Now that the weather is turning colder, you may be thinking about cranking up the central heating to stay cosy. However, keeping warm doesn’t have to mean increasing your bills and carbon footprint. There are simple ways to make your heating more efficient and cost-effective.  

1. Ensure your central heating is regularly serviced 

Firstly, you need to check that there isn’t an underlying problem with your boiler. Changes in pressure, leaks and blockages in pipes can make it harder to heat your  home, and   could eventually result in a boiler breakdown. This will cost you a lot more money to fix than hiring someone to check your system  once in a while .  

Get your boiler serviced once a year to avoid unnecessary hassle and to make sure your central heating is running as smoothly as possible.   It’s a good idea to book a service in  summer time   so that your boiler doesn’t break down in autumn or winter. Engineers are so busy in colder months that you may have to wait for a repair, meaning days or even weeks without hot water and heating.  

2. Maximise your insulation  

Your house needs layers, just like putting on an extra jumper and a woolly hat. Avoid heat escaping by installing:  

• loft insulation – this is cheap and easy to do without a professional installer  
• cavity wall insulation – although more expensive, this may save you around £245 a year on your energy bills. Do your research and look for a  an installer certified by the National Insulation Assocation  
• double glazing.  

Insulation also means filling in the small gaps. For example:  

• draught sealers on windows, skirting boards, and doors  
• a draught excluder on your letterbox  
• rugs on wooden floors.  

3. Take control of the temperature  

It’s time to whip out the manual and change the settings on your thermostat. Only heat the spaces you need, and at the right times to save money and reduce carbon emissions by making some changes. The ideal temperature to set your thermostat is between 18-21C. Thermostatic radiator valves allow you to tailor the temperature for each room. Try 15C in less used spaces such as hallways and turn radiators off in rarely used spare rooms. Set timers for your system so you don’t have to think about it. Programme your boiler to turn on or off 30 minutes before you leave or enter your home – it doesn’t need to be on all day!  

4. Make your home free from clutter by storing your out-of-season goods  

Blocking your radiators with furniture stops the heat from circulating properly. So, maybe it’s time for an early spring clean by moving the furniture that’s getting in the way. Put your items in a storage unit for the winter and come back to them in the summer months. Our post about  storing summer items might give you a few ideas.  

So how much will  storing   your items cost monthly? This can vary a lot depending on different providers, so find multiple quotes before you decide. You will need to find insurance for your storage unit, but this doesn’t have to be with your unit provider. Save money by insuring your stored items with us -  Get a quote today from Store and Insure!  

Small changes, big results  

Improving the efficiency of your central heating doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money and doing a lot of work. It’s about making small changes to your home that will soon change your energy bills for the better.