We’ve already seen an increase in energy bills in the UK. The hike to the energy cap has led to millions of households paying around £700 more for their heating and energy. This increase means that many households are now paying over £1,900 per year for their energy.
These increases are down to the price of wholesale gas soaring. The war in Ukraine has also had a significant impact. While you may have no control over these factors, there are still steps that you can take to get the best out of your boiler, and other appliances. These steps will, ultimately, save you money on your energy and heating bills.
Five simple steps
Whether you’re looking at your boiler, and how that contributes to your heating costs or looking at what’s zapping your electricity, these simple steps can see you saving money:
1) Remember to switch off
It’s as basic as it gets, but turning off your lights, and other appliances, when not needed really can save you money. If you haven’t already, it’s also worth making the switch to LED lightbulbs as these as much cheaper to run than traditional ones.
When it comes it your electrical appliances, if you turn these off, rather than leaving them on standby, you can save yourself around £335 a year.
2) Use less
If you want to save money on your heating and other energy, then you can do this by using less. We’re not suggesting that you sit in the dark or the cold! Instead, there are little changes that you can make to see savings.
It’s worth turning down the temperature of your washing machine, and even reducing the number of washes that you do each week. With tumble dryers known to consume enormous amounts of energy, when it’s possible be sure to dry clothes outdoors.
3) Take control of your thermostat
If you want to save money on your heating, and want to stop your boiler from becoming a money-burning machine, why not turn your thermostat down? There are savings to be made just by reducing the heat by one degree so there’s no need to suffer in the cold.
You could even explore installing a smart thermostat and taking the ultimate control over your boiler and heating.
4) Install an energy-efficient boiler
Of course, there is an upfront cost here. However, upgrading and opting for a new energy-efficient boiler will certainly bring you savings in the long run. These types of boiler can save you as much as £300 off your heating and energy costs.
To break it down, your old non-condensing (C-rated) may have an efficiency of 85% which means for every £1 you spend heating your home, you’re losing 15p! Although this initially might not seem like a lot of money, when you look at the bigger scale for every £100 you spend on heating £15 will be wasted. This is only the beginning as boilers tend to efficiency over time so you will end up losing £30 when the boiler’s efficiency drops to 70% and even more when it drops to a 50% efficiency rating!
5) Insulate your home
It’s worrying when you look at just how much heat and energy escapes from your home. This is literally money escaping through your roof, your walls, and even your windows. To save on your bills you need to ensure that your home is as insulated as possible. This means looking at your loft and walls. it also means upgrading your windows to double, or even triple, glazing to keep even more of your heat in.
