You’d like to think that in the year 2022 in one of the most developed countries in the world, the majority of the British population wouldn’t be struggling to keep their homes warm without breaking the bank. Such is the reality of our current global situation as the cost of living sky rockets and energy prices go through the roof.
As frustrating as it is, there are some steps that you can take to keep your heating on whilst cutting down on your overall spending. Again, in an ideal world we wouldn’t need to be so miserly, however, if you implement even a few of the tips to follow in this article you can alleviate much of the stress and anxiety that many people are feeling right now.
Insulate your loft
An insulated loft can save you from £350 to £600 per year on your energy bills (depending on whether your home is semi-detached / detached). This might sound like an overly complicated project, however, if you have easy enough access to your loft it can certainly be done without having to pay for a professional installation. There are plenty of videos online that can guide you through the process and once you’re finished you’ll have a much easier time of keeping your home nice and warm throughout the winter months.
It can cost anywhere from £450 to £635 to insulate a loft properly so while you won’t see an immediate return on your investment, within a few years it pays for itself.
Service or replace your boiler
This is another expense that might seem unnecessary, however, a well-serviced boiler that is functioning optimally will not only heat your home more effectively, but do so for less.
If you haven’t had your boiler serviced recently we recommend having it serviced at your earliest convenience. A qualified heating engineer can spot any potential problems and have your boiler working in perfect order in no time.
Alternatively, if you’ve had your boiler for over 10-years and it is on its last legs, it may be worth upgrading to a new, energy-saving system. Again, it’s an expensive investment, but one that pays for itself over time.
Turn the heating down
Assuming your boiler is in good working order, there’s no harm in turning it on this winter. If you are feeling conscious about how much money you’re spending, turning the thermostat down as little as just one degree can actually make a big difference.
The fact is, a one-degree reduction can slash your energy bills by 10% and you likely won’t even feel the difference – particularly if you’re wrapping up warm.
Wrap up warm
It’s frustrating being told to wrap up warm when you should be able to heat your home without having to make such big financial sacrifices, however, it’s an effective way of regulating the use of your home heating.
Thicker jumpers, big blankets, snuggly socks, slippers; there are so many different ways you can layer up and keep yourselves warm during the winter months.
Winter-proof your home where possible
- Chimney balloons: do you have an old chimney in your home that doesn’t get any use? If so, you might want to get your hands on a chimney balloon and plug that hole immediately! The Energy Saving Trust estimates that homeowners can save up to £65 per year on their energy bills with an easy £20 investment on a chimney balloon. Not only that, but it will keep all of the warmth from escaping unnecessarily.
- Draft stoppers: in addition to that, you should get some draft stoppers for the doors in your home. So much heat is lost through the bottom of doors and this can easily be alleviated with some cosy draft stoppers. If you want to save some money, you could even throw some bundled up towels down instead.
- Seal cracks in windows and doors: window frames and doors are the biggest culprits for cracks. Not only do these allow the heat to escape and the cold to enter, but they provide easy access for unwanted pests as well. Go around your home with a fine-toothed-comb and look for any gaps that can easily be filled. Keep your home nice and air-tight if you wish to retain much of that expensive heat this Christmas!
Turn the heating off in unused rooms and block the doors
Make sure you have turned the radiators off in the rooms that do not get used. Then, close the doors and seal them with draft stoppers to keep the warmth from the rest of the house in.
You should also make sure that any sofas, beds, or other large items of furniture are not in front of your radiators, blocking the heat and preventing good air circulation.
Moving your furniture around could be the key to improving the overall efficiency of your home’s heating this year.
Be vigilant with electronics
Switch your appliances off at the mains when you are finished with them. Standby mode consumes an estimated 2%-5% of the power used by televisions when they are in use! Sure, it doesn’t equate to all that much in the grand scheme of things, but when coupled with all of the other appliances in your home, it adds up.
You should also be sure not to ‘overcharge’ your mobile devices. Unplug them as soon as they reach full charge.
The same applies with lights. When you leave a room, switch the light off.
All of these little things, while seemingly insignificant, can make the world of difference.
Final thoughts
Let’s recap:
- Insulate your loft
- Service / upgrade your boiler
- Wrap up warm
- Winter-proof your home
- Chimney balloons
- Draft stoppers
- Seal gaps
- Etc.
- Turn radiators off in unused rooms
- Be vigilant with electronics.
We hope that you’ve found this article insightful. You’d be surprised by how big a difference the little things can make – particularly when paired with other energy-saving tips. Good luck, stay warm, and have a very Merry Christmas!
