. TRVs can also be used to keep frequently occupied rooms warmer while reducing the temperature in rooms that are used less often.
Remember that turning the thermostat much higher will not make your home heat up faster.
Give your radiators some attention
Your radiators should heat evenly. If a radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top, trapped air may be preventing it from working properly. Bleeding the radiator is a quick DIY task that can help restore its performance.
You should also avoid placing large pieces of furniture directly in front of radiators or covering them with curtains, as this can restrict the circulation of warm air.
Radiator reflector panels can be another inexpensive improvement, particularly behind radiators fitted to uninsulated external walls. They help reflect heat back into the room rather than allowing as much of it to escape through the wall.
Insulate your hot water
If your home has a hot water cylinder, check how well insulated it is. Increasing an existing cylinder jacket from 25mm to an 80mm British Standard jacket could save around £45 a year in Great Britain, according to the Energy Saving Trust (2026e).
Foam insulation for accessible hot-water pipes is another low-cost DIY job. It helps water stay hotter while travelling around your home and can also provide additional protection for pipes during cold weather.
Use curtains and blinds wisely
Heavy or lined curtains can provide another simple layer of protection against heat loss through windows, particularly in older properties.
Open curtains and blinds during sunny winter days to benefit from natural warmth, then close them as it gets dark to help retain heat. Just make sure curtains aren't hanging directly over radiators, as this can trap warm air behind them rather than allowing it to circulate around the room.
Check your boiler before the coldest weather arrives
It is much better to discover a heating problem in autumn than during a freezing January weekend. Test your heating before temperatures drop significantly and make sure your boiler or heating system is maintained appropriately.
If you have a boiler, professional servicing and repairs should be left to a suitably qualified engineer. Regular maintenance can help identify faults and make sure your heating system is working correctly.
Look for financial support
Some households in England may be eligible for financial help towards larger energy-efficiency improvements. The Government's Warm Homes: Local Grant, for example, can provide eligible households with improvements such as wall, loft and underfloor insulation, smart controls, solar panels or an air-source heat pump. Eligibility depends on factors including household income, postcode and the property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating (GOV.UK, 2026).
GOV.UK also provides a personalised energy-efficiency service for homeowners in England and Wales, offering suggested improvements, estimated costs and potential savings based on the property (GOV.UK, 2026).
Small jobs can make a big difference
Preparing your home for winter doesn't have to mean an expensive renovation. Spending a weekend sealing draughts, checking insulation, bleeding radiators, insulating pipes and reviewing your heating settings can help your home retain more heat and use less energy.
Combined with sensible everyday habits, these relatively simple changes can help make your home warmer, more comfortable and potentially cheaper to run throughout the winter.
References
Energy Saving Trust (2026a), The most economical ways to use your central heating.
Energy Saving Trust (2026b), Draught proofing.
Energy Saving Trust (2026c), Roof and loft insulation.
Energy Saving Trust (2026d), Heating controls.
Energy Saving Trust (2026e), Five things to prepare your home for winter.
GOV.UK (2026), Find ways to save energy in your home.
GOV.UK (2026), Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home.