Top 10 Hacks To Keep Your House Warm And Save On Your Energy Bills!
With the current cost of living crises, bills are set to rise. So there is no better time to try a few clever (and sometimes free!) hacks to help keep your energy bills down.
1. Switch Off Stand By
According to the Energy Saving Trust, simply by turning off appliances from stand by mode can save you up to £55 a year. Always check the instructions and by using a standby saver or smart plug, you can turn off all your appliances at once.
2. Turn The Thermostat Down By 1C And Save £££!
Research shows by turning down your thermostat by only 1 Celsius, can cut your heating bills by 10%.
3. 4 Minute Showers
By keeping your shower to 4 minutes, a typical household can save up to £70 a year on their energy bills according the the Energy Saving Trust. Also swapping a bath for a 4 minute shower can make a saving.
4. Move Your Sofa!
Got your sofa in front of the radiator? Move it, along with any other objects that might be restricting the heat from flowing around the room efficiently.
5. Add Curtains Or Blinds To Your Windows
Closing the curtains or blinds when it gets dark can act as another layer of insulation to keep your rooms warm. Likewise, in the day make sure any curtains or blinds are open to let the free warmth of the sun come in.
6. Washing Machines & Tumble Dryers Usage
Washing at 30C and reducing your wash by once a week, can save you around £28 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust. Likewise avoid using a tumble dryer and instead leaving your clothes to dry on clothing rack or outside in warmer weather, can save you £60 a year.
7. Use Heating Timers Cleverly
Set your heating to come on 30 minutes before you need it and 30 minutes before you don't. This is because on average a house takes 30 minutes to warm up and 30 minutes to cool down so make sure you're getting the most out of what you're paying for.
8. Block Out The Drafts
The Energy Saving Trusts estimates draft-proofing gaps can save up to £45 a year and can be relatively cheap to do. Self-adhesive rubber seals around doors and windows is one place to start.
9. Maximize Your Insulation
Around 25% of your heat is lost via the roof, therefore installing loft insulation can reduce this. Likewise, check your walls as a third of the heat in an uninsulated house is lost this way. Although insulating can be expensive, the saving each year on your energy bills can counter this, plus check with your energy supplier if there are any insulating schemes running which can be free or cheap.
10. Got An Old Boiler?
If your boiler is more then 10 years old, it might be worth getting a new one which can be more energy efficient and therefore save you money.