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Heating makes up half of your average monthly bills. Shocking, right? Your home’s central heating system takes up huge spaces in your bills. But you can’t compromise on staying warm during those harsh, cold winters.
But there are some simple ways to save money on heating. These will also significantly impact your monthly budget!
There are plentiful heating systems used in the UK. The most common ones are gas central heating, electric heating, oil heating, combi boilers, solid fuel heating, and smart heating systems.
The choice depends on the budget, energy efficiency, type of building, fuel availability, and personal preferences. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s vital to choose the best one for you.
All the heating systems mentioned above can dig a huge hole in your pockets. To avoid this, there are certain tips that you can follow.
A thermostat is a device that regulates the temperature of a heating or cooling system. This simple device can be used to save money on heating. The ideal temperature is somewhere between 18 ℃ and 21 ℃.
Ensure your thermostat is set at this range to get the best out of it. A study confirms that turning down the thermostat can save you a lot of money every year. But ensure that the temperature doesn’t go below 18 ℃. Also, ensure the thermostat is not blocked, as it may affect its sensitivity.
Updating your heating controls can do wonders! It’s pricey to replace your entire heating system if it is outdated. Instead, you can opt for new heating controls. The new advanced ones are highly accurate.
Various heating controls include timers, load-programming thermostats, weather-programming thermostats, and smart thermostat heating systems. The type of heating control is mostly based on the kind of heating system you use.
But, if your usage is more than average, opt for a smart thermostat heating system. You can control it using an application. A smart heating system increases heating efficiency. It also reduces the unwanted usage of heating.
Every machine needs to be in tip-top condition to work efficiently. The same goes for your radiator system. Ensuring the water in the pipes and radiators is clean and sludge-free is important. It increases the radiator’s life and efficiency.
Cold spots at the radiator’s bottom indicate the presence of sludges in your radiator. Gravity, power, and chemical flushes are ways to clean your radiators.
Also, bleed your radiators periodically. The process lets the trapped air out. It is important because the trapped air stops the warm water from circulating inside the radiator.
This is the easiest way to reduce your electricity bills. Warm air tends to escape through holes, resulting in frequent heating. Therefore, one can save a lot by taking baby steps like closing curtains when it is dark outside and blocking draughts.
Draught is the warm air that escapes from the house. It can be reduced by blocking the gaps in the keyholes and gaps at the bottom of doors. Installing a secondary glazing film on windows also helps keep the heat intact.
Low-carbon heating systems aim to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel usage. Heat pumps that run on renewable energy sources, biomass heating, and solar thermal systems are some of the examples.
Upgrading to such systems could lead to cleaner energy. It will also result in increased efficiency. A low-carbon heating system is quite expensive, but there are boiler upgrade schemes that will help you financially.
Many energy-efficient devices can reduce your electricity bills by saving power. One can install energy-efficient bulbs and upgrade to fridges with a freezer that has an A+ rating.
One can also reduce the usage of heavy power consumption devices like dishwashers and tumble dryers. It undoubtedly helps in cutting down costs.
Insulating is an easy and effective way to keep the heat intact in your house. There are various types of insulation, like solid wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, pipe and radiator insulation, and floor insulation.
They can be implemented according to your house’s needs. Concrete walls let heat twice as much as cavity walls.
Gaps in the floorboards are also prone to heat escape. Installing proper insulation is the only solution to keep the heat intact in your house.
Modern boilers are mostly of condensation type. Condensation boilers recover heat that would be normally lost during the combustion process. It converts this into additional heat energy.
Therefore, they are more efficient than normal boilers. Switching to condensation boilers is the best way to utilize unused energy fully.
Ensure that your boiler’s pressure is between 1 and 2 bars to let it work effectively. Getting an annual boiler check helps in avoiding repairs. A timer helps in using the boiler only when it is needed.
In the case of a combi boiler, 60 degrees Celsius is its effective working temperature. Therefore, maintaining the boiler at this particular temperature increases its efficiency. But it would help if you didn’t go below 60 degrees Celsius as it may lead to the growth of legionella bacteria.
The preheat function in a combi boiler keeps a certain amount of water hot inside the boiler. But turning it off helps you avoid unnecessary power usage.
The thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) should be maintained at a low temperature. It can be increased gradually according to your needs. Keeping it at a high temperature doesn’t make the radiator heat faster.
Also, don’t cover your radiator with curtains or lock it in a cabinet. This common practice limits heat circulation. You can also upgrade to a smart TRV, which you can operate from your phone, making it hassle-free.
Making your heating system efficient doesn’t stop at reducing your electricity bills. It also contributes to an energy-efficient world. So, make sure that you are energy efficient in every possible way and follow all these steps to save money on heating.
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This is a super useful article. At this time and age, we need to reduce our carbon footprints. But at an individual level we are not always sure what steps we can take. This article tells you all the steps you can take to make smarter energy-conserving and money-saving choices.