Heating bills are a major concern for many homeowners, especially in the colder months. While replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a new one is one of the best ways to save money long-term, it’s not always an option. The good news is that there are many simple and effective ways to reduce your heating bills without a major investment.
At Brightside Heating, we’re dedicated to helping our customers stay warm and save money. We’ve compiled some of the best tips to help you get the most out of your current heating system.
What’s the Cheapest Way to Run Your Central Heating?
The cheapest way to run your central heating is to be smart about how you use it. It’s not about turning it off completely; it’s about maximising its efficiency and minimising waste.
- Use Your Thermostat and Timer: Don’t just leave your heating on all the time. Use your thermostat to set the temperature to a comfortable level (around 21°C is often recommended) and use a programmer to set your heating to come on only when you need it. A smart thermostat gives you even more control, allowing you to control your heating from your phone.
- Turn Down the Thermostat by a Degree: Lowering your thermostat by just one degree can save you around £100 a year on your energy bills. You often won’t notice the difference in temperature, but your wallet will.
- Bleed Your Radiators: Air can get trapped in your radiators, creating cold spots and preventing them from heating a room effectively. This forces your boiler to work harder. Bleeding your radiators is a simple task that can dramatically improve your system’s efficiency.
- Don’t Block Radiators: Make sure furniture isn’t blocking your radiators. Placing a sofa in front of a radiator will absorb most of the heat, preventing it from circulating around the room.
- Insulate Your Home: No matter how efficiently you run your heating, if the heat is escaping, you’re wasting money. Simple fixes like sealing draughts around windows and doors, using thick curtains, and ensuring you have adequate loft insulation can make a huge difference.
What Does Martin Lewis Say About Heating?
Martin Lewis, the UK’s Money Saving Expert, is a trusted voice on all things personal finance, and his advice on heating is particularly well-known. His most famous piece of advice is that it’s generally cheaper to “heat the person, not the home.” This means using strategies like wearing warm clothes, using hot water bottles, and closing curtains to retain heat before turning on the central heating.
He also famously addressed the “on all day or on-and-off” debate. His advice is that it’s generally cheaper to only heat your home when you need it, as opposed to leaving it on a low heat all day. The idea of leaving it on all day to avoid a cold start is a myth for most modern homes.
Is It Cheaper to Have My Heating on All Day?
For most modern homes, the answer is no. It is not cheaper to have your heating on all day. The idea that it is cheaper comes from the misconception that it takes more energy to heat a cold house from scratch than it does to maintain a constant temperature.
In reality, a boiler is at its most efficient when it’s running. However, leaving it on all day means you are constantly losing heat through your walls, windows, and roof, which the boiler is constantly having to replace. It’s more energy-efficient to use a timer to heat your home when you are in it and let the temperature drop when you are not. A well-insulated home will retain heat for a decent period, making it easier to warm up again later.
While these tips can significantly reduce your heating bills, if your boiler is old and inefficient, a replacement will always offer the biggest long-term savings. You can find out more about new boiler installations on our Boiler Repairs and Installations page.