Save Money On Your Heating

Cut heating costs this winter

When the weather turns and the temperature drops, we tend to have our heating on for longer – although some people have admitted to limiting the amount of time they heat their house in order to save money, is that really the only solution?

There are ways that we can save money on our energy bills during the coldest months of the year without sacrificing the cosiness indoors.

Turn Down the Thermostat

Is it that simple? Actually, yes – according to the Energy Savings Trust, by turning down your thermostat by just one degree you can reduce your energy bills by up to ten percent!

Bleeding your Radiators

Air can become trapped inside your radiators, meaning that water cannot circulate properly and produce cold spots. This can mean your radiators take longer to heat up, and you use more energy – and spend more money. Bleeding your radiators can eliminate this problem and increase efficiency throughout your whole system.

Service your Boiler

If your boiler is not running as efficiently as it should, then that can cost you more money each month. Check that your boiler service is up to date, and if it has been a while, it may be worth getting an engineer out before it starts to snow. If your boiler is older, and no longer as friendly to your wallet or your carbon footprint, you can replace your old one with a newer, more efficient boiler with the government ECO (Energy Company Obligation) scheme, Find out more here.

Insulation

Poor insulation can lead to more heat escaping from your home.  Luckily, it’s not just boilers that the government’s ECO scheme can help with; you can also get help installing insulation for lofts and wall cavities. For information to see whether you can qualify, head to www.gov.uk/energy-company-obligation.

Set a Timer

If your job takes you out of the house for most of the day, there is no point having the heating on while you are not there. Set a timer for the heating to come on around half an hour before you come home – that way you have a warm welcome but don’t spend more than you have to.

Chimneys

A lot of heat can escape up a chimney. If you have one there are a couple of ways to stop the heat escaping: You can cap off a chimney, or for a more budget-friendly option of a chimney balloon – it is not only cheaper, but it is easy to install.

Closing your Curtains

Yes, something as simple as closing your curtains can help keep heat from escaping your room. Also, it may be worth purchasing some draught excluders to lie along the bottom of any doors.

The Oven

Ok, this does sound a bit ‘out there’, but opening the door of the oven once you are finished cooking can provide an extra boost of heat to your home – just warn everyone in the house beforehand!

Hygge

Put on an oversized jumper or wrap yourself in big blanket and give yourself the Hygge effect. This Danish word translates to a feeling of cosiness. Why not make it über-hygge and treat yourself with a big mug of hot chocolate?