Press back on jumping gas bills
Press back on jumping gas bills
Reducing energy usage is a popular theme in the papers and television set. Improving the economy of your boiler will help this and also help to reduce your heating costs. Whilst gas central heating systems have become more cost-efficient in recent years they will frequently consume up to half of all your energy costs. If you want to cut your energy bills read on as we have delineated some actions you can take.
Only use gas boilers when and where you need it :
Check if there are any rooms which you have not used for a while such as a spare guest room, if so turn off the central heating radiator in that room. You want to keep your house temperature comfortable that this doesn’t require you to heat rooms which are not going to be occupied for a number of days. Also close the entrance door to these rooms when not in use.
Prefer the boiler in preference to using a fire :
A heating boiler is much more efficient than using a fire to heat one room. The presence of the flue means that a lot of the heat generated escapes to the outside, modern central heating systems are much more efficient in heating your home than using an electric fire.
Draft proof where you have drafts
Draughts bring chilly air into your home wasting gas you have already paid for. DIY stores carry many insulation materials for use for this. There can be cracks between the window and door frames and a wall which are easily filled with a foam based sealer. These type of cracks happen often in older homes as the foundations settle. Whilst drafts are hidden using a wax candle flame can help to expose where they are.
Ensure you are wearing warm clothing indoors :
When you sense the room is a little cold look at putting on some additional clothes in preference to turning up the room thermostat. Astonishingly, a 1° decrease in the room thermostat can result in a 10% reduction in your gas use.
Your drapes can help to control temperature :
The sun can be used to heat up your home in the winter by keeping drapes open on the side of the home where it is shining. At nightime as the outside temperatures drop a lot of heat can leach outside through your windows. Drawing a set of heavy drapes can contract this heat loss, saving a small amount each day time amounts to a large saving on your heating expenses over time. The thicker the curtains in the best.
General guidance for the rest of the home :
Insulate the hot water tank if your boiler has one. The hot water cylinder can keep its heat throughout the day time if insulated making water accessible for you whenever required.
Don’t heat the walls of your house directly behind the radiators, silver foil can be used to reflect the heat trimming this heat loss.