Amid a sweeping revamp of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme, many UK householders fear they could be facing fuel poverty as colder months approach.

Launched back in 1997 to aid pension-wielding Brits with their heating expenditures, the programme used to hand out between £100 and £300 to households across the UK.

After a budgetary shake-up by the Chancellor, however, only those on certain benefits, notably Pension Credit, are now eligible for financial help, meaning an estimated 10 million individuals could feel worse off this winter.

Andy Kerr, Founder at BOXT said: “To cut government spending, Rachel Reeves made the tough decision to change the eligibility requirements for the Winter Fuel Payments, with only those on Pension Credit now eligible.

"Alongside this, the Ofgem Price Cap has been confirmed as increasing from £1,568 to £1,717 for the average household from October 1st, leaving more people vulnerable to high energy costs.

"This means people across the country will be worried about how they will deal with higher bills in the colder months."

To combat rising costs, BOXT's heating experts recommend making minor tweaks this weekend that could slash energy bills significantly during winter's chill.

Turn the thermostat down by one degree

A well-documented trick that has been helpful during the cost of living crisis is to turn the thermostat down by one degree.

Experts said: "You can significantly reduce your energy usage by lowering the central heating temperature down by just one degree and you will not even be able to feel the change in the room temperature.

"This small change could reduce your heating expenses by up to 10%, meaning that by lowering the thermostat by only one degree, you might save more than £100 a year on energy bills."

Bleed your radiators to improve their efficiency

Bleeding your radiators can help you to achieve a more efficient and environmentally-friendly home.

If there are any cold spots on the radiators while your heating is turned on, it could be caused by air trapped in the system, which leads to a reduction in efficiency. If this is the case, you can learn how to bleed a radiator yourself.

Install a smart meter

Smart meters can help you better understand your energy usage via the in-home display that comes with your smart meter.

With more information on your day-to-day energy use, you can see when you’re using the most energy, and identify ways to cut back and, in turn, save money.

Andy said: “Smart meters can help to eliminate inaccurate bills, as they feed back directly to your energy supplier, therefore you shouldn’t get an unexpectedly high bill.”

The experts added: "Using smart technology like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat can help with ensuring you aren't wasting any energy on heating your home, as you can set schedules around your usual routine and lifestyle to make sure your heating is only on when someone will be at home, saving you up to 10% annually on your energy bills."

By becoming familiar with how to operate your thermostat as early as this weekend, Brits could automatically be saving their pennies when the cold weather kicks in.

Check you have the best boiler type for your home

The experts say "The best boiler for you will depend on your lifestyle, the size of your home and the number of people living there.

"A system boiler may be a better option for larger households who use lots of hot water, however, combi boilers can be more efficient for smaller houses and flats as they only heat water when it’s needed.

"If your boiler is over 15 years old, it is worth considering upgrading it. Depending on the efficiency rating of your current boiler and the type of home you live in, you could save almost £500 a year on your energy bills simply by upgrading to a new rated A boiler."

Use insulation

In addition to wall, roof and floor insulation keeping the heat in your home, insulating your water tank, pipes and radiators is a quick and easy way to improve efficiency to save energy and therefore money.

With options such as a hot water cylinder jacket, which you can fit yourself and only costs around £15, you can quickly start making improvements.