Five things you must do now to save on energy bills as temperatures plummet --[Reported by Umva mag]

Temperatures are beginning to plummet across the UK already and you might be thinking of putting the heating on now.

When the heating comes on naturally you end up paying more bills at the end of each month.

Saving the pennies on heating costs has never been more important especially as the cost of living continues to bite.

So it’s worth making some important checks on your boiler and other appliances before you switch on the radiators this winter – and doing it now will potentially cut down on your bills.

Here’s the action you should take…

What to do before turning the heating on

You should look into all of the following in the coming weeks:

Have your boiler serviced

This is something you should be doing annually, as Andy Kerr, Founder at boiler experts BOXT explains: ‘As a general rule, your boiler should be serviced every 12 months from the day it was installed, even if you don’t see any warning signs that call for immediate action. 

‘The service is not just about keeping your boiler in top condition, but also to ensure that the manufacturer’s warranty for your boiler stays valid.

‘You might feel the urgency of checking your boiler’s health in winter, as this is when it’s being used the most, but that is quickly forgotten as the weather starts to get warmer, and we begin to turn our boilers off.

‘We recommend booking an appointment for a routine boiler service in the summer or early autumn to ensure your boiler is working at maximum efficiency before the winter months. 

‘Of course, winter is the busiest period for engineers, so taking care of your boiler when it’s being used less not only helps you spot any issues before you’re going to be more reliant on your heating but can also be more convenient and easier to get an appointment.’

Check the temperature of your water

The average household’s combination boiler water temperature comes in at between 75 and 80C – but dropping it down to 60C could see your bill being slashed by around 9%.

That potentially represents a saving of around £100 a year – but make sure you don’t turn it down any lower than that, to keep germs and bacteria which thrive in lower temperatures at bay.

Check and bleed your radiators

Bleeding your radiators allows you to release trapped air from them, which in turn will make the boiler more effective at pumping heat around your home – potentially lowering the cost of your bill.

Trapped air also prevents water from heating your whole radiator, causing cold spots and inefficient heating.

This might sound simple but after months of being off during the summer, the inactivity can result in your heating not working efficiently come winter, as your radiators can have a build-up of trapped air,’ Andy Kerr explains.

‘To prevent this you should bleed your radiators to check for any cold spots and ensure your heating will work properly when you turn it on. 

If, when the heating is on, the top half of your radiator is noticeably cooler than the bottom half, this means your heating system isn’t working the way it should and needs bleeding.

Other signs you need to bleed a radiator is if there are gurgling sounds when the heating is on or the radiators take far longer than normal to heat up.

You should do this at least once a year, and you can find instructions on how to do it and what you’ll need here.

Check your thermostat

It’s a good idea to check your timer and thermostat are in good working order, and that they are set to the correct temperature – otherwise you run the risk that the heating could come on when you’re not there and don’t need it to be on, or the temperature on the thermostat may be too low for the heating to switch on at all.

Alternatively, consider investing in a smart Thermostat which you can operate from your phone.

Ensure other checks are done

Make sure everything else is up to scratch before the colder weather kicks in – that the pilot light is lit properly, that your radiators aren’t leaking and that your electrics are in good working order.

Any faults in any of the above could mean your heating doesn’t work as it should – potentially ramping up the cost of your bills once again.

‘Take some time to replace and clean any filters, vents or ducts to ensure that airflow is not obstructed,’ Andy Kerr suggests.

‘Doing so will reduce the strain on your heating system and save you from unnecessarily high energy bills. Similarly, we always recommend checking the insulation in your home, be that around windows, doorframes or checking for any cracks that could be letting cold air in.’

This article was originally published on September 21, 2023.

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