How To Save Money on Heating: 20 Expert Tips

The cost of heating your home can be one of the biggest bills you face each year, especially due to rising energy costs and living expenses. If you’re looking to save money on heating bills, then you may assume that it’s a case of spending a cold evening shivering.

The good news is that there are many energy-efficient ways to start saving money on your energy bills while keeping your house warm.

Here, we share our very best tips on ways to save money on your heating bill.

Save Money on Heating: 20 Practical Tips and Tricks

Layer Up

OK, so this one may sound obvious but hear us out.

Bundling up isn’t always the most practical option (have you ever tried to do your chores while wearing several layers of clothing – the sweat is real!) but it’s an easy way to start reducing heating bills.

The best way to save energy is by wearing thermal layers. Wearing a layer or two of thermal clothing with an extra thick jumper, cardigan or sweatpants over the top means you can easily take a layer off if you get too hot.

Plus, thermal layers are better at retaining your body heat, meaning you can wear fewer clothes but still stay warm.

Get A Smart Meter

Having a meter to track your energy use is a game-changer for saving energy.

Almost every energy company offers customers meter installation. Even having a smart thermostat can significantly reduce your energy consumption so you’re paying less. This is because you can change the temperature of your heating via a smart thermostat.

Not everyone can replace their thermostat controls or invest in insulation, particularly if you’re renting. However, using a meter which connects to your phone helps you to keep track of what you’re paying.

Stop Heat Escaping

Losing heat is one of the main ways your home feels colder than it should, meaning you use more energy.

To prevent heat loss, identify areas where draughts are causing warm air to escape. A few places where you may be losing energy include:

• Windows and doors – for these, you can purchase draught-proofing strips which help to seal unwanted gaps. If you’re on a budget, a layer of cling film over your window can also help to seal gaps, preventing energy from escaping. Heavy curtains do a great job too.

• Floorboards – if you notice spaces or gaps between your floorboards and skirting board, using a silicone-based filler will help to stop hot air from leaving your home.

• Open fireplace – common in older houses, open fireplaces cause heat loss via the chimney. One way to counteract this is to block your fireplace up. This helps your home to retain heat so you save more money.

Time Your Home Heating

Timing your central heating system can save money on your energy bills since you’re only heating your home for a specific amount of time.

Most heating systems have heating controls that allow you to put your heating on at a specific time of the day so you don’t waste energy.

There’s no point increasing your home’s temperature if you’re going to be out all day. However, setting it to come on as you come in from work, for example, is a cost-effective measure to implement.

Replace Your Boiler System

Installing a new boiler isn’t for everyone. But, if it’s over 10 years of age, it won’t be as effective as it once was.

Getting a new boiler installed could save you money on your heating costs in the long run, especially if you get a condensing boiler. A condensing boiler is are extremely efficient, more so than a standard efficiency boiler.

Modern boilers will help you to save money on energy but you’ll need the cash up front to install a new boiler.

A Modern A rated condensing boiler is more energy efficient than an old style boiler so if boiler switching is on your radar you may want to consider this. As an alternative, consider having a boiler service every year to determine that it’s working at optimal efficiency.

Turn Off Your Radiator In Unused Spaces

Save energy and money by turning your radiators off in areas that you don’t use.

You can do this via your radiator valves by turning it down. You can always turn them up again when you need your central heating to be warm.

Fill A Hot Water Bottle

One cheap way to use less energy is to use a hot water bottle.

You can pick these up for a couple of pounds and use them to heat your bed before climbing in or if you simply need to increase your body temperature. A warm drink is also a great way to stay warmer during the colder months.

Get The Right Insulation

Having the correct insulation is a game changer for keeping warm air inside your home.

Cavity walls and floor insulation are just two ways to save on your heating bills since they stop heat from escaping. Solid walls lose heat almost twice as much as cavity walls so installing insulation can significantly reduce heating costs.

How much is insulation? You’re looking at around £200 to £600 depending on the size of your home. However, you may be able to get a government grant to cover the cost.

Even insulating your hot water cylinder (something you won’t need to worry about with combi boilers) with a hot water tank can improve energy efficiency for lower bills.

Turn Down Your Central Heating

Turning down the temperature of your central heating system has a massive impact on your heating bill. Check your room thermostat to determine the current temperature.

Turning down the temperature of your heating system by just a few degrees can cut your heating bills by hundreds of pounds over course of a year.

Plus, keeping the heating at a lower temperature prevents the risk of frozen pipes in extremely low outdoor temperatures.

