Energy bills are still high in the UK, and many homeowners will be looking for ways to save money on their energy usage
Charlotte Smith Senior Lifestyle Content Editor
13:10, 19 Nov 2025
Using items like these can help homeowners save on bills(Image: Getty )
The cost-of-living crisis is severely impacting household finances across the country, with Ofgem’s current price cap maintaining elevated energy costs for UK homeowners. Many are desperately seeking energy-saving devices, advice, and strategies to minimise their bills during these challenging economic times.
Taking guidance from financial experts, such as Martin Lewis, can prove extremely valuable, while heeding recommendations from energy providers can also offer significant benefits. Octopus Energy has become Britain’s largest supplier, officially overtaking British Gas in 2024 to claim the leading position in customer numbers for the first time.
The firm has earned recognition for its outstanding customer support, extensive selection of intelligent tariffs, and dedication to green energy solutions. In a bid to support hard-pressed homeowners further, Octopus Energy has created a comprehensive guide detailing methods to cut monthly expenditure, reports the Mirror.
Among its money-saving recommendations is plugging any openings throughout your property, particularly around door frames, which may allow warm air to leak out while permitting cold air to enter. The company suggests this simple measure could reduce bills by £80.
According to Octopus Energy’s Cash Energy Saving Tips website, the provider explains: “A continuous draught can quickly undo all the good work of your heating – essentially wasting energy. If cold draughts are ignored, your heating has to work harder to keep you warm, increasing your energy bills and your carbon footprint.
If cold draughts are ignored, your heating has to work harder
“Identifying and plugging up draughts around doors, windows, and other gaps can help trap warmth in and make your gas spend go further.” It continues: “Professional draught-proofing can cost a few hundred pounds. You can also find draughts yourself using the back of your hand, or with a thermal camera and make your own excluders for free using old fabric scraps. Average saving: £80 per year.”
Common areas to check for draughts include windows and doors, floorboards and skirting boards, chimneys, fireplaces, loft hatches, around pipes and electrical fittings, and vents. Octopus Energy suggests making your own draught excluder for doors by stuffing tights with socks, rice, plastic bags or any spare material you have.
If you’re looking for a more efficient way to keep the heat in and the cold out when it comes to your doors, consider another budget-friendly option: self-adhesive draught-proofing foam strips. The energy supplier says these are the cheapest but may not last very long.
Draught excluder foam seals can be found for cheap online (stock image)
While Octopus doesn’t recommend a specific brand or shop to buy these strips from, various homeware retailers stock them, including B&Q, Toolstation, Screwfix, Argos, IKEA, The Range, and Amazon. For a bargain deal, Amazon shoppers can get Single Sided Adhesive Closed Cell Draught Excluder Foam Tape in various sizes for as little as 99p.
Octopus Energy also says: “If you’d prefer a fixed draught excluder, you can install a brush strip or hinged-flap draught excluder… Letter boxes and keyholes can also be draught-proofed using a metal keyhole cover and a letterbox brush/flap.”
As highlighted by Octopus Energy, the Energy Savings Trust provides extensive guidance on its website regarding draught excluders. One statement online reads: “Unless your home is a new build, you’ll lose some heat through draughts:
- around doors and windows
- through gaps around the floor
- through the chimney
“Getting professional draught proofing for your windows and doors can save you around £85. Professional draught proofing can cost around £250, but DIY draught proofing can be much cheaper.”
