Energy is one of the biggest annual costs for households across the UK, taking up a large portion of our bills. However, your energy bills don’t have to cost you the earth; in fact there are lots of things you can do to reduce your bills and save some money.
Whether you’ve noticed a sudden spike in your energy bills or they seem to be creeping up each month, just a few small lifestyle changes and habits can help you keep costs down to a minimum and ensure you’re getting the very best out of your heating system.
During winter, it’s common to see a rise in the cost of our energy bills. The cold weather means lots of us turn up our heating systems and use them far more frequently, leading to heftier bills. While winter may seem like a long time away, it’s never too early to start preparing your home for the cold weather - and doing so can significantly lower your costs, helping you to keep warmer for less.
To help you keep your energy bills low this autumn and winter, our experts have put together the ultimate guide to cutting down energy bills. From replacing your boiler to simply changing light bulbs around your house, there are plenty of things you can do - big and small - to save money.
Insulate your home
Did you know that most of the heat in your home escapes through the walls and roof? Insulating your loft and cavity walls can save you hundreds each year, helping to trap warm air in your home and keep out the cold. A properly designed and installed insulation system offers endless benefits, from preventing moisture condensation to reducing the cost of your bills.
If you’ve noticed that when you turn your heating system on, your home takes ages to heat up or all of the warm air simply seems to disappear, investing in insulation is a wise idea. An unbelievable amount of heat is lost through uninsulated pipes, walls and valves and therefore a lot of money is wasted too.
Draught-proof your property
As well as your roof and walls, there are plenty of other gaps and openings that can let warm air escape from your home. Draught-proofing your home can be an extremely cheap and effective way to keep out cold air and ensure your home stays warm and toasty long after you’ve turned the heating off. There are plenty of draught-proofing kits and draught excluders on the market for you to purchase.
You can use draught-proofing strips around the frames of your windows to seal up any unwanted gaps, whereas cracks in the floors or skirting boards of your home can be sealed with a silicone-based filler. You may be surprised by just how much heat is lost through a chimney or fireplace; if you don’t use yours, fitting a cap over the chimney pot will keep out cold draughts.
There are lots of other simple ways you can keep cold air out of your home, from placing draught excluders underneath doors to lining your letterbox. Even placing a big cosy rug over airy floorboards can help shut out some of the cold air.
Install a new boiler
If you can’t remember the last time your boiler was replaced or you’ve had it for more than ten years, it’s time for a replacement. Older boilers are typically far less energy efficient than newer models, and using an old boiler every day can cost you hundreds more in energy bills.
Your old boiler may be taking much longer to heat up than newer models and you could simply be wasting energy every month. Upgrading to a new A-rated condensing boiler with a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls can significantly reduce your bills each month and help you do your bit for the environment too. Simply find a reliable and reputable boiler installation company to install a new boiler for you.
Use your smart thermostat effectively
If you’re looking for ways to cut down your energy bills and save money, consider investing in a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats can significantly improve the energy-efficiency of your home, simply by only heating up the rooms you’re actually using. Smart thermostats allow you to:
● Heat only the parts of your home that require it
● Set different temperatures for different areas of your home
● Set your heating and hot water to turn on and off to suit your schedule
Once you have a thermostat installed, turning it down can save you lots of money on your energy bills. In fact, reducing room temperatures by just 1°C can significantly cut your energy bills each year.
Replace your light bulbs
Not only are energy-saving light bulbs far more gentle on your energy bills, but they also last longer than traditional bulbs too. Replacing traditional light bulbs around your house with LED ones can help you to cut your energy bills easily. LED light bulbs are the most energy-efficient option for your home; they use almost 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Switching to LED bulbs will pay for themselves in just a few months!
In addition to upgrading your light bulbs, it’s also important you only turn them on when you need them. Get into the habit of switching off lights when you leave the room and avoid turning them on during the day when there’s enough daylight to go without.
Switch to energy-efficient appliances
While replacing every single appliance in your home won’t save you much money, purchasing energy-efficient appliances when the time is right will make a huge difference. If your old fridge guzzles up energy or your old washing machine is on its way out, make sure you choose an energy-efficient model when it’s time for a replacement.
When shopping for new appliances, make sure you pay attention to the EU energy-efficiency rating, which can be found on the energy label. On the label, you can find the appliance’s energy rating on a scale of G-A or G-A+++, where A+++ is the most efficient. The energy label also provides other information such as estimated water usage and annual energy consumption.
Get into the habit of conserving energy
There are plenty of things you can do day-to-day around your home to help cut down your energy usage and save money. Simply making sure your washing machine has a full load every time it does a cycle and drying clothes on a washing line rather than in a tumble dryer or on radiators can make a huge difference.
In the bathroom, take shorter showers and shower instead of bathing. Turn the taps off while you brush your teeth - in fact, turn down your water tank. You likely don’t need the water as hot as it is. During the day, keep the curtains in your home wide open to let as much natural light and warmth from the sun in as possible. At night, keep them closed to shut out cold air and keep the room cosy. Before you go to turn your heating up, consider putting a jumper or getting out a blanket first!
Gastech: your reliable heating and plumbing company in Blackwood
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable heating and plumbing company in Blackwood, you needn’t look further than Gastech. Whether it’s repairs, installations or maintenance you need, our team of local heating and plumbing professionals are on hand to help.
Our team can help ensure your boiler remains economical and efficient for as long as possible and help you reduce your energy bills by a few hundred pounds a year. For more information about our heating and plumbing services in South Wales, visit our website today.
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