Tips to Reduce your Heating Bills

If like us you switched on your heating this week then you could be starting to panic that’s it’s going to be an expensive winter.

We hate to put a dampener on the end of summer, but winter seems to roll around pretty quickly here in the UK, and just as we’ve packed away the BBQ’s and finished off the Pimms the first leaves have fallen and we’re putting on our coats.  

But before the bad weather arrives and the temperature really drops, it’s best to get a head start on managing those heating bills to ensure  that when the letter does arrive through the door you don’t feel so disheartened by your habits.

Improving your home during winter can be expensive and tiresome, so preparing your home now for the impending weather will give you a comfortable home, rather than battling with drafts in the future months.

Wasted heat costs money, and by doing as much as you can to prevent this, could save you a small fortune in the long run.

As every man’s home is his castle we know that you’re going to want to do as much as possible to keep it safe and warm, so follow our steps to reducing those heating bills and you’ll feel pretty smug with yourself once winter has arrived.

Compare Providers

Before you even call the tradesman or pick up a hammer, when was the last time you looked at your current energy rates?

It may seem a thankless task to begin with, and one that you may have to find some time for, but it was recently reported by Uswitch that on average you could save £228 a year by switching your energy provider.

With pressure from the government and smaller energy suppliers now cropping up on the market, there has never been a better time to make the effort and review your energy costs.

Besides thanks to new systems switching is much simpler than it used to be, so you may just surprise yourself at how quick and efficient the process is going to be.

As they say, you never know if you don’t try, and when there’s big savings to be had it’s definitely worth a little research at least.

Windows & Doors

The obvious areas that are susceptible for adding a chill to the home is the windows and doors.

With less insulating properties than found in your walls, drafts can be a regular occurrence, but they can be dramatically reduced thanks to the latest in glazing technology.

We know that there is nothing worse than a cold home, especially when you’re trying to relax and all that you can feel is that cool breeze tapping on your shoulders.

Whether your windows and doors need replacing due to age, or you’re looking to reduce your energy bills, we’ve seen a huge increase in those looking to enhance their homes with triple glazing.

You may be thinking that this is a project that can take time, but with our experience you can be draft and noise free within days.

Don’t leave improving your home until the frost starts to bite.

DIY Insulation

We all know that we should insulate our walls and lofts to prevent any heat escaping from the home, but have you ever considered placing tin foil at the back of your radiators?

Placing a sheet of foil behind a radiator enables the heat to reflect, and pushes the heat back into the room. It’s such a simple trick but works a treat, and although you can purchase DIY foil from your local hardware store, kitchen foil does just the same job without the extra pennies.

When you make the most of the heat that your radiator is producing you’ll feel an instant difference in the temperature of your home, and you’ll be able to turn down the thermostat by a degree or two.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, by just reducing your heating by a degree you can save £65 a year. Another nice bit of cash to put back in the bank!

Curtains

Thermal door and window curtains can work as an added benefit to trapping in the heat and not letting any of those pesky drafts get into the home.

Another simple solution, but a cost effective one if you’re on a tight budget.

If you’re unable to purchase these just adapt the ones that you have with a thermal lining, as even the smallest change will make you feel much warmer.

Fix It

From a leaky roof to a broken window, there may be those odd jobs that you just haven’t got round to yet, but before you know it winter will be arriving and those minor faults will start to become major issues.

Don’t put them off any longer as they will not only make you miserable during the festive season, they’ll also cause your heating to work over time due to the loss of energy from your broken home.

For a house to be as energy efficient as possible it’s essential that it’s in good working order. We’ve seen many people forget these improvements, or simply keep pushing them to the bottom  of the list during the summer holidays.

It’s true that during the warmer months we’d rather spend money improving our gardens, but investing your time into those other home improvements will make it less of a headache once winter arrives.

We can help you to carry out many home improvements to help in reducing those heating bills, so contact our friendly team today.