6 tips to save money on heating bills without sacrificing comfort

1. Get more from your radiators

The vast majority of us heat our homes using radiators. Whether your central heating system is run on gas, oil, or via a heat pump, you should make sure your radiators are working at maximum efficiency to save on costs. Using a radiator key, bleed each radiator in your home to remove any trapped air.

Also check and clean behind and around your radiator to remove blockages and ensure consistent warmth. And, although it may be tempting when your washing line is out of action, avoid placing wet clothes over radiators. This may dry your clobber, but it'll reduce the heat getting into your room and risk causing damp in your home. Finally, consider using radiator reflectors to redirect the heat back into the room.

2. Service your boiler regularly

An efficient running boiler is key to keeping your bills down. Make sure you schedule annual maintenance to keep it running smoothly and to detect any issues before they become costly, and chilly, problems.

Service your boiler with Koziwarm

When it's time to service your boiler, get in touch with us here at Koziwarm. We're a respected family-run business with over 40 years installing, repairing, and maintaining gas boilers all over the North East. Our experienced and trustworthy engineers can provide a straightforward, no-nonsense service and ensure your boiler is working at its best when you need it most.

3. Heat only the rooms you use

It wasn't so long ago that most homes were heated only by stoves or open fires (and indeed, this remains the case for many rural properties in the North East). In this scenario, it was common for families to converge in only one or two heated rooms. So while a majority of us today enjoy the benefits of central heating, this rationale of heating zones still applies.

Close the doors and turn radiators off in rooms you rarely use during the winter, and you should notice a difference in your energy usage. Also, make the most of any precious natural heat on offer. Even the coldest days can enjoy bright sunshine, so make sure the curtains to any sun-soaked rooms are always open.

4. Manage your thermostat wisely

You should schedule your thermostat to optimise your heating schedule throughout the day. This ensures you won't waste energy heating an empty house. While it's not advised to switch the heating off completely, particularly in freezing temperatures, programme your smart thermostat so that your home is at its warmest when your house is most populated (morning and evening, for example).

During the night, when everyone is tucked up in a nice cosy bed, you can allow the house temperature to dip, provided it's scheduled to warm up again once it's time to rise and shine the next day. Don't hesitate to experiment with temperatures you and your family can comfortably live in. You might be surprised to discover how much you can save when lowering your thermostat by just 1°C from your normal temperature.

5. Insulate your home

Of course, the more heat you can keep inside your home, the less you'll need to use your heating. Insulating your house as best you can is therefore integral to keeping those bills down. Depending on the age of your windows and doors, there's a good chance that they'll be the main culprits when it comes to drafts and escaping heat. New windows cost a lot of money, but DIY sealants available online do not. Thick, heavy curtains and blinds can also help to keep heat in, and the chill out.

Rugs and mats on hard floors will also do a job. And while loft and wall insulation is no small job, keep an eye out for government initiatives offering grants to improve your home's insulation and energy efficiency.

6. Layer up

At the risk of offering the sort of advice your grandad might have grumpily championed, layering up in warm and comfy clothing might allow you to reduce your thermostat by a degree or two without compromising your comfort.

By this we mean knitted cardigans, quilted gilets, or fleece hoodies. Fluffy blankets for relaxing on the sofas are also recommended, as are snug slippers. It's important to note however, that wearing outside coats indoors should never be considered as a replacement to putting your heating on.