Top Tips to Reduce Energy Costs AND Keep Warm this Winter
As the Energy Crisis bites, many homeowners and tenants are having to make the unenviable decision of how to allocate their income between, amongst many other things, food and heating. Anything that we can do to save money is real benefit so here are a few simple tips to keep your homes warm whilst reducing your energy costs.
As the Energy Crisis bites, many homeowners and tenants are having to make the unenviable decision of how to allocate their income between, amongst many other things, food and heating. Anything that we can do to reduce energy costs is real benefit so here are a few simple tips to keep your homes warm whilst reducing your energy costs.
Reflect the Heat
Radiator panels are relatively cheap, easy to install, and ensure that heat from your radiators warms up your room and not your walls. You can also make your own DIY version by covering a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and place it behind your radiators. You can make it T-shaped too so that it sits on your radiator brackets. It'll reflect the heat back into your rooms, meaning they warm up faster and retain more heat.
Pop on some Lagging
Pipe lagging keeps the water inside your pipes hotter for longer and prevents pipes freezing. It also makes your heating and hot water much more efficient. Insulating hot water pipes with foam tubes is a cheap and easy way of doing this.
If you have a hot water tank, make sure it is properly insulated. This will keep the water warmer for longer. Simply upgrading your tank’s “old jacket” will help to save money.
Block the Draughts
Filling in the gaps around windows and doors can help you save on your heating bills, so spending a few pounds on a window draught excluder is a great investment. Even a simple solution such as a making your own sausage dog draught excluder will help keep the warmth in your home.
Bleed your Radiators
Check your radiators are heating to the top. If they aren't, the chances are you need to learn how to bleed a radiator. You'll hear air hiss and as soon as you see a drip of water, close it up again. There are lots of videos on YouTube which can help.
Get your Boiler Serviced
Give your boiler an annual service and it will last longer and work more efficiently. The cost is very inexpensive when you consider the potential savings on both efficiency and breakdown prevention.
Close the Curtains
You won't be surprised to learn that lots of warmth escapes from your home through the windows. Heat from the sun is free so make the most of it. Open your curtains and let the sunlight in during the day and when it gets dark, shut your curtains to provide another layer of insulation and keep warmth in your rooms. Make sure you don’t have any leaks or gaps so that the warm air can stay in and the cold air stays out which will also help reduce condensation. Long curtains can often cover radiators when they are closed so tuck them on the window sill and keep the radiators exposed.
Move Furniture
It might feel great to have your favourite seat in front of the radiator, but it’s absorbing heat that could be warming your home. As with long curtains in the previous tip, by moving furniture away from the radiator, hot air can circulate freely and get the most out of your heat source.
Use the Oven
Once dinner comes out of the oven, we all close the door again. But why waste that heat? Leave the oven door open when you switch off the oven and let the heat transfer slowly into your kitchen.
Roll out a Rug
Wooden floors might look lovely but they can also let heat escape from right under your feet. Putting down a warm rug covers up the gaps and ensures your toes stay toasty.
Insulation Creation
Use any spare foam pipe lagging as a door draught excluder - just cut a section to fit the bottom of your door, then slide it on to form a tight seal against the floor. You could also use spray foam insulation to fill any cracks and gaps in your walls or at the back of cupboards. Just be sure to check the can for all safety precautions.
Your Ideal Temperature
It’s easy to turn the thermostat all the way up when it's freezing cold but what’s the ideal temperature for your home? Aim to set your main room thermostat somewhere between 18°C and 21°C. It's also a good idea to set your thermostat to one temperature and then use a timer to turn it on and off when you need the heating most. That way you won't waste excess energy from leaving the heating on too high, for too long.
Research shows that turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bill by up to 10%.
Set your boiler to turn the heating on around 30 minutes before you get up in the morning, but at a lower temperature than you normally would when you get up. A boiler heats up at a constant speed whether you set your thermostat to 15°C or 25°C. However, don’t make the mistake of leaving your heating on low all day if you're not there to 'keep the house warm'. You’re just paying for heat when you don’t need it.