With energy bills remaining a top concern for most households, finding ways to trim your usage without freezing shouldn’t feel like a full-time job.
From debunking common heating myths to spotting the ‘vampire’ devices draining your wallet, these 10 simple shifts will help you keep the heat in and your costs down.”
1. Lower Your Hot Water Temperature
Most modern boilers allow you to set the specific temperature of the water for your taps and showers. Many people have this set much higher than necessary, meaning they have to mix in cold water just to make it bearable. By lowering the boiler’s hot water setting to the maximum temperature you’d actually use, you stop wasting energy heating water only to cool it down again.
Safety Note: For systems with a separate hot water tank, experts recommend storing water at at least 60°C to prevent Legionella bacteria. If you have a combi boiler, you can safely go lower (around 55°C) as the water is heated instantly.
2. Debunking the “Always On” Heating Myth
It is a common misconception that leaving the heating on low all day is cheaper.
In reality, a building loses heat faster when the internal temperature is high. Leaving the heating on means your boiler must intermittently fire up just to replace that lost heat. Energy specialists agree it is significantly cheaper to heat your home only when you are there to benefit from it.
3. Zone Your Heating
The primary goal of heating is to keep people warm, not furniture. Turn off or lower radiators in rooms that are rarely used, such as spare bedrooms. However, if your home is prone to damp, keep a low level of heat in these rooms to prevent moisture build-up and protect your pipes during extreme freezes.
4. Eliminate “Vampire” Power
While turning off a single device might only save pennies a day, the cumulative effect of mobiles, laptops, and consoles across a large household really adds up. Research from British Gas suggests that “vampire devices” left on standby can cost the average UK household up to £147 a year.
5. Use Blinds and Curtains Tactically
Think of your curtains as an extra layer of insulation. Close them as soon as the sun sets to trap heat inside, especially if you have older windows. Conversely, on sunny winter days, open them wide on south-facing windows to let the sun’s “free” solar energy warm your rooms.
6. Ventilate to Reduce Heating Costs
It sounds counterintuitive to open windows in winter, but “wet” air is much harder and more expensive to heat than dry air. Opening windows for just 10–20 minutes flushes out moisture from cooking and breathing without significantly cooling your walls. Once closed, your walls will quickly radiate their stored heat back into the fresh, dry air.
7. Heat the Person, Not the Room
For those looking to maximize savings, “heating the person” is incredibly effective. Adding a layer of clothing or using a blanket can allow you to drop the thermostat by a degree or two. Electric blankets are particularly efficient because they provide direct warmth for just a few pence per hour.
8. Skip the Tumble Dryer
Tumble dryers are among the most energy-hungry appliances in the home. Whenever the weather permits, hang clothes outside. If you prefer the softness of a dryer, try air-drying your clothes most of the way and only using the machine for the final few minutes to “fluff” the fabric.
9. Become a Draught Detective
Gaps around doors and windows act like a “heat haemorrhage.” Simple DIY fixes like silicone sealant for window frames or adhesive draught tape for door seals can make a massive difference. A quick tip: run a damp finger around frames on a windy day; you’ll easily feel the cool air movement where a seal is failing.
10. Install Radiator Reflector Panels
If you have radiators on uninsulated external walls, a lot of heat is wasted warming up the brickwork outside. Placing reflector panels behind these radiators bounces the heat back into the room. Note that there is no benefit to doing this on internal walls, as that heat stays within the house anyway.
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