HAVE you taken the plunge and turned your heating on?
While some people have – the decision to flick that switch can be an expensive one, thanks to staggeringly high energy bills.
Simply bleeding your radiator could save you hundreds on your energy bills[/caption]
So others are looking for different ways to keep their home warm without whacking up the thermostat – with “help towards my energy bills” one of the most searched for terms on the Internet.
And now experts have revealed four simple ways you can slash your energy bills by more than £550 this winter.
Firstly, don’t forget to bleed your radiators.
“Over time air bubbles can accumulate within radiators, meaning that they do not heat up as effectively as they should,” Alison Maclean, Head of Marketing at St. Modwen Homes, said.
“By bleeding these radiators you can remove the excess air and improve the efficiency of radiators across your home to improve your home heating without having to turn up the thermostat.”
The quick and easy hack can reduce your energy bills by a whopping 20 per cent – which equates to nearly £350 a year.
Next up, it’s vital to remember to turn off standby appliances – a hack that could help save you around £40 a year.
“Whether it’s unused lamps or kitchen appliances like toasters and kettles, switching off appliances at the wall, rather than leaving them on standby, helps reduce energy outputs,” Alison said.
If you struggle to remember to do it daily, you can try a smart plug or timer, or even set a reminder on your phone.
Don’t try to heat every room in your house either.
“For example, you may have a spare bedroom that is untouched for most of the week, or perhaps a bathroom that only gets use when guests come over,” Alison added.
Turning radiators off in the most unused rooms of the house can cut 4.5 per cent from your energy bill, meaning an extra £50 off.
As well as reducing energy usage in the house, you might also be able to get away without turning your energy on at all – that’s if you don’t mind layering up at home.
“A one-off payment for an electric blanket will mean you’re warm at night and can cost as little as 3p an hour to use, in comparison to a whopping 22p per hour for standard energy supplies,” Alison said.
How do I bleed my radiators?
- Turn your boiler off – Do this first of all and then allow sufficient time for any radiators to cool, ensuring you’re not coming into contact with boiling water
- Get your bleed key – if you don’t have one, you can get them in most hardware DIY shops
- Open the bleed valve – use your key to turn the valve a quarter turn anti-clockwise. Position a towel or bowl underneath the valve just in case water comes out
- Close the bleed valve – don’t worry about the hissing noise, it’s just air escaping
- Once the hissing stops, close the valve again.
That means that using an electric blanket instead of turning the heating on could save you £136.80.
And, as you can get one of the blankets for around £24.99, it won’t break the bank either.
Using an electric blanket is a brilliant way to heat yourself, rather than your home[/caption]
