How to save money on your heating and energy bills

While we specialise in home emergency and boiler breakdown cover, we are keen to help people improve their household’s energy efficiency, cut their carbon footprint, and reduce their energy bills.

There are a lot of things you can do to improve your energy efficiency and plenty of ways to save on energy bills. we’ve already seen articles about the money-saving potential of combination boilers, for instance, but there are a range of other simple home improvements you could make that could save you money in both the short- and long- term.

Insulation

Wall and loft insulation could cut the amount of energy it takes to heat your house by upwards of 20%, making your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, therefore cutting energy bills. It is relatively simple to install insulation, and there are grants and loans available from a range of sources to help you afford this home improvement.

Just a few hours’ work could see you saving hundreds of pounds for years into the future! Double-glazing and draught-proofing are also great ways to improve the thermal insulation of your home, as they prevent your central heating from leaking out and stop cold air from outside from seeping in. Insulation is a great way to reduce energy bills, so keep an eye out for deals and offers to make this more affordable.

Turn down your central heating

Not only will turning down your central heating reduce the strain on your boiler and lessen the likelihood of a boiler breakdown, but just a one-degree C reduction could save you approximately £60 every year.

But you can save more money on your bills if you’re willing to wrap up warm. Instead of blasting the radiators in the spring or autumn and sitting at home in your pyjamas, put on a dressing gown and turn your central heating off.

Cook in advance

Although the majority of your gas bill will likely go on central heating, cooking food can also play a sizable role in your energy efficiency. Rather than cooking meals every day, why not cook a few meals at once?

Brew up a big batch of chilli, Bolognese sauce or soup and stick it in the freezer. Then you only need to pop it into the microwave when you’re hungry. Try to get the most out of your oven every time you warm it up – prepare as much food as possible and don’t allow any of it to go to waste.

Defrost your freezer

If your freezer is chock full of ice, then it’s working at nowhere near the efficiency it ought to be working at. The freezer elements will simply be cooling down ice rather than cooling down your food, and the appliance will be working in overdrive.

Defrost your freezer regularly, and keep it packed with pre-cooked food; any empty spaces are wasted spaces.

Have gas appliances serviced

Call in a Gas Safe-registered engineer to have your gas appliances examined and serviced regularly. If you take out appliance cover or boiler breakdown cover with 24|7 Home Rescue, we can bundle this into your service plan.

Having gas appliances serviced will not just ensure that they are working efficiently, but that they also meet necessary safety standards.

Invest in energy-efficient appliances

It’s no secret that energy-efficient lightbulbs can save you money, but did you know that trading in your ancient electrical appliances and replacing them with modern, A-rated appliances could see your electricity bill fall by hundreds of pounds? It might be hard to afford the initial investment right now, but energy-efficient appliances are a smart purchase as they will reduce your energy bills for many years.

Get a smart heating controls

Smart heating controls enable you to monitor your energy usage, change your boiler settings, turn off your hot water and central heating, and keep your home comfortable from anywhere in the world. All you need is a smart heating control and an internet connection!

Do you have any other energy-saving tips? We’d love to hear them! Tell us how you’ve managed to reduce your energy bills and help other hard-pressed consumers balance their own budgets.Get in touch on Facebook or Twitter[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx5EqNyS2D4&feature=youtu.be.” align=”center”][vc_column_text]

Want to save even more money?

To find out how you could save money on forking out for a new boiler with our boiler replacement scheme then or contact us to discover how our home emergency and boiler breakdown service plans can save you money when emergencies occur. Contact us today on 0345 3192 247 or contact us through our website.

Don’t forget, we offer cover for a range of household appliances to ensure you have peace of mind should yours ever suffer a breakdown. Please contact us via our website or on 0345 3192 247 to find out more. Or call us today for urgent assistance. Our technical teams will run through some simple diagnostics to see if it can be fixed over the phone and if not, they’ll send a manufacturer engineer where possible to take a look.