Heating experts have revealed the secret tricks to lowering home energy bills while settling the ideal thermostat temperature debate.
Households across the UK are crippled by soaring costs for heating their homes, with a typical family’s electricity and gas bills rising by 54%, which equates to £693 a year on average.
But many people don’t know the simple money-saving tricks that can add up to hundreds of pounds more to our pockets every year.
What temperature should you set your thermostat to?
Niraz Buhari says that for every degree you turn down your thermostat, you can save about 10% energy. Photo: PA
Niraz Buhari, CEO of home emergency insurance experts Smart Cover, said: “The UK is in the throes of a cost of living crisis and many families are struggling under the weight of soaring fuel prices. ‘energy.
“However, there are a few simple tricks that many don’t know about that can make your upcoming bill a little easier to swallow.
“For example, for every degree you turn down your thermostat, you can save around 10% energy, which can make a huge difference to your wallet.
“Although the ideal temperature for you will always depend on your own home, the general rule of thumb is that 20 degrees Celsius is sufficient for most properties, while 18 degrees is still a safe and cheaper alternative.
“In the meantime, making sure your thermostat is in perfect working order and not obsolete can save money, as it helps prevent appliance degradation and reduces waste of energy.
“And as always, making sure you’ve mastered the basics like properly insulating the home, preventing drafts, and regularly bleeding radiators can all play their part in creating an energy-efficient home. energy to reduce bills.”
Energy Saving Tips
The experts at Smart Cover have compiled their top tips to help you control your bills.
1. Keep an eye on your thermostat
It may seem obvious, but making sure your thermostat is set to a reasonable temperature can make a huge difference, as each extra degree can add up to 10% to your bill.
The government recommends a set temperature of 18C, while “room temperature” is generally considered to be between 18C and 22C.
It’s also a good idea to consider if you need heating, for example if you’re alone in the house and it’s not too cold, or if you’re leaving town for a few days.
2. Make sure your radiators are in good condition
Faulty or poor quality radiators can be a big waste of energy because your boiler burns a lot of fuel to produce heat that doesn’t translate into a comfortable home.
Many of us forget that we need to bleed radiators – remove trapped air – once a year to make sure the heat can get through, while drying clothes on them can also waste energy as the heat is not felt in the room.
Wiping them down once a week can also help as it removes unwanted dust buildup that prevents maximum heat from passing through.
3. Choose the right location for your thermostat
Where you place your thermostat can have a big impact on how much energy you use and, therefore, how much you spend on your bills.
If possible, it should be on an interior wall somewhere in the center of your home and away from radiators, windows and doors.
The reason for this is that hot air or cold air sources can create false readings and make you think you need to turn the volume up or down when it really isn’t necessary.
4. Make sure your insulation is up to snuff
Some homes, especially older homes, can waste large amounts of energy no matter how carefully you adjust the temperature.
This may be because there is not enough insulation in the walls, or because there are small gaps in the floors or ceilings that let cold air in and warm air in. .
It may be a good idea to have your insulation checked by an expert so that you don’t have to continue fighting a losing battle.
5. Take out insurance to avoid an unwanted surprise expense
Sometimes things break. It’s one of the sad realities that our appliances can stop working at any time – and often at the worst possible time.
It may not only cause massive inconvenience, but also result in a heavy expense that we did not budget for.
Taking out an appliance insurance policy can give us better control over our expenses and, above all, the peace of mind that we won’t have any unpleasant surprises out of the blue.
