Five energy-saving tips to help you save nearly £100 on gas and electricity bills this winter
Cold weather warnings have been issued for most of the country with temperatures set to drop below freezing until the weekend. Higher energy costs may be influencing many people’s decision on whether to turn the heating on to stave off the colder air, especially as heating and hot water account for over half of the average household’s energy bills.
It’s important to be aware that if you are struggling to pay energy bills, or feel forced to choose between ‘heating or eating’, energy providers are obliged to offer all customers help, so get in touch with them as soon as possible and your local council to make sure you’re not missing out on additional support.
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There are five simple checks every household can do today, which could help save nearly £100 on annual energy bills. These are ‘low and no cost actions’ you can take to save energy and money, especially during the colder months.
These include bleeding radiators, turning down radiators in rooms not being used, reducing your hot water temperature and blocking draughts.
Five ways to winter-proof your home
Turn down empty room radiators - saves up to £40 a year
When you’re not using rooms, turn radiator valves down to a lower setting - do not turn them off. Turning off radiators completely in rooms you are not using is less energy efficient as this means your boiler has to work harder to maintain the temperature of a room you are heating than if kept at a low setting.
Turning off radiators can also cause issues with mould and damp.
People over 65, children under 5 and those with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to cold temperatures. Make sure you are warm enough and have a minimum indoor temperature of 18 Celsius - which is setting 2 or 3 on your radiator valves - to ensure you’re healthy and comfortable.
Reduce your hot water to 60C, saves up to £10 a year
If you have a heating system with a separate hot water cylinder (instead of a combi boiler), you can turn down the temperature of the cylinder itself so that water is not heated unnecessarily.
You’ll usually find the control for your hot water cylinder one third of the way up the tank. The temperature should not be reduced below 60C, as legionella bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease can survive and grow in warm water stored below 60C.
Find and fix draughts, save up to £40 a year
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective actions you can take to stop or prevent heat escaping and reduce your energy bills.
Block unwanted gaps around windows, doors and floors that let the cold air in and warm air out. Make sure you don’t block or seal any intentional ventilation, such as extractor fans, underfloor grilles or airbricks, wall vents or trickle vents.
Window film is a form of temporary secondary glazing which helps stop heat escaping through glass. You can buy it at hardware shops and online and install it yourself or with the help of a professional.
If you have gaps between your window and the frame, a fast and free temporary solution is to use kitchen towel or toilet paper to block out cold air. Just roll it into thin strip and push it into any gaps until the gaps are filled.
Bleed your radiators
Bleeding radiators makes your home warmer and can help reduce the cost of your energy bills. It does this by removing air pockets which reduce the pressure in your radiator so you don’t need to turn the heating up as much.
Find out how to bleed your radiators with a quick and easy, step-by-step guide here.
Get your boiler serviced
An annual service helps keep your boiler running safely. Faulty boilers can be very dangerous. During your boiler service, a Gas Safe registered engineer checks for leaks and issues and they will ensure that your boiler is running properly, which can save you money on future repairs.
Find out more about boiler services here.
