Tips on How to Save Money on Your Central Heating

If there’s a household bill we would all love to reduce, it is the cost of heating our homes.  Even with the most efficient central heating system, the increasing cost of gas and electricity can cause our bills to increase.  But are there any steps we can take to save money on central heating without spending the winter shivering?

Basic heating tips

Did you know that by turning down your heating by 1 degree you can save as much as £60 a year on your heating bills?  Obviously, you want a comfortabletemperature, but it is worth trying to reduce the thermostat by that one degree to see if you are still comfortable and potentially save some money.

Keeping the heating on a constant low temperature is better for your bank balance than turning it off then having a big blast to warm the place up.  Using a thermostat to accurately control your heating means you can set it at a lower temperature when no-one is home then increase it when you are due in.  This also reduces the risk of burst water pipes in winter.

If you have a power shower, considering turning it down one level.  Power showers can use a shocking amount of energy to heat the water and often you don’t need it to be quite as powerful as the default setting for a good, vigorous shower.

Thermostat use

One of the biggest ways to save money on your central heating is to have a good thermostat that gives you lots of control.  Many people are switching to smart thermostats that can be controlled by your smartphone or other devices.

The aim of the thermostat is to allow you to program time schedules to ensure the heating is always at the right temperature.  With smart thermostats, you can even select different heating patterns for different days of the week.  So, say you work late on a Thursday or you take the kids swimming on a Tuesday evening – you can set the thermostat to stay on a low setting until the time you come in for those specific days.

Adding thermostat controls to individual radiators also gives you extra control.  This lets you set a lower temperature in unused rooms while a higher one in the bathroom, for example.

Home insulation

Insulating the home can have a dramatic effect on its energy efficiency and therefore save money on your central heating bills.  The loft is a prime area for insulation work – we lose the most heat through the roof as it rises.  Get an insulation expert to look at how well insulated your home is and if it might be better to add more.

Even blocking draughts can help with those energy bills.  While a home does need some ventilation to stop damp problems, little cracks in brickwork or mortar can let in the cold air and force the heating system to work harder, costing you more money.  And don’t forget to close doors on unused rooms like bedrooms to help keep heat in.