How to make the most of your heating

It’s easy to waste money with inefficient heating, but small behavioural changes and inexpensive products can make an instant difference to your energy bills. So, here are a few easy tips on how to save money and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Focus warmth!

Create intelligent heating zones allowing you to control radiators independently of each other. Using thermostatic radiator valves can save between £20 – 50 per year, by enabling you to use heating only where you need it, rather than having just a central thermostat which makes the whole house the same temperature. Installation starts at around £150, depending on where in the country you are and how many radiators you have.

Invest in a system that works for you

If you live in a small flat, money’s tight, or you’re not planning to stay where you are long-term, it may not be worthwhile spending thousands on a new central heating system. Consider infrared panels instead – an exciting new technology which heats efficiently and takes up very little space.

Only heat the rooms you’ll be spending the most time in

There’s no point paying through the nose to heat storage areas, spare rooms and hallways. It’s not worth heating parts of the house you’ll only be passing through!

Familiarise yourself with those things called doors!

They’re there for a reason – to stop draughts. Shut them when possible to keep warm air in and cold air out. ‘Zoning’ your home – separating it into rooms- will allow you to heat more efficiently.

Don’t heat an empty home

Many people fall for the long-held myth that it is cheaper to keep your heating on low all day, rather than just turning it on when you need it. It’s easy to see where this idea came from; sudden big blasts of heating can be expensive. But there’s no point heating an empty house. Just program your radiators to start up just before you get home so that your home is warm for your return!

The exception to this rule is if you are going away for tended periods during the winter, in which case you may need some heating to ensure your pipes don’t freeze. A smart heating system with a smartphone app is the easiest way to do this.

Seal heat in with insulation

Installing insulation is normally a cheap, easy, effective measure. Dense insulating materials slow heat transfer through walls to stop heating being wasted. If you don’t already have cavity wall insulation and roof insulation it’s definitely worth looking into. Some energy companies will install it for free under the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).

Get a smart heating system

Smart heating allows you to monitor your usage and costs, as well as controlling your heating remotely. You can view real time data to keep track of what you’re spending and turn heating on and off from your phone. Energy monitors start at around £100, with the option to add further units, and the measure could pay for itself in the long run.



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