Winter is fast approaching and many of us are likely to start feeling the chill. That means sooner or later you can expect your energy bills to rise. No one wants to nor should be cold and uncomfortable at home, but high energy bills are something most of us will want to avoid. The good news by making a few simple changes you can save a lot of money on your heating bills but still ensure you are toasty warm. Look through our handy tips below for some great ideas on how to save on heating costs this Winter.
Make Sure Your Thermostat Is Set Correctly
You don’t need to make big adjustments to your thermostat to save money on your heating costs. Just turning it down by 1°C could save you up to £75 a year and you may not even notice the difference. Monitor your thermostat, especially if you live in a busy household as other people could change it without you knowing. If you live in a busy family home make sure everyone knows what the temperature the thermostat should be set to. You could even invest in a smart thermostat where you will have fingertip control through your mobile device which will allow you to keep an overview of the temperature at all times.
Insulate
Many older homes and quite a few newer ones, do not have adequate loft insulation and a lot of heat is lost because of this. It is worthwhile checking your insulation and ensuring you have the recommended 270mm of insulation in your loft.
Use draft Excluders
Draft excluders are a simple and effective way to save money on your heating bill. Draft excluders come in many different sizes, but they all work in pretty much the same way, by preventing drafts from coming in through cracks and gaps in doors and windows. When properly fitted draft excluders will help keep rooms warm and comfortable.
Use Heavy Curtains
Closing your curtains especially during the colder months of the year can help you save a lot of money on your heating bills. However, how effective this will be will really depend on how thick your curtains are. Swap light weight curtains to heavy or thicker ones or try adding a thermal lining to your existing curtains. The thicker the curtain the more it will insulate the window and the room will stay warmer for longer, which means your heating system will come on less frequently to keep your home at your selected temperature.
Check Windows
Windows are a large source of heat loss especially if they are quite old, single paned, are made of wood which might have warped or if the double glazing is damaged. So, what can you do to reduce heat loss through your windows? The simplest and cheapest thing to do is to use draft excluding tape or adhesive patches to seal gaps. If you don’t have the budget available to get your windows professionally repaired, using a home window installation kit will usually do the job at least temporarily. One option to consider is secondary glazing. This is simply a second set of windows with their own frames installed behind your existing windows. This could be a more economical way of improving your glazing than repairing or replacing them fully.
Buy A Hot Water Bottle
When it gets colder many people rely on electric blankets or portable heaters to make things more comfortable. However, these can be very costly to run which is why you should consider using a good old-fashioned hot water bottle instead. Boiling water in the kettle is much more energy efficient than an electric blanket.
Make Your Radiators Work For You
There a few things you can do to make your radiators more efficient while also saving money on your heating costs. First of all, make sure the radiators aren’t blocked by furniture, as this will only serve to block the heat. You also shouldn’t dry clothes on them as this will again block the heat they give out. Reflector panels are also a good investment for radiators as they will help the heat stay in the room. You might want to consider using thermostatic radiator valves. These are valves with temperature settings on them. The valve then senses the air temperature in the room and controls the hot water flow to the radiator. These are not as accurate at temperature control as a thermostat, but they do allow better individual room control, especially for those rooms which get too hot.
Boilers
Don’t forget to have your boiler serviced and your central heating system flushed out regularly. This will keep all the internal system clean and ensure that heat transfer is as efficient as it can be. Your boiler will then not have to work as hard to keep your home warm.
Change Energy Provider
This is often overlooked, but once you have done everything you can to reduce the amount of energy you are using to heat your home the final thing to do is change your energy provider to get the best deals on your gas and electricity supply.
Dress for the Season
I know every parent in the country is probably saying this right now – put a jumper on. Wrap up instead of turning the thermostat up! Wearing multiple layers of clothing will help to keep you at the right temperature this Winter, as will making sure you have something on your feet, slippers or thermal socks will keep you cosy and warm.
We hope you have found our tips to save on heating costs helpful. A few small adjustments can make a big difference and shave a lot of money off your heating bills.
