The price most of us pay for energy bills has risen this month due to the Autumn chill, but more than half of households may be forking out more than they should.
Here we look at how you can pay less for your gas and electricity, both by cutting the cost of each unit you use and by lowering consumption….
1. Change your boiler flow temperature
This tiny tweak can save £100 a year if you have a combi boiler – and again, you won’t notice the difference.
Your boiler comes with a default ‘flow temperature’, which controls how hot the water is when it leaves your boiler to heat your radiators. It’s usually set to 75C, but Zoe Morris, savings expert at vouchercodes.co.uk, says this is too high for the average home and that your boiler will be working too hard to be efficient.
‘By reducing the flow temperature to around 60C, your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard, which means it uses less gas and, therefore, costs less to run,’ she says.
Lowering this setting means your boiler runs in its most efficient mode – known as condensing mode – which can significantly cut energy use.
If you’re not sure how to do it, check the Money Saving Boiler challenge from innovation charity Nesta (moneysavingboilerchallenge.com) or search online for videos that show your particular brand of boiler.
2. Switch to the cheapest deal
Not everyone pays the same amount for electricity and gas, so the easiest way to save money without feeling colder is to switch to deals that cost you less for the same thing.
Energy regulator Ofgem sets an energy cap that changes every three months. Providers aren’t allowed to charge you more than this and an estimated 65% of households are on tariffs that track it.
All these people are paying too much, as there are several tariffs that are lower than the current price cap so the first thing you should do is see if you can save by switching tariffs.
A comparison site will help. You can try Uswitch, Moneysupermarket or CompareTheMarket to find the cheapest tariff. The most important thing is to give them up-to-date figures. You’ll find the name of your tariff and your annual usage on each one of your energy bills – and on your app if you have one. These figures will allow you to compare correctly.
Most cheap deals are fixed, which means you are tied to them for a certain length of time, often with an exit fee for switching.
Although it isn’t guaranteed that the price cap won’t fall dramatically during the tie-in period, predictions suggest you’ll still save by fixing for a year at the lowest rate you can.
3. Make timing everything
Heating your house when you’re not in it means you’re paying too much for your energy.
Many heating control systems, such as Hive and Nest, come with an app so you can easily programme and control them when you are out of the house – but you can set a timer on a standard system as well.
Electric Radiators Direct energy efficiency expert Stephen Hankinson suggests that focusing on a few key times of day for heating will save money and take the chill off.
‘I always recommend switching your heating on for a short burst between 6.30am and 7.30am. This takes the edge off the chill as you get out of bed and sets your home up for the day without wasting energy by running it for too long,’ he says.
‘In the evenings, the best time to put the heating on is usually between 5pm and 9pm, when most people are back at home and temperatures naturally start to fall.’
And, naturally, switch off your heating at night – there’s no need to heat the house if you’re under a duvet.
4. Don’t heat unused rooms
Most of us don’t use our bedrooms during the day – in fact we may be at home and working in only one room. Heating only those you are using in the daytime will keep the cost down.
Dave Raval, energy expert from insulation business LoftZone, recommends fitting a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) to each radiator so they can be adjusted separately.
‘Most homes have one single thermostat controlling your temperature, but many rooms need less heat,’ he says.
‘Does your bedroom need to be hot at midday? Does your hall need to be as warm as your lounge? TRVs can be fitted without needing to do any plumbing – they just screw on and allow you to turn down or up individual radiators – easy.’
The simplest TRVs have a numbered dial with each number corresponding to a temperature range so you can have your lounge set more toastily than your bedrooms, for example.
Smart TRVs allow you to control each room of your house separately, from the same app.
5. Block out draughts to save money and feel warmer
Draught-proofing strips are a cheap way to make your home feel warmer and you can install them yourself around windows and doors.
The Energy Saving Trust says getting professional draught proofing for your windows and doors can save you around £85 per year.
6. Make your radiators work for you
Cleaning and bleeding your radiators will make them work more efficiently so you spend less on making your rooms warm.
British Gas repair engineer Sunny Solanky says that pockets of air can build up inside radiators and this stops them heating the room evenly.
‘If you notice the top of your radiators feel cooler than the bottom, switch the system off and let it cool,’ he says.
‘To make your radiators even more efficient, move furniture away from them and consider installing radiator reflector panels that reflect more of their heat into the room.
This is particularly important on uninsulated exterior walls, as you’re losing heat straight to the outside.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that these reflective panels could save you £25 a year.
7. Insulate where practical
The more insulation you have in your home, the warmer it is likely to be – but some forms are cheaper and easier to install than others. Quick wins that make a difference include loft insulation, which is a job for a competent DIYer but can save up to £550 a year in a detached house.
An even easier insulation technique is the use of thermal curtain linings – which can be hooked into curtains – or simply thick drapes.
8. Wash at 30
While many energy savings come from your heating in winter, don’t neglect other appliances, such as your washing machine.
Modern detergents are designed to allow you to wash clothes at 30C rather than 40C. Taking a moment to check that you have turned down the washing temperature before every wash could save 40 per cent of the energy you use on washing every year.
9. Grab energy company freebies
Depending on your energy provider, you may be offered cheap energy at various times of day, or even free energy when wind and solar generation are plentiful.
Make sure you are signed up for plans such as EDF’s Sunday Saver Challenge, which gives some customers up to four days of free electricity a month if they shift their energy use to Sunday.
If you’re on a tariff that offers these credits, make the most of these by doing your laundry, vacuuming and charging on the Sunday.
If you’re with Ovo, Octopus or Scottish Power you could sign up for schemes that give you free energy credits for use at certain times. Check your energy app to register.
10. Check eligibility for help
If you’re struggling with energy costs, you can ask your provider if there is any help available.
Although social tariffs, which used to give cheaper energy to those on certain benefits, have been phased out, the large energy providers have some hardship funds available.
The Warm Home Discount scheme opens at the end of this month and gives those in receipt of certain benefits £150 off their bills.
You can check eligibility at gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme, although the discount is usually applied automatically.
Try the Turn2Us website for more information on how to get help with energy bills, too – visit turn2us.org.uk.
