Most people use gas to heat their homes, and as prices continue to soar all users are looking for ways to cut their usage. Just as you may have suspected, space, heating and water heating are the biggest gas guzzlers, here are some tips on how to help cut the cost of gas in your homes and keep you warmer too.
Check that the timer is set correctly
Heating can tend to stay in a property for about an hour unless you have very draughty windows and doors, so if you leave for work around 8.30am, you only need to boiler on from 7.30am to 8am, and definitely not until 8.30am.
The principle is the same for an evening, switch the heating on 30 mins prior to coming home and switch off an hour before bedtime.
It is a myth that keeping your heating on low throughout the day saves you money
Turn down the water heater
Most heaters have a dial that allows you to turn down the temperature. As the water heater is often the second most significant user of gas in the home, this small tip can pay dividends – if your water is too hot to touch as it comes out of the tap then it is likely you are wasting money, so alter the dial!
Service or replace your boiler
Emergency repairs can be very expensive so it is better to have your boiler regularly serviced – most will last 10 years but after this time they start to become inefficient wasting both gas and money. When you replace look to get an energy efficient one and also check out any schemes that the government may have that help financially towards your boiler’s replacement
Pay for what you use
Some people have their gas bills estimated, in the current climate, avoid this and only pay for what you use rather than what your supplier thinks you have used – which may be higher.
Keep an eye out for any Government assistance and schemes
I have previously posted a blog hi-lighting all the Government schemes that can assist over the next few months, take a look at www.davidphillip.co.uk
Move your sofa away from the radiator
Keep warm air circulating by removing heavy pieces of furniture away from radiators. Moving your sofa even six inches away from the radiator will allow heat to flow, also bleed your radiators from time to time.
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees
Make sure you wash a full load when you can, and reduce the temperature to 30 degrees.
Insulate your home
In an un-insulated home, a quarter of all heat is lost via the roof. Although loft insulation is not cheap, heat rises upwards and it acts as a barrier for cold air entering the property too, so in the long-run this is definitely a good investment particularly as the price of gas rises. Cavity wall insulation is also a good investment
Turn off radiators that you don’t use and close your curtains
Turn off radiators in spare rooms and use something to block draughts coming under doors into the rest of the property. Closing your curtains will keep the warmth in as heat starts to escape as the sun goes down.
So… by following the tips above you may save money towards your gas bill, but adding a few layers of clothing and also buying a heated blanket will also keep you warmer too!
David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN w: www.davidphilip.co.uk
Covering Bramhope, Cookridge, Adel, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Otley
