My £3 trick can slash your energy bills in winter and prevent mould – and the 79p version to avoid | The Sun

WITH energy bills looking more like phone numbers most of us are making an effort to make the most of any heat we have. 

Insulation is an essential way to keep your home warm since it does an excellent job of keeping heat in and cold out.

One area of your home you need to look out for is your windows, if you don’t have double glazing, cold air might be finding its way into your home through the gap between the glass and the window sill. 

If this is the case for you then you need to grab an insulation kit. 

Expert Clive Holland previously told the Sun: “It’s such a simple technique, but it’s really effective. It will wrap the window so tightly, it will prevent any warmth from leaving through cracks.

"It will also stop any moisture from building up.”

They are fairly easy to install and prices start from just £3.

To install it you line your windows with double-sided tape, then you cover your window with the plastic film connecting it to the tape.

At this point, your plastic should be loose, so your final step is to shrink and seal the plastic with a hair dryer so it fits snugly to your window.

The plastic film now creates a trap for the air between your window and the film, this should stop draughts coming in through your window and stop the build-up of condensation and mould.

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On Amazon, you can find a wide range of home window insulation kits, with prices starting from as little as £3.25 but some are a bit pricier like the £7.99 two-pack insulation kits from B&Q.

At Wickes, prices start from £6.50. The amount you pay will depend on how much you need.

Over time the sheet may wrinkle up but that is easily solved by another round with your hairdryer.

Why cling film is a no-go 

Prices for cling film start from as little as 79p in supermarkets like Asda so it can be tempting to reach for that as an alternative to insulation kits. 

Expert Clive has previously told The Sun that clingfilm, though cheap, just doesn’t work as well. 

“I just don’t think it’s as good. It’s very thin, and once you put the hairdryer on it, it can just perish and not take the heat.”

If you have got some money saved up don’t forget that double glazing is an option too. 

According to Window firm, Safestyle 18% of crucial heat is lost through windows.

Experts at Energy Saving Trust reckon you could save between £155 and £170 a year on your energy bills if you get double-glazed windows.

For double glazing, you should expect to pay from around £600 per window, according to Everest.

Other ways to insulate your home

Consider getting a dehumidifier to trap extra moisture in your home if you are looking to avoid dampness and mould. 

Prices start from £1 but you can get electrical ones as well. 

Loft insulation is also very important as it can stop heat escaping, therefore slashing your heating bill.

You can buy insulation from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q and Wickes.

Draught excluders are another great hack, they stop cold air coming in from underneath draughty doors. 

You can get some for as little as a fiver in most stores but a thick blanket rolled up will work just as well.

Avoid leaving your clothes to dry on radiators, and always cook with ventilation.

In other news, B&M shoppers are going wild for £18 winter essential that keeps the whole family warm without the heating on.

Argos shoppers are flocking to buy Oodie dupe they "don’t want to take off" that’s £69 cheaper than the original.

B&Q shoppers snap up "amazing alternative to heating" slashed in price in early Black Friday sale.

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