Homeowners are being urged to do a quick 30-minute ‘heating health check’ to save up to £300 on energy bills as the winter weather continues to bite. WarmZilla has created a half-hour checklist for people to follow, in the hope of combatting the ongoing cold with a timely annual saving.
WarmZilla founder Matthew Powell has been a qualified gas engineer and plumber for more than 20 years and acknowledges that many people are more worried than ever about their heating bills, which prompted him to compile the list of simple tips.
He said: “Many of our customers are extremely worried, as heating bills are as high as they’ve ever been and we’re still only three weeks into January. This is why we have created a simple list of measures to follow, which only take around 30 minutes to action and could save up to £300 each year.”
WarmZilla’s 30-minute home health check
Bleed the radiators
If a radiator is hot at the bottom and cold at the top, it is likely to be down to air pockets that stop warm water from circulating in the radiator. Ensuring each radiator is clear will help with energy efficiency.
To bleed a radiator you’ll need a radiator bleed key, dry cloth or towel and a container to catch any excess water that comes out of the radiator. You can find radiator keys at any hardware store, they cost anywhere between 50p and £3. For safety, make sure that the central heating is turned off before you start,
Avoid leaving appliances on standby
Many people use more energy unnecessarily by leaving appliances on standby. If you turn appliances off at the plug instead, you could save around £30 per year.
Set your standard thermostat to an ambient temperature
If you have a standard thermostat, set it to a typical constant temperature to between 18-20C you could save up to £70 compared to constant flicks up and down.
If you haven’t installed a smart thermostat, now might be a good time to consider the technology, as it can learn how it takes to heat a room to the right temperature so that it is at that point at the time that you need it. You can also control your smart thermostat via your smartphone. Exploring this option could see you saving £75 a year.
Dust off the draught excluders
Draught excluders are commonly associated with a bygone era, but they still have their place in any home, and by positioning them behind front and back doors, you can stand to save up to £20 per year.
Don’t get into too much hot water
Reducing your shower time to four minutes could save a typical household around £60 a year on energy bills.
Break the cycle
By turning your washing machine down from 40 to 30 degrees, you could save up to £34 per year. Also try to reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year.
Turn off the lights
Lighting makes up 11 per cent of the average UK household electricity consumption turn off any lights that you’re not using, obvious as this sounds. By doing so, you could save around £25 a year on your annual energy bills.
Book a boiler service
Getting your boiler serviced at least once a year can help you spot small issues before they turn into major problems. Your boiler might not be operating as well as it should be – and with a few tweaks, a service can get it back on track, saving money on utility bills, expensive repair costs or even replacing your boiler which can cost thousands.
By following the eight-point guide, WarmZilla believes that up to £300 can be knocked off a typical energy bill.
Matthew added: “At WarmZilla, we understand that heating your home is a necessity, not a luxury. With energy costs continuing to rise, small, proactive steps can make a big difference.
“Our heating health check is designed to help households save money without compromising on comfort. We’re here to support homeowners with practical advice and trusted services to keep their heating systems running efficiently all year round.”