For most households the recent financial crisis is extremely worrying, the huge rise in gas and electricity prices is often unaffordable, so how can you save money on your energy bills?
Should I install a new boiler?
If you have an old inefficient boiler then you could save money on your bills by installing a new energy efficient boiler. Heating and hot water account for over half of what most households spend on energy bills, so an efficient boiler can make a big difference.
What else can I do?
There are a few simple things you can do to help to reduce your energy costs.
Check your boiler settings
If you have a condensing combi boiler turn your hot water temperature down to 55°C and your radiator temperature to between 50-60°C means that your boiler won’t be working as hard. The Heating and Hot Water Council found that turning down the flow temperature could save households between six and eight percent on their gas bills.
Radiators
When radiators have air trapped inside them it stops the warm air circulating around the radiator, that can make the radiator feel cold at the top but warm at the bottom. If you radiators are noisy making banging, clanking or gurgling noises this too is a sign your radiators need bleeding. When this happens it means you central heating system isn’t working as efficiently and it can take longer to warm up your room and your energy bills may also be higher. Regularly check your radiators, it’s recommended that they should be bled once a year even if they are working properly.
Boiler servicing
Getting your boiler serviced means that any small issues are picked up and rectified before they become bigger issues which could result in breakdown and/or costly repairs. An annual boiler service will help to keep your boiler working as efficiently as possible and your engineer may also be able to offer tips on using your boiler more efficiently. During the service the boiler will also be checked for safety to ensure that no carbon monoxide is leaking into your home.
A smart meter
A smart meter wont automatically help you save money but it does help you identify when you are using more or less energy and helps to keep a track of your spend. This allows you to be more in control. You will be able to see how much leaving appliances on, or which energy cycles on your washing machine use the most energy.
Cooking
If you have a gas hob in your kitchen, putting lids on pans and turning the heat down a little may increase the cooking time slightly but will cost less.
Need help or advice?
If you have any questions about your heating system, would like to book a boiler service or find out more about replacing a boiler please give Highfield Plumbing and Heating a call, one of our expert engineers can talk you through your options.