Irish households advised to shut their curtains at 4pm

It could help you keep your house warm in the coming months

Whilst Ireland looks set to bask in some mid-September sun this week, it won't be too long before the nights draw in and we start reaching for the hoodies and blankets.

And with high energy prices hitting us all, many of you will be looking for ways to stay warm without having the heating on too much and burning a hole in your pocket.

Luckily, the there are some rather handy tips floating around on how to combat the cold over the coming months.

This includes advice for people to shut their curtains, to help retain heat in rooms.

Drawing your curtains at dusk is one of the big tips for households looking to keep the warmth in.

After the clocks go back in October, dusk will be around 4pm each day.

It is recommended that the temperature in your home should be at least 18C, especially for over 65s or people with health conditions who may be at risk from the cold.

Met Éireann recommend minimising all draughts, leaving heating on low for long periods.

The national forecast also suggest that opening doors to allow warm air to circulate to unheated areas of your house will help prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.

Other tips include checking your home is properly insulated, making sure radiators aren't obstructed by curtains or furniture and fitting draught proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors.

When it comes to keeping your home warm in winter, there's often debate over when to turn your heating on and how long to keep it on for.