The arrival of the new year has brought with it a continuation of the adverse weather conditions of 2023, with ferocious winds and freezing temperatures affecting swathes of the country.
Google searches around heating have seen a 108 percent rise in the past month, with queries such as ‘how to lower heating bills?’ and ‘help with energy bills’ rising by as much as 2,700 percent.
With the cost of living crisis and rising fuel costs, online designer radiator specialists BestHeating has compiled a list of effective tips to help reduce household bills this winter.
Jess Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating, has shared seven pieces of advice that could save Brits over £500.
Turn the heating down by one degree – save up to £80
It may not seem like much, but turning the heating down by one degree could drastically cut the cost of your gas bills, with Jess saying that the thermostat is often set too high.
“Research proves that we put our heating on too high of a temperature during winter so there is an easy saving to be made. Too many of us set the heating to 20C or more, but 18C should be comfortable enough,” the heating expert said.
“Turn the thermostat down by one degree to see how you feel and by doing this you can save around £80 or up to 10 percent on a gas bill.”
Check and replace loft and wall insulation – save up to £200
Jess said: “A quarter of the heat lost from a home is through poorly insulated roof spaces. If your house is old it may have just 100mm of loft insulation depth, but change this to the recommended amount, 220-270mm, and save as much as £200 on energy bills. Once done this lasts for decades so can be worth thousands over time.”
Only heat the room you use – save up to £115
A common, and simple, mistake that many households make is heating the whole property, as opposed to just heating the room you’re using.
“Turn off radiators in rooms that are not in use as this will allow your boiler to work more efficiently, make the room you are in warm up faster, and can save up to £115 on heating if used daily,” Jess said.
“Just make sure not to turn radiators off in the room with the thermostat or it will cause the boiler to work harder and affect temperatures around the rest of the home,” the heating expert added.
Avoid leaving heating on all day – save up to £150
“When it is only 2°C outside you will want the heating on all day, but if it’s around 10°C, target the morning and evening when the sun isn’t out to feel the true effects,” Jess suggested.
“Save money by ensuring your heating is on a timer so it is only used for a few hours per day. By cutting usage from 12 hours to six, you could save up to £150.”
Bleed and maintain radiators – save up to £130
Plenty of money can be saved by performing regular checks and maintenance on your radiators.
Jess explained: “A quick and easy job that will improve the efficiency of your radiators is bleeding them to release trapped air.
“Check for cold spots at the top of a radiator to allow hot water to circulate freely which can lower bills by around £130 a year.”
Prevent draughts – save up to £45
“Place draught excluders between doors and windows to block those gaps as this will leave the room feeling warmer for longer. This stops cold air from entering the room you are in as long as the doors are left closed too, and the Energy Saving Trust predict this saves as much as £45 a year.”
Don’t block radiators with furniture – save up to £50
A very common mistake made in households across the country is placing large furniture in front of radiators, which actually stops the flow of warm air.
“Blocking radiators with appliances such as a sofa, armchair or table, will make a room feel colder and means a boiler has to work harder. Leave at least 20cm to better distribute heat,” the heating expert added.
