British Gas warns 'prepare for cold snap' as temperatures to drop 10C

British Gas has warned households to prepare for the first "cold snap" of this winter - with temperatures forecast to drop by 10C across the UK next week.

The energy giant is predicting a 48% week-on-week increase in the number of engineer call-outs to help with central heating systems.

British Gas is therefore urging homeowners to prepare their homes now before the cold weather hits. Data from British Gas shows the majority of households turn their heating on in late October, or when there are four consecutive days of minimum temperatures below 9C.

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Sunny Solanky, a British Gas service and repair engineer, said: “It’s almost that time of year again, as we head into autumn, the nights are starting to get darker and temperatures are dropping.

“But there’s more to preparing for the colder months than dusting off your big coat – it’s important to make sure your home is well-equipped for colder temperatures to ensure you’re saving money on bills and keeping as warm as possible.

“Keeping your boiler in good check is key to this, and making a few simple changes around the home can also help. And if you do run into any issues and you call before 11am, one of our engineers will be with you the same day.”

It comes as energy bills are set to rise again this winter, with the Ofgem price cap increasing from £1,720 to £1,755 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit.

This will come into effect on October 1 and will last until December 31, when the price cap will be updated again. You will be covered by the Ofgem price cap if you are on a standard variable rate (SVR) tariff, so if you're not locked into a fixed rate deal.

But there isn't actually a total cap on what you can pay for energy. Your bill is still charged based on how much gas and electricity you use.

The Ofgem price cap limits what you can be charged for units of gas and electricity, as well as standing charges, which are fixed daily amounts you pay to be connected to the energy network.

The price cap figure illustrates what someone with typical energy consumption can expect to pay each year. Ofgem assumes the average household consumes 2,700 kwh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas over 12 months.

British Gas tips to get your home winter ready

• Bleed your radiators.
• Keep draughts at bay.
• Rearrange your furniture to keep heat circulating.
• Use thicker curtains.
• Lay rugs on bare floors.
• Avoid heating rooms you aren’t using.
• Insulate your pipes.
• Keep your temperature between 18°C and 21°C.
• Set your heating to come on only when you need it.
• Get your boiler serviced.