10 tips on keeping the warm in and bills down this winter
Central heating season is nearly upon us, most people in the UK use central heating from October through until until early Spring. to combat the seasonal dropping temperatures and the clocks going back. With the cost of living crisis many people are worried about what's to come this winter so we've put together 10 tips for keeping in that heat in.
1 - Nothing Is Free (except the sunshine...)
It might sound like the simplest thing but sometimes the simple things are the ones that make the difference. Heat from the sun is free so you may as well make the most of it! Having the curtains open and letting in the sunlight in during the day and closing them when it gets dark to keep the cold out, this also helps to reduce condensation.
2 - Re-think Your Layout
You might think that being close to the radiator is a good thing but sometimes it has the opposite effect. If you have bulky furniture (sofas, armchairs, beds) right next to radiators it absorbs the heat that could be circulating around the room. your home. By moving furniture away from the radiator, hot air can circulate freely. The same goes for your curtains or clothes horse.
3 - Insulation is the Word
You've heard it a million times already but insulation really matters. About 25% of heat in the home is lost through the roof, it's recommended that to keep the heat in you have a minimum of 25cm of insulation throughout your loft.
It's also worth looking at wall insulation. It's not cheap but it could save on heating bills. Around a third of the heat in a home is lost through uninsulated walls. There are grants for internal wall insulation available through your local council under a government backed scheme.
4 - Grab a Jacket
Walls and lofts aren't the only things that need insulation. If you have a hot water tank (also known as an immersion tank), you should make sure that it is make sure it is properly lagged - they sometimes call this insulation a jacket. It keeps the heat in and keeps your water warmer for longer. Depending on the size of your tank and what kind you get, they can cost as little as £20 and potentially save up to £150 a year.
5 - Timing is Everything
We're all guilty of being a little impatient at times but setting the heating to come on earlier at a lower temperature is more cost effective than whacking it up high right when you need it. This is because a boiler heats up at a constant speed no matter what temperature it's set to. If you set your heating to come on 30 minutes before you get up in the morning or 30 minutes before you get home from work but at a lower temperature you'll save yourself some money and come into a toasty home at the end of the day.
6 - Turn It Down!
Said no one, ever... It might sound crazy but turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bill by up to 10% and there is evidence to say a couple of degrees colder might actually be better for you. The World Health Organisation used to recommended a minimum temperature of 21°C in the living room but in 2014 Public Health England revised this to 18°C.
7 - No One Has Time For Draughts
When you're trying to conserve heat nothing is too extra, including draught excluders. Draught-proofing your doors, windows and cracks in the floor could save £25 per year according to The Energy Saving Trust. It might not seem like much but draught excluders are easy to fit and you can pick them up for around £5 online. For less than the cost of a fancy coffee you can save a bit of money on your heating bill and keep your home warmer.
8 - Reflect the Heat
Radiator panels are a cheap and easy to fit way to stop the radiators heating up the walls and reflect the heat back into the room. You can pick up a roll of radiator foil for less than £10 from your local hardware shop.
9 - Home Upgrades - Thermostats and Radiator Valves
If you're not already part of the smart home revolution this is the time to start. Forgot to switch your heating off this morning? No worries you can do it from your smart phone. Research at the University of Salford has shown that installing heating controls and theromostatic radiator valves results in energy savings of 40% compared to a house with no controls. How crazy is that? Nearly half your energy bill and you have the convenience of being able to programme your heating to come on at whatever time you like and even control it when you're not home.
10 - The Ultimate Upgrade
Of course, not everyone has the money for a new boiler just lying around but it might be an idea to start saving for one. If your boiler is more than 10 years old, it's probably time to replace it with a new, more efficient one. Depending on your current boiler, you could save up to £350 with one of the new A-rated condensing boilers. Plus, if it’s new, it's less likely to give up on you on the coldest day of the year.