As cooler temperatures start to creep in this September, many of us are already reaching for the thermostat. Now that energy prices are an increasing concern for households across the UK, it’s more important than ever to make sure our heating habits aren’t unknowingly adding to bills. According to experts, millions of Brits are routinely making basic errors with their central heating systems – costing them hundreds of pounds extra each year.
Heating specialist Ryan Willdig from Heatforce explains the extent of the issue, warning that “many Brits are unaware of how to reduce their monthly heating bills” and that education is key to cutting unnecessary costs. He shared the five major errors that are most commonly overlooked – yet very easy to fix.
Five central heating mistakes to avoid
1. Overusing the thermostat
“When it’s cold, many of us will boost the thermostat, thinking that it will heat our home faster. However, this isn’t the case,” said the expert. In fact, rather than warming up your rooms more quickly, this tactic simply leads to wasted energy and inflated bills.
Ryan added that “each degree above 19–20 degrees Celsius can add a whopping 10 per cent to your annual heating costs”.
2. Keeping the heating on all day
The truth is, this strategy results in needless energy use, particularly when no one is home. The more efficient route is to only heat your home when necessary and to isolate unused rooms.
3. Blocking radiators
It’s pretty common to place a sofa or long curtain in front of a radiator, but this interior choice could increase bills and put extra strain on your boiler.
“Placing sofas, curtains, or even radiator covers in front of your radiators traps the heat behind them,” warned Ryan.
“Radiators shouldn’t have anything in front of them… They need to be completely bare to ensure the heat can travel around the room properly.”
4. Skipping boiler servicing
“Skipping your annual boiler service means minor issues could go unnoticed, which could reduce its efficiency,” stated Ryan. Instead, “get this booked in September to avoid any serious malfunctions in peak winter.”
5. Poor insulation
The specialist also pointed out that a poorly insulated home is one of the biggest contributors to rising bills.
The good news is that some simple changes, like draught excluders or radiator reflectors, can have a lasting impact.
Ryan said: “These won’t take long to put in place… A small, but noticeable difference when it comes to both how hot your house will get, but also your monthly bills.”