Freezing temperatures hit much of the UK last week bringing short-lived snow to many areas and January is when winter really bites.
So, finding ways to keep warm without sending your heating bills through the roof is very important and there are a lot of choices or actions you can take to keep your heating costs as low as possible for the rest of this winter.
The WhatHouse? team looks at 10 of the best options to keep your heating costs down.
1 – Check your energy deal and switch to save
The easiest way you can save money on heating costs is to ensure you are on the best value tariff. If you are signed up to a standard energy deal or you have not switched suppliers or tariffs for over one year, it is likely you are paying over the odds and could save yourself hundreds of pounds a year by comparing deals and switching.
Don’t be frightened to choose a smaller company, away from the “big six” of British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power, E.on, npower or EDF. Many of the cheapest deals are with smaller utility companies and the gas is the same and comes through the same pipes anyway!
All of the companies update tariffs regularly and choosing a fixed rate deal usually works out as the best value, but don’t sign up for too long so you can compare and switch again if need be without exit penalties.
Use more than one comparison site to compare deals to ensure you’re not missing out on any of the most competitive energy deals as not each comparison site has every deal.
2 – Make sure you pay by direct debit
Most of the cheapest deals are only available if you pay by direct debit. If you still pay by cash or cheque, you are likely to be paying a premium. Most utility firms have cheaper deals for online customers who elect to receive paperless billing and pay by direct debit each month.
Signing up for a duel fuel deal, for both gas and electricity, can also save you money, though not always.
So, if you have access to a computer, use it to search for a better deal, sign up and switch and manage your new energy tariff online to save money.
3 – Turn down the thermostat
Rather than having the heating on all day ay a temperature of 20 degrees centigrade and walking around the house in a T-shirt, turn down the heating. Cutting the temperature by just one degree, down to 19 can cut your heating bill by 10%, typically a £60 annual saving.
Put on a jumper if you still feel cold or wrap up in blankets and make sure all your windows are closed to keep the heat in. If your home is well insulated, you’ll hardly notice the temperature has been turned down a bit.
Hot water bottles are another good option and only cost a few pounds from a supermarket.
4 - Turn off the lights
The cost of lighting makes up an average of almost 20% of your energy bill and using energy saving light bulbs can reduce this cost. They last up to 10 times longer and use around 80% less energy. Each bulb replaced can save you around £120 over its lifetime, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
It really can make a difference, so when you go out. Take the time to make sure you have switched off all the lights. The same goes for appliances that are off but still have a standby light on like the TV, games consoles and mobile phone chargers.
5 - Get rid of draughts – Get insulation
Heat that you have spent money on getting into your home can easily escape! Don’t let it escape through cracks and gaps. Draw the curtains or blinds at night and use draught blockers for doors.
Another option is to take advantage of free insulation deals because making your home energy-efficient can save you hundreds of pounds each year. The Energy Savings Trust estimates loft insulation can save £175 a year on heating bills and cavity wall insulation can lead to another £135 annual saving.
Energy firms are offering some customers free insulation because they have to meet government efficiency targets or they could be fined. Grants direct from the government are available for poor households.
6 – Be water wise
The more water you need to use, the more you have to heat, which costs money. Another option to save money on your heating bill is to wash on the 30 degree programme or the quick wash function if your washing machine has that option and only use the tumble-dryer if you have to.
Repair any leaks because a continuously dripping tap wastes enough water to fill almost 70 baths a year. On this subject, running a bath uses up to 100 litres of water each time, so share baths if you can or take a shower which uses on average less than half the amount of water.
When boiling kettles, just boil the amount of water you need at the time.
7 – Replace your old boiler
Having a faulty or poor performing boiler can significantly add to the cost of heating your home. Firstly, it is likely to cost you money in repairs or an annual service and secondly, it is likely to be expensive to run and not very energy-efficient.
The Energy Savings Trust calculates that boilers use up 79% of total household fuel usage. Therefore, upgrading to a better performing boiler can save you a lot of money in the longer term.
Of course, to get these savings there will be an upfront cost of between £700 - £2,500 and plumbing costs (around £700), but again, you can reduce this by researching and finding the best deal for what you need.
Price comparison website, uSwitch estimates that using a new £1,800 A-rated boiler to replace a G-rated boiler could save you around £240 a year, which means you’d recoup the cost of the boiler in about 10 years through these savings alone.
8 – Make sure you claim any benefits you are entitled to
Winter fuel benefits are available for many people aged over 62 and the benefit is not dependant on how much they earn or have in savings.
The winter fuel payment is an annual, tax-free benefit and the amount you receive is between £100 and £300 and is available to people born on or before 5 May 1953.
A separate benefit, the cold weather payment, is paid in exceptionally cold weather. If the temperature is below zero in your postcode area for seven days in a row between November and March, you will receive an extra £25.
9 – Read your meter regularly
Send your actual meter readings in regularly to your energy supplier to avoid receiving estimated energy bills which could see you paying more than you need to and being heavily in credit, keeping your money in your suppliers’ bank account when it could be in yours.
If you are heavily in credit, then contact your supplier for a refund. If your supplier says they won’t do this, quote ‘condition 27 of the Gas Supply Licence’. This states that credits must be refunded and direct debits fair.
10 - Radiate some sense
Use your radiators in a sensible way. Air bubbles in radiators stop hot water circulating property and reduce the efficiency of the heat being emitted.
Don’t cover your radiator with curtains or cupboards. Allowing the air to circulate freely from the radiator will heat your home more efficiently.