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5 money saving tips for your heating controls

5 money saving tips for your heating controls

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 30th October 2018

The rising cost of gas prices (and therefore heating bills) is in the news constantly. But winter gets very cold in the UK, so where is the balance between ensuring you and your family are kept warm and not wasting money on unnecessary energy? Here are just a few ways of saving money on heating bills without spending a fortune upgrading your central heating system.
  • Update your boiler and heating controls
  • Get the best from your thermostat
  • Zone your heating
  • Programme or time your heating
  • Set your thermostatic radiator valves low

Update your boiler and heating controls

Even if you decide not to update your boiler, you can replace your heating controls, especially if they are over 12 years old, as modern controls are a lot more accurate. You could save £70 if you install a room thermostat and £30 if you fit a thermostat on your hot water tank, according to estimates from the Energy Saving Trust based on a three-bedroom semi-detached house.

Get the best from your thermostat

It may seem obvious, but turning down the heating in rooms, even by just 1 degree C, can reduce save you around £55 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Set the room thermostat to a low temperature, say 18 degrees C, and then turn it up by one degree each day, if necessary, until you find a temperature you’re comfortable with. You won’t have to adjust it further – you can then leave it alone to do its job. Please note that it is advisable for babies to sleep in a room of 18 degrees C, and that the temperature should not drop bellow 16 degrees C for elderly people and those with impaired mobility.

Zone your heating

Instead of just having one room thermostat, you can have separate heating circuits each with their own room thermostat or programmer, allowing you to zone the temperatures in different areas in your house depending on where you spend most of your time. Setting lower temperatures for parts of the house that you use infrequently, or only at certain times of the day, will save energy and money.

Programme or time your heating

A timer allows you to set times for when your boiler can be turned off in a 24 hour period – for example during the day when you are at work – without having to do it manually yourself. A programmer gives you even more options, allowing you to set times and temperatures throughout the week. To make your timer setting most effective, take time to consider your lifestyle and factors such as:
  • What time your family wakes up in the morning
  • When everyone leaves the house for work or school
  • Whether anyone remains in the house during the day
  • What time everyone returns to the house in the evening
  • Whether your home needs heating during the night when everyone is asleep
  • How long it takes for your home to reach a comfortable temperature
  • What time you need to use most hot water
  • Whether you have a different pattern to how you use your home at the weekend
  • Whether you are more active during the daytime and find lower room temperatures comfortable
If you are upgrading your programmer, look for one that lets you set different temperatures for each part of the day, and customise the pattern for each day of the week. Also choose one that lets you over-ride your normal pattern, so you can easily switch your heating off if you decide to head out for the evening, or plan a few days away from home – this allows you to change your heating pattern without completely reprogramming the whole week.

Set your thermostatic radiator valves low (TRVs)

Like with your room thermostat, you should set the TRV in each room at a low level and gradually turn it up until it leaves the room at a comfortable temperature when your heating is on. Turning a TRV to a higher setting will not make the room heat up any faster – that depends on the boiler size and setting, and the radiator size. Radiators actually work by convection – cold air enters at the bottom, is drawn through the radiator and hot air leaves through the top. You can reduce your heating costs by ensuring each radiator in your home is able to circulate heat properly. Blocking convection reduces the effectiveness of your heating, so take the following free steps to make them more effective:
  • Pull furniture away from radiators
  • Do not use cabinets to disguise your radiator
  • Do not cover your radiators with curtains
We hope that some of these tips help some of you save money on your energy bills and provide a more convenient way of heating your home.
RELATED ARTICLES • 6 energy saving tips for the bathroom • Top tips for saving water in your home • Choosing radiators or underfloor heating for your bathroom
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