Improve Double Glazing

Double glazed windows lock in more heat, reducing your heating bills in the long run.

If you already have double glazing check that they’re still working as efficiently as they should be. If you notice condensation in the middle of your window, this is often a sign that you need to replace it.

Pay For Your Heating Bill Via Direct Debit

Getting your heating bills taken directly from your bank account can save money on energy.

Setting up a direct debit each money can save you up to £100 each year so it’s worth switching if you can make the monthly payments.

Update Your Heating Controls

If you have old style heating controls, it may be worth updating them to save money on your heating bills.

Updating the controls for your heating system puts you in more control of how it operates, enabling you to reduce your carbon emissions and use less energy.

Using a contemporary control is said to reduce your energy bills by up to 20% so you could make a massive saving from essentially one small switch.

Flush Your Radiators

Flushing your radiators every five years eliminates sludge from them to improve their performance and allows hot water to flow around them.

If you’ve ever noticed your radiators feeling like they have cold air at the top and heat at the bottom, this is often a sign that the radiators need flushing.

So, how do you flush your radiators?

First, turn off your heating system and place a towel under the radiator you want to flush.

Next, turn off the radiator valves – this is to set it apart from the rest of the heating. To do this, twist the radiator valve to ‘off’ or zero. Then, remove the plastic cap from the lockshield and turn it clockwise. Count how many turns it takes you to turn it off.

Now, you’re going to bleed the radiator by placing a wrench on the thermostatic radiator valves and using a bleed key to open the bleed valve. Doing this lets the water out.

Do the same thing on the lockshield side and then close the bleed valves. When the water has stopped, remove the radiator from the brackets and take it outside to flush it out with a hose.

Finally, reconnect your radiator and turn the lockshield valves the same number of times that you previously wrote down. This will balance your radiator.

Make The Most of The Sun

The sun is an excellent way to heat your home and one thing that us Brits generally forget about. When it’s sunny outside, open your curtains to let the light in and increase the heat within your home.

Close Your Doors and Windows

You’d be surprised how many people don’t close windows and doors to keep heat in.

Remember to close internal doors, especially if one room is unoccupied for a length of time. For example, if you have a spare bedroom, keep the door closed to maximise the temperature of your heating.

Improve Airflow Within Your Home

Arranging your rooms can improve airflow within your home so that heat is distributed more evenly.

If you have rooms that feel colder than others, you may want to think about how you can improve their layout. For instance, avoid blocking radiators with large pieces of furniture.

Cosy Up With Soft Furnishings

A blanket, cushions, thick curtains and fur rug are a few ways to maximise the potential of your heating system.

Thicker fabrics are warmer, helping you to reduce costs. Dunelm, Ikea, The Range and B & M are good stores for finding more affordable home furnishings.

Avoid Drying Clothes Indoors

Drying your clothes indoors causes condensation, dampness, and prevents your radiators from giving off adequate heat.

Even if your radiators don’t have thermostatic radiator valves, they will try and reach a specific temperature. However, putting wet clothing on them will reduce their temperature so you end up wanting your heating on for longer – therefore, increasing your energy bills.

Invest in Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating isn’t cheap but over time, it can reduce the cost of your heating system. While it can also take a while for underfloor heating to warm up, you may not need it on for as long or as high a temperature.

Open Your Oven After Cooking

Once you’ve finished cooking, leave your oven door open to let the heat escape into your kitchen. This is a clever tip for heating your home – just make sure no young children are around.

FAQ’s

Does keeping your heating on save money?

Keeping your heating on doesn’t save energy costs, particularly if you have an older house with ineffective insulation.

Also, heating your home when no one is home wastes energy and won’t make your home warmer in the long run.

What is the cheapest way to heat your home?

Many people think using a space heater reduces costs, the energy saving trust says that it is more expensive than using traditional heating.

Gas central heating may be the cheapest option for most houses in the UK.

Is it cheaper to keep your house at a constant temperature?

According to the energy saving trust, leaving your heating on at a constant temperature won’t mean you save on energy.

How many hours a day should my heating be on in the UK?

The experts at the energy saving trust state that the average household in the UK should heat their home for no more than a few hours in winter.

The energy saving trust also says that the best way to start saving money is to use your thermostat controls to control the temperature of your home.

Should I switch energy providers?

With energy costs rising, it’s probably not worth switching right now as you won’t save much money. It may be worth getting a fixed tariff from your current supplier to prevent any more cost rises.

Prices are expected to increase again in winter so a fixed tariff would protect you from this.

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