With temperatures plummeting, and putting the heating on costing a small fortune, many of us will understandably be wondering how we’re going to keep warm while not breaking the bank this winter.
However, there are a number of simple ways households can save on their heating while also keeping warm.
Turn down your boiler’s flow temperature
One quick thing most of us can do to get instant savings without compromising on the temperature you heat your home to is adjust your gas boiler’s flow temperature, which could save you up to nine per cent off your heating bill.
If you have a combi boiler, you can change the temperature of the hot water going to your radiators by going to your boiler and toggling down the setting marked with a radiator symbol. Nesta has created an interactive boiler temperature tool to walk combi boiler owners through the process of changing flow temperature settings for your heating.
If your combi boiler’s heating flow temperature is set to max, it won’t be operating close to the efficiency it’s advertised at. If you have a hot water cylinder in your home, you should ask an engineer during an installation or service if this can be changed. This is because you normally can’t set different heating and hot water temperatures with these boilers, and stored water needs to be kept at a minimum temperature, so it’s best to be careful.
Turn your thermostat down
Another option is to turn your thermostat down a little. Each degree you turn it down, the more energy you save. The NHS reckons that temperatures as low as 18°C are healthy for most people. Turning it down could also save you money.
The Energy Saving Trust claims that decreasing by one degree can save up to ten per cent off your heating bills. Use thermostatic radiator valves to keep less occupied rooms cooler, creating a zonal heating system in your home. But make sure the radiator nearest your room thermostat is always on so that this room can heat freely and your boiler turns off when it’s supposed to.
If you only need to heat one room in your home, it may be cheaper to use a portable electric heater and keep the thermostat turned down. For those who live alone or work from home, investing in an electric heater could save on heating bills over time as you’re not heating your whole home unnecessarily.
Electricity is more than three times as expensive as gas per kWh, so use portable electric heaters sparingly and rely on central heating with thermostatic radiator valves for long duration and multi-room heating.
Find and fix those draughts
Draught proofing is also worth considering. It may not sound like the ideal way to spend an evening or weekend, but this is one of the easiest and cheapest options to hold in the heat in your home. You can draught proof any gaps but remember to leave some space for ventilation, so leave any purpose-built vents clear, such as trickle vents or grills in wooden flooring.
If you don’t already have the materials, then getting down to a hardware store and buying some adhesive, waterproof tape made of PVC or foam to put around doors and windows is a good starting point. Door snakes are another relatively cheap option, and so too are old pillows.
Explore government grants and benefits
Finally, explore whether you’re eligible for government grants. If you’re replacing your heating system, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme helps you to decarbonise with a heat pump if your home has no outstanding insulation recommendations. If properly installed in suitable propertiesit’s cheaper to run than boilers.
Cold weather payments can help to top up energy bills during particularly cold nights, while the Winter Fuel Payment helps people born before September 1956 to pay their energy bills. Fuel Direct lets you deduct essential bills directly from income support, Universal Credit and other assistance available to you (the exact amount is decided by Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre).
For more free money-saving tips and consumer rights advice, visit Which
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