This has risen sharply from the 972,000 who said they took this drastic step last year.
Uswitch's research found 55% of households citing rising living costs as the reason they would hold out on heating their homes, while a quarter of pensioners put it down to the loss of winter fuel payments, despite it being a potential health risk.
Searches for hot water bottles on the Argos website have increased by 257% year on year, while demand for heated blankets is up by 224%.
Elise Melville, the energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Cold weather can be challenging for households struggling with their energy bills, but spending winter in a cold home can be a health risk and households should keep the temperature at safe levels."
This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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