Experts have shared simple ways to cut the cost of heating your home this winter and potentially save hundreds of pounds
Paying for energy bills at home has become a daunting task, with costs soaring to approximately £600 more per year compared to 2022 and gas prices rocketing by 50%. With December upon us and temperatures set to plunge close to zero in the coming nights, it’s never been more vital to find ways to cut down on heating costs.
Thankfully, there are simple and cost-free methods to trim your bills. After asking numerous experts on slashing heating costs, five key tips kept cropping up.
Draught-proof your home — inspect windows and doors
This was hands down the most common advice from over 100 experts, with many flagging it as the single most effective step you can take, stating: “Draught-proofing is your first and most cost-effective line of defence.”
Martyn Bridges, director of external affairs at Worcester Bosch, along with Liz Hunter, commercial director at online comparison site MoneyExpert, both claimed that draught-proofing could pocket you annual savings of £85.
Expert suggestions included using draught excluders (or simply a rolled-up towel) to plug gaps under shut doors, affordable sealant for draughty windows and an inflatable pillow, chimney cap or other excluder to draught-proof an open chimney when not in use, reports the Mirror.
Keep your curtains open during the day and shut them when it gets dark
Nick Duggan from The Radiator Centre advised: “During daylight hours, allowing sunlight through the windows will help utilise the natural heat from the sun. In the evening, closing the curtains… helps to trap the warmth generated during the day and prevents it from escaping through the windows.”
Use your thermostat wisely
We’ve all been there – coming home to a freezing house and instantly whacking the thermostat up to full blast in hopes of getting warm quicker. But experts concur that this tactic is misguided.
Your home won’t heat up any faster, though you’ll definitely pay more for trying. Gav Murray, heating director at Hive, clarified: “While it can be tempting to crank up the thermostat, this won’t heat your house any quicker, instead using more energy to reach the higher temperature and ending up costing you more. The job of a thermostat is to tell your heating system to operate until the set temperature is achieved and if this is higher it will actually take longer rather than getting there faster.”
Experts also recommended setting your thermostat to the correct temperature initially (18-21°C) and consider lowering it by just one degree – this could slash your bills by £120.
Only heat the rooms you’re occupying
Although smart thermostats can assist in reducing waste by heating individual rooms to varying temperatures, this option may not be feasible for everyone. However, there’s a straightforward, cost-free solution: simply turn off the radiators in unused rooms.
Additionally, keep doors closed to retain heat in the room you’re using and consider leaving the oven door ajar after cooking. Christine Matthews from gr8fires.co.uk advises: “If most of the household is spending an evening together in one room, consider using a space heater, modern electric fire, or wood-burning stove to heat just that space for a few hours, rather than turning up the central heating for the whole house.”
Maximise your boiler and radiators’ efficiency
Many people experience chilly homes without checking if their boiler and radiators are working correctly. An outdated, malfunctioning boiler works harder but heats less efficiently.
Key steps to take include ensuring your boiler is in good condition and serviced, setting the flow temperature correctly, bleeding and cleaning your radiators, and avoiding covering them with furniture or curtains, which redirects heat outside rather than into the room. Prioritise your own warmth: This might seem obvious, but bundling up in additional clothing, blankets, or even utilising a hot water bottle to stay warm can help decrease your heating expenses.
Don layers of thermal underwear and socks, slip on a dressing gown, and grab a blanket while working from home or unwinding in front of the TV. A hot water bottle can also be remarkably effective.
Kevin Pennigton of Lancashire Air Conditioning noted: “Heating the home to be comfortable for someone wearing summer wear is incredibly expensive compared to heating it for person wearing warm clothing such as a thick dressing gown, or a hoodie.”
Here’s how to bleed your radiators and why it’s crucial
Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance guru at Domestic and General, explains: “Bleeding your radiators is important because when they are working inefficiently, they can drive up the cost of your energy bills. If your radiator feels cold at the top and hot at the bottom, this means there is trapped air inside of it that is preventing hot water from circulating, and needs bleeding. You should bleed your radiators at least once a year.”
All you’ll need is a radiator key or screwdriver, a bucket or mug (or just a towel) to catch the water, and a cloth for any clean-up. To bleed a radiator, switch off your central heating and let the radiators cool down until they’re safe to touch.
Then, release the air. Position a cloth or bucket under the valve to collect any escaping water.
Insert your radiator key into the valve, turning it anti-clockwise. As you do this, you should hear a hissing sound; this is the air exiting the radiator.
Use the cloth to mop up any excess water that comes out. Once the sound ceases, tighten the valve back up.
You can then fire up your central heating and feel the heat radiating from your radiator.