British Gas, OVO, Octopus, EDF, EON customers who place container in cupboard handed free £500

Making a change to a cupboard in their homes can help save them a stack of cash amid the autumn and winter months, though.

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers risk losing £500 to their energy firm - all because of a "hard water" mistake. Making a change to a cupboard in their homes can help save them a stack of cash amid the autumn and winter months, though.

An expert claims you could save you an impressive '25%' on energy during the colder months, if you make this change. Samantha Mant, CEO of Halcyan Water Conditioners, claimed it all comes down to fixing a specific household issue which may be 'adding £500 or more' to your expenses every year.

"As energy prices continue to soar, households are running out of ways to save money on their bills," she said. "However, one way to achieve a more energy-efficient home is to install a sustainable water conditioner which can save households hundreds of pounds per year.

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"This small device takes under an hour to install and requires no additional cupboard space." According to Kingspan, around 15 million homes in the UK are affected by 'hard water'. WPJ says even just 1/8 inch of build-up can reduce your boiler's 'efficiency by around 25%'.

"This not only increases energy bills but damages appliances, leading them to break down more frequently," said Samantha. "If you live in a hard water area you can expect to replace your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine up to twice as often as a result of limescale damage."

She continued: "This small device takes under an hour to install and requires no additional cupboard space. It not only prevents future limescale but also treats existing limescale in your system making cleaning your appliances easier. As well, it provides soft water for healthier hair and skin."

The warning comes at a handy time, with the new price cap of £1717 starting within days.