Winter is the time when heating bills can soar and keeping a home cozy and warm can come at a cost. Everyone wants to know how to save money on heating, especially those who are now working from home, thanks to the pandemic.
Using efficient heating methods, insulating your home, and using ‘smart’ controls are just some of the ways you can lower your heating bills. You may even qualify for a grant to make some energy-saving improvements that cut your carbon footprint and your bills.
Only heat the rooms where you spend time
Only heat the rooms where you spend time as having the heating on in rooms you don’t use is a waste of energy and money. Close windows and doors to contain energy. Heating individual rooms are easy when using electric heaters. An electric heater can be portable or it can be mounted on a wall in a specific room, like a bedroom or bathroom.
Now maybe is the time to swap a gas or oil-fired boiler for low-energy, zero-emissions electric heating. When you use less energy, your energy bills are lower and you save money.
It may not cost as much as you might think to install energy-efficient heating where you need it most in your home. Consider energy saving electric heaters from Best Electric as their modern designs are aesthetically pleasing in any room and they will help you to reduce your bills.
They are suitable for any room in your home and you can control them individually. Some other brands that you consider for electric radiators include Haverland, Ecostrad, and Dimplex.
Insulate your home
Insulation is one of the most important factors when heating a home. An insulated room requires about 50% more energy to heat it up than an insulated one. Insulating the loft is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the warm air generated by your heating system from escaping.
Anywhere in your home where two materials meet needs checking and sealing. You can also lose a great deal of heat from gaps in doors and window frames. Make sure to fill them with draught-proof material. Use a flexible, silicone-based filler to fill any gaps in floorboards and skirting. Insulating your pipes by covering them with foam tubes will maximize their efficiency.
Install and use central heating controls
Having central heating controls can reduce your heating costs in various ways. You can turn your heating on and off at times that suit you. You only need to heat the parts of your home where it’s necessary and you can set different temperatures for different areas. You can keep your home at a comfortable temperature without wasting any heat. A smart thermostat allows you to operate your heating remotely via the internet using your tablet, computer, or mobile phone.
If you only have one thermostat for your whole house, each degree you turn it up will increase your heating bill by about 10%. Rather use a blanket or put on an extra jumper before turning up the heat. The lowest comfortable temperature is typically between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
Get a new boiler
Replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a modern energy-efficient one can significantly reduce your heating bills. If you have a boiler that is more than ten years old, you need to consider replacing it with a top-rated condensing boiler with a room thermostat, a programmer, and thermostatic radiator valves.
Buying a new alpha combi boiler and having it installed can be expensive. If your old boiler can be repaired, balance the savings you will make by repairing it against the cost of the upgrade. Gas boilers won’t be around forever, so if you want to be prepared for the future, consider going for a renewable heating system instead.
Get help to make your heating more energy-efficient
You may qualify for energy grants from the government or from energy suppliers to make your home more energy-efficient, cut your carbon footprint and reduce your energy bills. For example, from April 2022, a boiler upgrade scheme gives you up to £5,000 if you replace your current gas or oil heating with low-carbon heating.
ECO (Energy Company Obligation) grants are available from energy suppliers to help households make some energy-saving improvements.
