Want to lower your heating bills? Here are six energy saving tips
There are some really simple things you can do to reduce expensive energy costs and stay just as warm. From smart radiator valves to leaving the oven door open when you turn it off, here are six smart energy saving tips that can help lower your heating bills.
1. Service your boiler each year
First up, we’d really recommend getting your boiler serviced once a year. Although in the short term it will result in yet another bill, trust us, it will save you money in the long run.
The engineer will carry out lots of checks to make sure your boiler is heating your home efficiently. And a more efficient boiler costs less to run.
A regular service also means you’re more likely to pick up on small, easily fixable problems before they become big, expensive ones – like a new boiler.
And a quick Hive tip. Book in your service during the summer months. Not only are most central heating companies much quieter so might give you a good deal. But also, if there are any problems you won’t be left in the cold while it’s fixed.
2. Take control of your heating with a smart thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat in your home is another great way to save money on your heating bills. Smart thermostats connect with your smartphone, so you can control your boiler from anywhere. And it’s easy to make sure your heating is only on when you need it.
Some, like our Hive Thermostat and Hive Thermostat Mini also come with Geo-location. If you go out and forget to turn your heating off, it will send an alert straight to your smartphone. You can then open the app and switch it off, wherever you are.
3. Turn the heat down by one degree
Next up is a helpful idea courtesy of the folks at Energy Saving Trust, who know a lot about this sort of thing. They suggest turning down the temperature on your thermostat by just one degree which could save you.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you need to sit shivering in front of EastEnders. Instead, just set it to the lowest comfortable temperature (typically somewhere between 18 and 21 degrees).
4. Use smart tech to only heat the rooms you need
Another tip to keep your heating bills down is to heat your home, room by room. Most of us just turn the heating on and heat the whole house. But not all rooms need to be warm all day. For instance, most of us spend a lot of time in our kitchen but only need the bedroom cosy for a few hours each evening.
Smart radiator valves make quick work of this. They screw onto the hot water pipe on your radiator and let you manage your central heating one room at a time, all from your smartphone.
It means you only heat rooms when you need to and won’t waste money heating any empty parts of your home.
5. Stop heat going out the window
When your heating is on, it’s important to make sure you don’t waste it. So use draught excluders on any draughty doors and make sure you keep all windows and doors shut.
If you’ve got a partner or kids who are prone to leaving windows open or you live in a big house, you might want to consider buying some smart windows and door sensors. They’re really easy to set up and will send you a notification if a window or door is left open. So you know you’re not pumping heat (and money) straight out the window.
6. Use heat that’s already there
One final tip to leave you with. Throughout the day we generate loads of heat around the home that we then waste. But little things like leaving the oven door open when you turn it off is a simple way to help keep your home warm. They won’t cost you a penny but will save you some over time.
There are lots of ways smart home tech can make everyday life a little easier. Saving you money is just one of them. Find out more about how Hive can help you.
