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Soaring inflation has created a cost of living crisis and many UK households are worried about how they will be able to cover their heating bills this winter.
The government’s U-turn to announce an energy price guarantee for all households for just six months until April 2023 only adds to families’ concerns.
Here are eight key tips from the consumer group Which? Helps save energy bills.
1. Adjust the flow temperature of the combi-boiler
If you have a combi boiler, you can save 8% (around £112) on your annual heating costs by lowering the boiler stream temperature.
By default, many boilers are set as high as 75-80 °C, but many homes with condensing combi boilers are adequately warmed with a heat flow temperature of 50-70 °C or less. increase.
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Lowering that temperature means the boiler uses less gas and works more efficiently. This means you can instantly save on your utility bills while keeping your home warm.
which one? It is recommended to lower the boiler to about 60°C and see if it is comfortable and the radiator can still work effectively.
2. Check other boiler settings
A boiler is usually the primary method of heating a home. Although it can be expensive to operate, there are steps you can take to keep your heating running efficiently.
A combi-boiler may preheat the water so that it is ready for tapping. If using a combi boiler, try turning off the preheat setting. Because the boiler keeps burning more than it should.
You can also ask your boiler engineer if you can switch your boiler settings to make it run more cheaply.
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Tenants have the right to request annual boiler service from the landlord.
which one? To reduce the potential cost of emergency repairs if something goes wrong, and to keep your new boiler under warranty, we recommend getting your boiler repaired.
3. Use a thermostatic radiator valve
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) senses the room temperature and opens or closes the radiator valve as needed. This keeps each room in your home as warm as it needs to be, and less wasteful. Money to keep the room overly warm when not in use.
which one? We recommend trying to use less heat by setting 2 for rooms that are used infrequently and 3 for rooms that are frequently used.
Nesta suggests that readjusting an existing TRV outside the living room to a lower setting than before could save an individual household a typical annual gas bill of 5.5% (£68).
Remember that heat moves to cooler spaces. Close the doors of cooler rooms when not in use to prevent heat loss.
4. Lower the thermostat slightly
Every degree you turn the thermostat down saves energy and money. According to Energy Saving Trust data, turning your thermostat down one degree can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.
According to the NHS, temperatures as low as 18°C are healthy for most people, but vulnerable people should take precautions and make sure they are comfortable.
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Try to keep at least one room at a comfortable temperature, keep the door as closed as possible, and keep that room as warm as possible.
5. Consider Insulating Your Home — If It’s Not Already Insulated
The best way to keep your utility bills down is to trap as much heat as possible in your home. So if you can afford the initial cost, insulation is a good long-term investment.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that professional loft insulation in a typical semi-detached house will cost around £480 in October 2022, but when it’s complete, it will save £355 a year on utility bills. increase.
So you can save for two winters. A single-family home will cost around £630, but the savings will be £590 a year. It also saves about 1,000kg of CO2 emissions.
Plus, you’ll be ready for what’s coming next. If a home can retain heat, future central heating options will be cheaper to operate. Technologies like heat pumps are designed to be well insulated so they can operate efficiently.
6. Look for housing subsidies
Energy plans and grants can help you pay your energy bills or support the cost of renewable heating. A warm home discount, which will increase from £140 to £150 in October 2022, will be available to pensioners and those receiving certain benefits.
People born before 26th September 1955 can claim a winter fuel payment of £100 to £300 per winter.
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Check out the benefits calculator for charities Turn To Us or the government’s Help For Households campaign to see what help you’re entitled to.
Energy companies also have their own distress funds that you can access.
7. Insulate boiler hot water cylinders and pipes
If you have a boiler with a hot water tank, you may be using a lot of energy to heat the water in the storage cylinder.
Make sure the cylinder itself is well insulated so it doesn’t waste that energy. This is as easy as buying an insulating jacket for about £20. According to industry standards, the thickness must be at least 75mm.
You can also lay pipes that carry water around your house at about 5 pounds per meter. Water loses a lot of heat in transit, so the long-term savings are small outlays. It’s especially useful to do this for pipes going in and out of the cylinder.
Delayed plumbing also reduces the risk of freezing in the cold, which can be costly to repair.
8. Use electric stoves sparingly
Many people may be wondering if they should stop heating completely and switch to electric heaters to save electricity.
Unfortunately, which one? We found it unlikely to be cost-effective over the long term. Portable heaters are great for providing a quick heat fix for a short period of time, but if your central heating system isn’t working, a portable heater can take 15-30 minutes to raise the temperature in a medium-sized room. 10°C at full throttle.
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If you pay for energy by the unit and use current price caps, electricity is much more expensive than gas. So use caution when using electric heaters instead of gas.
Using standard variable tariffs, the average unit price for a dual fuel customer is 34p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas. So his 2kW portable heater at maximum output would consume 34p of power every 30 minutes.
Once the room reaches temperature, it will turn on and off as needed to maintain this. Choose a model with a good thermostat control that can do this precisely.
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