Keeping your home warm during the winter shouldn’t leave your wallet hurting. With winter just around the corner, Londoners are just now thinking of when to start up their heaters.
While we all enjoy a nice, toasty home, we don’t especially enjoy the inflated utility bills. Here are some of our favourite ways to keep heating bills down this winter.
Seal Any Air Leaks
Air leaks are responsible for 25% to 40% of your energy bill. That’s a lot of money literally flying out the window every month. There’s an easy way to take care of this, the problem is that it just takes time. Designate a day when you have nothing else to do and investigate your window, doors, and light fixtures. Look for any damaged weatherstripping and replace it.
Next, it’s time to check the doors. Fix any weatherstripping that’s out of place and look for any cracks around the doorframe. Do the same for your light fixtures and you’ll be saving some money on your next heating bill.
Leave the Curtains Open
The sun shines even when it’s cold out! This is important to keep this in mind over the cold winter months. During the summer, we recommend closing your curtains during the day to keep the heat out. However, during the winter, we say keep those curtains open all day to let the natural light and warmth in. Then close them when the sun goes down.
Dress for the Season
Now is the best time of year for comfy sweatpants and a hoodie. What about that oversized sweater? You can finally pull it out from the back of the closet! One of the best ways to keep warm is to dress for the season. You can also apply this theory to dressing your bed and couch. Choose flannel sheets to help stay warm at night and add an extra blanket for a nice layer or warmth.
Dressing in layers helps your body retain heat. You can also shed a layer or two if you get too warm. Also, don’t forget slippers. Keeping your feet toasty can help your whole body feel warm.
Close the Doors
Is there a bathroom or room in your home that doesn’t see much use? Make sure to close the door when your central heating is on. Or simply close the bathroom door after every use. Closing the door to that room will keep it nice and toasty. Meaning your heating system won’t need to constantly create new, warm air for that room. By letting warm air just hang out in the room, it sends a signal to your boiler to not produce as much warm air. This gives your system a chance to rest and can help keep heating bills down.
Check Your Insulation
You know the stuff in the attic that looks like cotton candy? It actually plays a big role in how comfortable your home is throughout the year. Insulation helps keep the core of your home nice and cosy. It absorbs cold air that can seep into the attic. An important note about insulation, it does have a lifespan.
If you recently moved into a new home or can’t even remember the last time you had your insulation checked, we suggest calling in an HVAC professional. They can inspect your insulation and give you any recommendations.
Turn Down the Thermostat
This one may sound a little counterintuitive but hear us out. Your boiler can only heat a specific amount of air at a time and depending on the size of your home, it could be a while before everything is nice and toasty. 20 degrees Celsius is enough to keep your home warm and comfortable without going overboard. Just remember to dress for the season.
Schedule Annual Boiler Check
One of the best things you can do to prepare your system for the coming season is to schedule a full boiler check. During a boiler check, a certified Boiler technician will inspect every part of your boiler.
During this inspection, they will test the parts and make sure everything is in proper working order. Technicians will let you know if anything needs to be repaired or replaced. Annual boiler checks are the best way to ensure the longevity of your system. With regular maintenance, a boiler engineer can catch any small problems before they become big, hard to fix, issues.
Smart Heating Systems Ltd are members of Laurel Leaf Networking.
