Ways to save money on your heating

Use these tips to make everyday changes and home improvements to save money on your energy bills.

As the temperature drops, the worry about increasing energy bills rises. But you’re not alone. It’s a difficult time of year for everyone, but by making these small changes and investing in new efficiency measures, could help save money. After all, lots of small savings soon add up.

Cat sleeping on a radiator

Using these tips could help lower your energy bills and save money on your heating this winter.

Keep the heat in

Keep the heat in

Keep your doors closed and buy some draught excluders to make sure the heat stays in. There’s no point in heating your hallways or empty rooms. Get your curtains lined for an extra layer of insulation to help your home stay warm and cosy in the evenings.

You could also consider installing a Letterplate Eco, which is a specially designed letterbox draught excluder, to prevent cold winds getting into your home.

Use a… fan?

Use a… fan?

Yes, using a fan in winter might sound weird, but it can keep the warm air moving around your home. This is useful if you have cold spots that hot air doesn’t usually reach. A fan on a low setting is cheaper than putting the heating on and more cost effective than a space heater.

Source: Save on Energy

Think about your windows

Think about your windows

Are your windows double glazed? If not, it’s worth thinking about getting them done. Although it will cost you money upfront, it could save money heating your home in the long run.

You could also recaulk the outside of your windows to prevent cold air creeping in through cracks and holes.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

Get smart with your radiators

Get smart with your radiators

Smart radiator valves let you control your radiators from your phone and track the energy being used, so you know which ones are doing their job and which are wasting heat.

Source: Energy Saving Tips

If you want to spend less, a cheaper energy-saving option is to stick reflective foil behind your radiators. This stops heat from being absorbed by your wall and reflects it back into your room instead. Foil is especially useful if your radiator is underneath a window.

Source: Tin Foil Hack

Upgrade your thermostat

Upgrade your thermostat

Look into getting a smart thermostat, if you don’t already have one. Smart thermostats let you control your heating from your phone, which means you don’t need to be at home to switch it on or off. That way, if you forget to turn it off before you leave your house, or if you’re running late, you can ensure you’re not wasting energy warming an empty home.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

Insulate your hot water tank

Insulate your hot water tank

Your hot water tank stores all the warmth for your home. If it loses it, it will continuously have to get warm again, wasting energy and money. By zipping it up in a hot water cylinder jacket, you can reduce heat loss.

A British Standard jacket costs around £20 but could save you around £70 a year. Another effective way to save money heating your home.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

Put down carpets

Put down carpets

If cold is getting in through your floorboards, you may have to resort to more drastic measures such as laying carpet. This can stop draughts coming up through the cracks.

If the room is large and your home is Victorian or older, you may want to consider a permanent solution, such as installing mineral wool insulation between layers of floorboards.

Source: Ideal Home

Roof and loft insulation

Roof and loft insulation

Did you know a quarter of heat is lost through your roof if your house isn’t insulated? If it’s installed correctly, loft insulation can last 40 years and pay for itself many times over.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

Thick curtains

Thick curtains

You can avoid losing heat through your windows by using thicker curtains, particularly ones with thermal lining. Or, you can line them yourself with material such as cheap fleece, or use PVC shower curtains.

Source: themillshop.co.uk

Bigger ideas

Depending on your budget, there are plenty of bigger changes you can make to your home to save money on heating bills. Take a look at 10 ways to improve energy efficiency of your home.