As winter tightens its frosty grip on the nation, many households are struggling to stay warm. Research from YouGov found that only 18% have their heating running as much as they need it – even worse, 15% can’t afford it at all! It’s essential for those in this situation to find ways of keeping costs down and staying cozy during these chilly months. Thankfully there are some great methods available… but you’ll want to make sure any advice given is reliable before acting upon it – separating fact from fiction isn’t always easy when trying to save money!
Get draught-proofing for a cosy home this winter
To ensure your home is energy-efficient and cozy, take a page from the past! Grandparents have been instinctually blocking out draughts with foam strips, plastic seals or brushes to save money on their bills for generations. For just a few pounds spent at any DIY store, seal up gaps around windowsills and skirting boards – this simple investment could pay off big time in both comfortability of your space plus increased savings on energy costs throughout the year.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, shares that draught-proofing can be an easy and inexpensive way for households to reduce their heating costs amid plummeting temperatures. Ensuring tight seals around door frames, windows and loft hatches will keep heat from escaping the home while adding a draught excluder on any doors used in your residence is also recommended for extra insulation against chilly winds.
Reduce the flow rate on your boiler
You can save more money on gas usage by tweaking the settings of your combination boiler – no major renovation required! Nesta’s research shows that people often set their boilers to a higher flow temperature than is recommended, which could be costing them an average £112 each year. Lowering the rate to 60 degrees Celsius should do it, but make sure you check out how in your specific model’s manual – then get regular services and consider insurance for added protection. Doing so will help ensure your wallet stays full during these cold winter months!
Fit special thermostatic radiator valves
Radiators with little numbered dials are thermostatic radiator valves, allowing you to adjust the heat each one gives out for energy efficiency. By setting them to suit your needs, some energy companies suggest that this can reduce your costs by up to 40%. With modern replacements making improvements on older versions and getting a grasp of how they operate, it’s certainly worth exploring!
Only use appliances when they’re full
Gallizzi warned that large household appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers can be major sources of energy consumption. To keep your power bill down – and your impact on the environment low – it’s best to ensure you only run these when they are full loads. Additionally, Gallizzi suggested setting the temperature for laundry washes at 30C – a simple step with big potential benefits!
Insulate your property
With energy efficiency measures growing increasingly important, upgrading or installing insulation could provide a long-term solution for saving on bills. Home insulation has made huge leaps forward but still many British homes lack up to date standards – meaning it might be time you considered seeing an expert who can help improve your home’s energy performance. The cost may appear daunting at first glance, yet the associated savings over time will undoubtedly make this expense worthwhile in the end!
Money saving energy myths to be wary of
Leaving the heating on low all day saves money
Forget the urban myth! Contrary to what you may have heard, experts at the Energy Saving Trust advise against keeping your central heating on all day long. Instead, using shorter bursts of heat is proven to be more energy-efficient and cost effective.
Putting foil behind radiators saves energy
Placing reflective foil behind your radiator can help maintain a comfortable temperature in any room – without needing to turn up the thermostat. However, be aware that regular kitchen tin foil won’t stand the test of time – instead go for professional-grade materials to ensure long lasting effectiveness. This costs around £8 per four metres at home improvement stores like B&Q or Screwfix.
Painting radiators black helps save money
Saving energy is a hot topic and many have sought to reduce costs by trying the unusual tip of painting their radiators black. While it’s true that darker colors absorb more heat, you would only be 1% better off with a matte black radiator compared to leaving your existing one white – hardly worth investing in paint supplies! So while we’d all like cheaper bills, unless aesthetics are your priority stick with what you have!
It is cheaper to use energy at night
For those of us on Economy 7 or 10 tariffs, running appliances at night could result in lower energy bills; however, the majority who are on standard price cap tariffs won’t be seeing any cost savings. Still there may other benefits to spreading your usage out over a day!
Thank you for reading
Gary
