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We all enjoy the thought of coming home to a lovely and warm house. However, heating your home can cost a significant amount. Your central heating system is likely the main contributor to your household bills. With this in mind, there is potential for some big savings if you’re willing to make a few changes.
Follow our list of tips below to make the most of your heating system and save money on your heating bills. Sometimes, you may have to spend a little bit of money upfront on reducing your energy bills in the future. However, there are some free ways to reduce your heating bills. Take a look at the list below to see what you could do differently to save some money.
ways to reduce your heating bills
Bundle Up
The more clothing you wear during the winter months, the less you’ll need to turn up the heat within your home. Depending on your tolerance for the cold, you may notice that you feel comfortable if you put on a warm sweater and a pair of soft, fluffy socks.
When you’re lounging around the house, curl up under a blanket so that you don’t have to turn the heat up as high. It’s also a smart idea to put an extra blanket or two on your bed so that you can turn your heating down while you sleep.
Close Off Any Unused Rooms
Depending on the size of your home, you may have some rooms that you barely use. If that’s the case, there is no need to heat these unused rooms.
Simply turn off the radiators in those rooms and close the doors if you’re not using those rooms regularly.
Keep Heat From Escaping
Firstly, you should always ensure that your windows and doors are tightly closed and well-sealed. Go around your windows and doors and check for air leaks where warm air may escape, and cold air may enter. Older windows and doors will often need to be resealed, which can make a huge difference in the heat levels in your home.
If you have ducts in your home, these can be a source of heat loss. Seal the ducts around the joint with some sealant or heavy-duty tape.
Add Insulation
Adding insulation to the walls and attic in your home can help to lower your heating bills significantly as this will reduce the percentage of heat that is lost through the walls and the roof.
The level of insulation you need will vary depending on your location and the area of the insulation.
Clean Your Radiator System
Ensuring that your system water is clean and free from sludge will make your heating system much more efficient. This is also good for the ongoing lifespan of your heating system and your boiler.
A good way to check if your system is sludgy is if you notice cold patches at the bottom of any of your radiators. Also, if some radiators take longer to heat up than others, these may be affected by sludge.
Update Your Heating Controls
Modern heating controls are much more accurate than older ones. You may want to consider installing a new thermostat, programmer or thermostatic radiator valves.
Updating all of your heating controls will allow you to have better control over the temperatures around your home. You may also be able to do extra things such as setting your heating to a timer.
Time Your Heating
A timer will allow you to schedule when your boiler turns on or off, so you don’t need to do it yourself manually. A programmer will allow you to set different times and temperatures for your heating throughout the week so you can achieve optimum efficiency.
When you set up your heating schedule, you should make sure your heating is never on at times when you’re not home or when you may not need the heat, such as at night time.
Install a Ground Source Heat Pump
Fitting a ground source heat pump system can help you generate up to four times as much heat as a typical electrical system. This type of heating system is one of the most reliable and environmentally friendly ways to heat your home.
The main benefits of a ground source heating system are that the energy is renewable, the energy-saving aspects, the low noise levels, and the low maintenance requirements.
Use Space Heaters
In some cases, it may be better for you to switch from your full central heating system to a small space heating unit. This is best for those who spend most of their time in one room. Space heaters tend to warm the room pretty quickly.
When using a space heater, you can keep the rest of your heating system on a very low setting, saving you a significant amount of money.
