Top Tips for saving money on your central heating.
As the weather grows colder and colder outside, we often struggle to keep warm indoors due to fear of using too much energy. It’s inevitable that we’ll be using more energy in the winter months than we would in the height of summer, but there are some steps we can take when using our central heating to be more cost efficient.
Newer boilers are more cost efficient than older ones.
The newer the boiler the more cost efficient it will be. You may qualify for a free boiler replacement grant from the Government but if not then the downside is that they can be very pricey to buy. The good news is that you could still dramatically cut the costs by just getting your heating controls replaced as they are more accurate. According to Which? you could save between £80 – £165 a year by installing a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves.
Make sure you are getting the most out of your room thermostat.
Another top tip for saving money on your heating system is to make sure you find the right temperature. Did you know that even by turning down your heating by one degree could save you a fair bit of money. My tip would be to start your heating off at 18 degrees and then turn it up by one degree each day until you find your perfect temperature.
Set a timer for your heating.
Do you have your heating set on a timer? If not then It’s definitely something you should consider because this is another way you can save money. Your timer should let you schedule when your boiler turns on and off over a 24 hour period so you can set it to turn on at times when you are home so you won’t have to do it manually. It’s a good idea to make sure the heating is switched off 20 minutes before you leave the house as the heat should still be circulating so you can save energy.
Set your TRV’s low.
Consumer watchdog Which? emphasises the face that we should start off by setting our thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) low and then gradually turning them up until we find our most comfortable temperature.
Which? says: ‘Turning a TRV to a higher setting will not make the room heat up any faster – that depends on the boiler size and setting, and the radiator size.
Despite their name, radiators actually work by convection – cold air enters at the bottom, is drawn through the radiator and hot air leaves through the top. You can reduce your heating costs by ensuring each radiator in your home is able to circulate heat properly – for example, moving furniture away, not using cabinets to disguise them, and making sure they’re not covered by curtains.’
CLICK HERE for more advice on saving money on your heating system.
