Save £90 on energy bills this winter by doing these five checks now

Linda Howard
·3-min read

Heating and hot water account for over half of the average household’s energy bills, so it’s important to know what you can do now to prepare your heating system before the colder months kick in to help save money on your winter gas and electricity bills. New guidance from the UK Government explains that there are “many low and no cost actions you can take to save energy and money over the winter period”.

The ‘Get ready for Winter’ guidance goes on to list several simple steps households can take to save up to £90 during the colder months, without forking out a small fortune. These include bleeding your radiators, turning down radiators in rooms not being used, reducing your hot water temperature and blocking draughts.

READ MORE: DWP issues new Winter Fuel Payment update for every State Pensioner

READ MORE: Pensioners no longer due Winter Fuel Payments could still get up to £200 this year

Five ways to winter-proof your home before the cold weather starts

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.

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.

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