Lidl shoppers race to buy quirky gadget that makes heating more effective and costs nothing to run
LIDL shoppers are racing to buy this quirky gadget that makes heating more effective and costs very little to run.
The heat-powered tool doesn't require any assembly and costs just £29.99.
Bargain hunters are rushing to get their hands on the Von Haus 6 Blade Double Stove Fan, which promises to warm up any room.
The fan sits on top of a stove oven or wood burner and is powered by its own internal motor.
Thanks to a thermoelectric module, the unit distributes warm air when activated at 50-345 degrees.
It measures 25x16.4x11cm and has a two-year warranty.
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Shoppers have expressed their delight with the product with one calling it a "fantastic addition" to their stove.
The device is a welcome addition as the cost of living crisis continues to bite amid winter's stubborn frost.
One savvy shopper noted: "This is a serious money-saving device - maybe the concept sounds unlikely but it works very well to circulate the heat from a wood burner to warm the entire room."
Aydin Sigva, an expert in energy saving and insulation at Cavitech.uk, says that there are lots of gadgets that can help people keep their energy bills under control.
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However, he cautions that the first thing that households need to do is make sure they have the right insulation in place.
He warns this is important because homes are a bit like a sieve with lots of places valuable heat can escape.
The loft, walls, floors, door and window frames, and even keyholes will see the heat you’ve paid for flying out into the street.
He says: “Cavity and loft insulation save a few hundred pounds a year each - loft insulation is usually cheaper so should be the first job you do.
"If you’re a tenant, you’ll need the landlord to do it or get permission to do it yourself but it's only worthwhile if you’re staying long-term as it’ll take a few years to get your money back in savings.”
This is backed up by the Energy Savings Trust, which calculates that cavity wall insulation can save around £155 a year from your bills, while solid wall insulation saves around £210 a year.
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Loft insulation saves the average household up to £135 a year, and you can even insulate your floor saving up to £40 a year.
However, these things aren’t cheap to do, for instance, insulating the loft costs £950 on average, while cavity wall installation can set you back a whopping £1,700.
Of course, you’ll make your money back in the long run through cheaper bills, and good insulation also protects you from cold draughts which can have you reaching for the thermostat controls.
MONEY-SAVING GADGET
Sigva also has a list of simple quick fixes that Brits can do themselves to save a few pounds.
He says: “Put a brush and flap over the letterbox, draught excluders around leaky doors and windows and even block unused keyholes with some tissue and tape.”
However, he also recommends a nifty gadget which costs around £89 and can help you reduce your bills by between 5% and 15% according to the Energy Savings Trust.
He says: “Consider an energy use monitor - a clever gadget that attaches to the meter and displays on a screen exactly what you’re using at any moment.
“Discover what devices use more power and use them less. Turn off items on ‘standby’ and remind the kids to turn off lights and consoles when not in use!
"There’s no magic answer, but a few simple steps can save a lot of wasted money.”
You can pick up a monitor for as little as £12 from B&Q.
These devices work by measuring the amount of energy your using on individual devices around the home.
They are placed between a socket and the plug of the device being measured.
A screen on the plug shows how much power the item is using, and they run on batteries so they don't add more usage to your bill.
Each plug is different but it measures the energy use of the individual appliance you've plugged in.
With some you can enter the price you pay for energy and then the gadget works out the cost for you.
The cost per unit you pay depends on the tariff you're on but you can usually find this information on your latest energy bill or online account.
For your chosen appliance, you can use the plug to check the cost of running it when it's in use, or just on standby.
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They are different to smart meters which can also help you track the cost of energy around the whole home.
Either device can you help you better understand what energy you're using around the home, and then reduce it where you can saving money.