As you’ve no doubt heard in the news during the last few months, the outlook isn’t great for energy costs in the UK. Gas and electricity prices are set to rise, despite tougher stances taken by politicians on the issue.
While the cost of heating your home may be expensive, when it comes to yours and your loved ones’ health, you can’t afford not to keep your home warm. It’s vital, especially during the colder months, to ensure your house is sufficiently heated, so that your household doesn’t fall victim to flu and other illnesses. Although prescription treatments such as Tamiflu are available to help those suffering from flu, it’s always better to do what you can to avoid getting sick in the first place.
So, the question arises: how you can keep your home warm without your utility bills skyrocketing? Well, luckily we have some handy, easy-to-follow tips, which may be of some help if you’re looking to keep your energy costs down:
1 – Shut Your Doors
It goes without saying that by leaving doors open in your living spaces, you’re letting heat escape. And it might seem like an obvious one, but you’re probably guiltier of leaving doors open than you think. So, be vigilant. If you’re spending the night in the living room with the heating on, keep the door shut, so you don’t have to use such a high setting.
2 – Set Your Timers
It’s easy when we’re cold or if we’ve just gotten in from work to whack the heating on and forget about it for a few hours. But this isn’t cost efficient. Instead, have a think about your routine, and set the heating to come on with a timer. If you usually finish work in the early evening, have it click in to action a few minutes before you arrive home. More often than not, having the heating on for just a couple of hours should provide enough heat for the rest of the evening. Then, you’re less likely to forget to switch it off.
3 – Enquire About Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation
Buying and installing loft and cavity wall insulation yourself might be time-consuming and costly you might think – however, you may qualify for free fitting from your local authority or your energy provider.
4 – Eliminate Drafts
Drafts can let cold air into your home, and be an escape route for heat. They are a particular problem for those living in older buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable courses of action you can take to eliminate drafts. Draft excluders are one: these are long cushion-like furnishings, which are designed to be placed at the bases of doors. Silicone sealants are also helpful if your windows are letting in drafts at the seams.
5 – Be Thrifty in the Kitchen
Saving energy isn’t just down to making your home warmer. You can also do a lot in the kitchen to save money too. For instance, most washing detergents can now do their job at 30 degrees as opposed to 40. Not overfilling your kettle when boiling it for a cuppa can also save you money. And using a bowl to wash up will save on hot water usage.
This article is written by Rick who works for UK Safe Meds as a dispenser. When he’s not working, you can find him fishing with his generation old rod!
