As the mercury drops, it’s tempting to crank up the heating at home to keep warm and cosy during winter. But the last thing you want is to receive a shocking energy bill come the end of the season.

Fortunately, there are some budget friendly options to keep you and your family comfortable throughout winter.

Below are a few ways to heat your home and keep it cosy without breaking the budget. But first and foremost, let’s start with Safety. To avoid the risk of carbon monoxide leakage and potential poisoning, all gas heaters should be serviced every two years by a qualified gas fitter. If the heater is more than ten years old, it should be serviced annually. You can check the date of the last service by viewing the service sticker attached to the appliance. Adequate ventilation is also important. And don’t forget to check all smoke alarms, ensuring they are in working order.

Use your window treatments to your advantage – it may sound simple and obvious but many people fail to maximise the warmth generated by Perth’s glorious winter sun by leaving their curtains and blinds closed during the day. Once the sun sets and the temperature drops, closing blinds and curtains will help retain the heat generated during the day and prevent heat loss from heaters through the glass.

Close off unused rooms – closing the doors to any unused rooms in your home will ensure that whatever heating you choose in your home, it only warms up the rooms being used. This has the potential to save you a significant sum off your energy bill.

Rug up – Adding rugs to wooden and tiled floors will make the space look cosy and feel warm underfoot.

Seal gaps – Identify, repair and fill any gaps in your floors, windows, doors and walls. It’s generally easy to identify where gaps are in your home simply by paying attention to any cold draughts as you walk though. Sealing gaps with putty or sealant you can purchase at your local hardware store will help keep the cold out and the warmth in.

Insulate – Although this tip costs more than the others to implement, insulating your roof is well worth the investment. It creates a barrier to heat coming in to your home in summer and prevents heat from escaping in winter. This one change can reduce your energy bill by up to 50% and help keep you comfortable year-round.

Encourage airflow – While this tip might seem counter-productive to preventing draughts and air leaks, adequate ventilation avoids issues like mould, rising damp and to prevent a build-up of carbon monoxide when gas heaters are in use. Opening windows slightly for a period during the day or even rearranging heavy furniture every now and then will improve airflow. If your home is prone to rising damp and mould, a dehumidifier is a worthwhile investment.