Four simple tasks can save Brits more than £550 on their heating bills this winter

As the temperature continues to drop, Brits across the nation will be looking to turn up their thermostats. But with energy bills going up, households will be looking for help to save money on their bills

As temperatures in Britain take a nosedive, the notion of turning up the thermostat looms large for many. Meanwhile, searches such as "are energy bills going up? " have jumped by 60%, indicating that Brits are eagerly seeking "help towards my energy bills" and scouring for cost-cutting measures to tighten their budgets.

Adding strain, Ofgem's recent 10% price cap increase, effective since the beginning of October, means households could be paying an extra £12 each month just to keep the chill at bay. But there's light at the end of this cold tunnel – St. Modwen Homes has revealed four excellent energy-saving tips to trim over £550 from your winter heating costs.

Some of these tips have already become sensations online. The company lays out four uncomplicated tactics to alleviate the pressure on your energy expenses, and best of all, they're incredibly easy to put into action – accessible home improvements within everyone's reach, reports the Mirror.

The first tip is to bleed your radiators. It may come as a surprise, but trapped air can significantly reduce a radiator's efficiency.

Releasing this air by bleeding them ensures they perform better – a task that's both simple and swift. This one act could potentially reduce your heating bill by up to 20%, translating to a saving of almost £350 a year.

Another recommendation is to unplug your appliances. Switching off standby plugs may seem like a small act, but it could save you around £40 annually. This includes unused lamps or kitchen appliances such as toasters and kettles.

To help reduce energy usage, turn off these appliances at the wall instead of leaving them on standby. If remembering to do this daily is challenging, consider investing in smart plugs and timers to automate the process, or set a daily reminder on your smartphone or smart home device.

Not every radiator in UK homes needs to be used all the time. For example, there might be a spare bedroom that's rarely occupied, or a bathroom that's only used when guests are over.

Turning off radiators in these less frequently used rooms can significantly reduce energy bills by 4.5%, saving an extra £50.

All these tips aim to decrease energy consumption or use your home's energy more efficiently. However, it's entirely possible to stay warm without switching on your heating at all - if you're clever and don't mind bundling up at home.

Consider investing in an electric blanket for a one-time cost. It will keep you cosy at night and can cost as little as 3p an hour to run, compared to a staggering 22p per hour for standard energy supplies.

The figures reveal that opting for an electric blanket instead of cranking up the heating during the winter months could result in savings of £136.80. Considering you can purchase an electric blanket for as little as £24.99, this could mean pocketing over £110.