Ben Gallizzi, Uswitch Energy, comments: “With UK temperatures dropping into single-digits in the coming days, many people will be looking for ways to keep themselves and their homes warm during this chilly period. Unfortunately, this cold snap coincides with an increase in energy bills for many consumers, as standard variable tariff prices rose on 1st January."
“To keep costs down, it remains important to track your energy usage and change your habits in a safe and manageable way while still keeping warm. There are several checks you can make around your home to ensure your heating is working efficiently, and ways you can effectively change your energy use to help keep costs down.”
Tips from Uswitch.com
Uswitch.com offers tips to keep costs down in a safe way while staying warm:
- Keep the thermostat down and at a steady temperature: If they can, try to keep the thermostat at around 18°C, which is the recommended temperature for people in good health. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that households turning the thermostat down by just one degree could cut bills by up to 10%.
- Check the boiler: Reducing the flow rate on combination boilers can quickly knock money off heating bills, and they won’t even notice the difference. These types of boilers work best when the water going to the radiators is heated at 60°C or below. However, most boilers are set to a much higher flow rate, costing households more money.
- Check the radiator settings: Most radiators have valves that can control what temperature they reach. Turning down the valves in rooms they use less often can help save money. When turned on, double-check if there are any cold spots, which may indicate that the radiators need bleeding.
- Avoid obstructing the radiator: It’s best to keep the radiators as free of obstructions as possible. Sofas placed in front of radiators will absorb heat rather than letting it spread around the room.
- Draught-proof the home: Cutting draughts is a quick and cost-effective way to keep the home warm while saving money on the bills. Seals between the door and the frame will help prevent heat from escaping, and they should also block any gaps around the windows and the loft hatch. Draught excluders placed at the bottom of the door of any room they are in can also keep the chill-out.
- Consider curtains: Curtains are also great at preventing heat loss. Remember to close them at night when it's colder, and open them when the sun comes out to let the warmth back in.
- Try a heated blanket: Heated blankets are a great way to avoid getting into a cold bed at night. The good news is that using one for 30 minutes before they get under the covers is more energy efficient than putting the heating on, and will add just 11p to the bills over a week.
- Use the radiators for drying clothes too. If the heating is on already, they could use them to dry the clothes at the same time, rather than using a more energy-intensive tumble dryer. Be aware that the increased condensation from drying clothes could lead to mold. Dehumidifiers that remove the extra moisture from the air typically use 185 W, which will cost 10p for two hours—much cheaper than a tumble dryer.
- Track the energy use. Households looking for an easy way to see how much energy they are using this winter can download Utrack, a free mobile app that lets consumers connect to their smart meter and easily track their energy use. By tracking their consumption, people can see what changes they can make to save money, while also ensuring they are reducing their habits in a safe and manageable way.
