Make sure your home is ready for the colder months. These tips will help you save money on your energy bills and prepare your home for winter.

• use your central heating system to heat your home safely. Remember, alternative heating methods can cause fire risks and carbon monoxide poisoning
• avoid using naked flames from your cooker, oven, or hobs to heat your home
• if you need help paying your heating and energy bills, speak to your energy supplier to see if arranging a payment plan is possible. Some suppliers offer prepaid credit if you have a meter, allowing you to spread your repayments
• check your radiators to make sure they are working efficiently. You can feel the radiator to see if it is hot. If the top of the radiator is cold, it will need bleeding. You can find tips and advice on how to do this on Google and YouTube
• keep your curtains drawn and doors closed to reduce drafts. If there are small gaps around your doors or windows, you can fit a draught excluder
• if you have a loft, make sure it is insulated correctly. Advice on loft insulation standards can be found at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
• to stop your pipes from freezing, we recommend that you lag cold-water supply pipes situated in cold areas such as garages. You can buy lagging from most DIY stores and place it around the pipes to keep them warm.