Now that the summer is over, it is time to start preparing for the colder days. Due to recent statistics, those in Britain will tend to turn their heating on in October and will use it daily until the springtime. Heating in your homes consumes around 70% of your energy bills and so it is important to help reduce this figure to save resources as well as money. To help cut down on your spending, we have pulled together some handy tips in preparation for the colder days.
Curtains
Cleverly making use of your curtains can help you to keep your house warmer. During the day, keep the curtains open and make the most of the heat from the sunlight. As the sun starts to set, make sure that you shut your curtains, as they can act as a type on insulation. This will keep in the warm air while keeping out the cold from the windows.
Use Smart Systems
Having timers on your central heating systems helps to cut down on bills as you can time the heaters for just before you wake up on a lower temperature and then just before you get home from work. Having a timer means that you won’t have to worry about keeping your heating on all day. There are also smart appliances where you can use an app to control your systems and therefore you can turn off your heating whilst you aren’t at home.
Move Furniture
You may feel that having your sofa right by your radiator will keep you feeling cosy, though it will prevent the warmth from distributing through the whole room as the warmth will become absorbed by the sofa. This can also be the case for other furniture, so try to move some things around and make the most efficient use of your heating today.
Layer Up
Probably the most obvious and effective ways of saving on your energy bills is to put more layers on to keep you warm, this doesn’t cost a thing. You can also have a hot water bottle in your bed or along side to keep even warmer.
Radiator Foil
An inexpensive way of helping to distribute the warm air from your radiators is to place a sheet of foil behind your radiator. By doing this, it will reflect the heat into the rooms and prevent the heat from being absorbed by the walls. You can do this yourself by sticking foil onto cardboard and slotting it behind your radiator or purchasing specialist radiator foil from hardware stores.
Keep Doors Closed
Closing the doors in your house will keep in the warm air and prevent cold air from circulating from rooms which have been unoccupied.
Turn Your Heating Down
You can save around 10% of your heating bills, just by turning the dial on your thermostat by just 1°C. It is best to keep your heating on a lower temperature rather than having it on full blast.
Upgrade Your Boiler
Having a more efficient boiler will evidently help to reduce your heating bills. Regularly getting your boiler serviced will help to ensure that your boiler is working as efficiently as possible an will make sure for any potential problems which could lead to a boiler breakdown.
Insulation
This is another very effective yet simple form of keeping your house warm in the wintertime. Insulation in your attic is crucial to keeping your house warm as without proper insulation, as the heat in your properties rise, they escape through your attic and replace it with the cooler air. You can also help to insulate your homes by getting double glazing windows installed.
Draught-Proofing
Making sure that any gaps around windows and doors, can help to keep your house warmer and therefore spend less on your heating bills. It is also very cost effective.
Bleeding Your Radiators
If your radiators aren’t heating up properly at the top, then you may have to bleed your radiator. This is done by releasing any trapped air that collects and stops the hot water from rising. To do this, you need to use a radiator bleed key to open the valve at the top. You will hear the air coming out and will know when to close the valve when water starts to drop out.
Follow our tips and tricks to keep your houses warmer and you will be guaranteed a cheaper water bill.