When it comes to heating our homes, most of us are interested in ways to reduce bills. When the colder weather comes, we often face a quandary. Do we put the heating on all the time and face the music when the invoice arrives? Or do we try and save money and tough it out instead? With these handy hints, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Here’s how to heat your home for less this fall.
Plug any gaps
There’s nothing more frustrating than heating your home for all the warmth to disappear through gaps under doors. Before the cold weather arrives, take a tour around your house, and note down any problems areas. It may be possible to seal window frames and build up gaps underneath doors. Alternatively, you can use thick curtains and draft excluders to make your home more watertight.
Investigate insulation
Insulation can make a massive difference to your heating bills. If you have insulation in cavity walls and lofts, you can save a fortune on heating, as the warm air cannot escape. In some cases, there are grants available for insulation. Contact your local authority office for more details.
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Heat the rooms you use
Do you work at home? Do you spend all your time in your study during the day? If so, you do not need to heat the whole house. Using innovative products from companies like Bulletproof Heating, you can heat a single room. When the kids are back from school, or you’ve finished work, you can then turn your central heating system on.
Use a thermostat
Using a thermostat controls the temperature of your home. Once you’ve set the temperature, the heating will only come on if it drops your desired level of warmth. Most people set the gauge at around 18-21 degrees in the fall/winter. If you don’t have a thermostat, you can also use individual controls on radiators. You can set the level higher in the rooms you use most frequently and lower on those you use rarely.
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Book a boiler service
Is your heating system slow or dated? If so, you may be paying more. If there’s an issue with your boiler, it may not be as efficient as it should be. Booking regular boiler checks will help to ensure your system is working properly, and you’re getting the best out of it. If you have a very old boiler, it may be worth replacing it with a newer model.
Use a radiator booster
A radiator booster is a device that is designed to circulate warm air around the room. This is an excellent option if you have a small radiator, or your radiator is positioned behind furniture or on an external wall. The booster accelerates the speed at which warm air is pushed out of the radiator. It should also reduce heat loss through an external wall.
Nobody wants to spend the fall shivering at home with as many layers on as possible. Heating your home can be a pricey affair, but there are ways of saving money. Hopefully, these tips will help you stay warm without the worry of hefty heating bills.