State pensioners urged to stock up on £1.40 household staple before energy price cap rise

State pensioners have been told they can use a tin foil trick and method to escape a new £21 Ofgem price cap rise - having lost the £300 Winter Fuel Payment. Energy experts reckon households can use foil to ensure they are maximising their fuel efficiency.

Tin foil at Tesco, the UK's biggest grocer and supermarket chain, currently costs as little as £1.40. The team at The Underfloor Heating Store is bigging up the £1 tin foil technique - although an inverted, cleaned crisp packet might work just as well.

The company says: "Covering the back of your radiators with tin foil is a cheap way to help retain heat in your home. The foil acts as a reflector and reflects heat back into the room to prevent it escaping through any external walls. To do this, simply cut the foil a bit smaller than the full size of your radiator and use tape to secure it onto the back of the radiator.

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"Alternatively, you can wrap cardboard in foil and place this behind the radiator for a sturdier fit." New boilers are much more efficient, with boilers over 10 years old potentially having an efficiency rating as low as G. Modern condensing boilers are all A-rated for efficiency meaning that they make use of at least 90% of the energy they consume when generating heat and hot water for your home.

While consumers can’t change the cap, they can ensure their heating system is best suited for their home to maximise long-term energy savings. It can be very tempting, especially in cold weather, to get in from a long day and crank the heating up to get warm as quickly as possible. However, a higher temperature won't make your home heat up faster.

The average recommendation for both comfort and cost-effectiveness is between 18-21 degrees, so avoid setting it any higher than needed.