People are seeking solutions to boost the efficiency of their heating as a result of the rising energy price cap and the expense of living crisis. Fuel prices increased significantly for almost 22 million UK consumers last month due to the energy price cap increase, and more price increases are anticipated later this year. People are looking for ways to cut their expenses as a result of this and the fact that living expenses are rising at their highest rate in 30 years.
We are aware that many heating engineers receive calls from clients looking for suggestions on how to reduce their heating costs. What choices do you have then? In this article, we will go over the most reasonable and go-to interior and architectural design solutions, as well as technical gadgets, that will keep your house warm during the coldest of winters.
Put Thermostatic Radiator Valves In Place
It is a widely accepted assertion that the best approach to reduce the expense of heating your home is to update your boiler and its heating controls. It can be advantageous if you have the money to replace your old boiler with a new one because it can be more expensive to operate an old boiler than a new one.
However, if you cannot afford to spend a lot of money on a new boiler, investing a little money on new heating controls could be beneficial. Even the most basic controls, like thermostatic radiator valves, also known as TVRs, are still lacking in millions of households. The amount of hot water that enters the radiator is automatically adjusted by TRVs based on whether or not each individual room is at the proper temperature, preventing overheating. TRVs monitor the temperature of the air around the radiator.
A basic TRV can be purchased for a reasonable price because there are so many cost-effective options available. Studies show that using a TRV can reduce energy costs by an average of 18% when compared to using an uncontrolled radiator, with a customer payback time of less than two years.
Alternative Heating Systems
A “weather-compensating thermostat” or a “load-compensating thermostat” that modifies the boiler’s settings according to the temperature inside or outside is another option. Weather-compensated heating controls regulate the boiler so that heat is only produced when it is required by monitoring the temperature of the air both inside and outside. This is especially helpful in homes with large windows or poor insulation, where variations in the outside temperature can have a greater impact on the interior temperature.
Break The Space Into Heating Zones
Instead of heating the entire property anytime there is a need for heat, creating heating zones throughout the house ensures that rooms are only heated when necessary. Users can choose which rooms they want heated at any given time by installing a zoning-capable thermostat and connecting TRVs. They or their heating engineer will need to set up the proper zoning scheme on the thermostat or through a smartphone app.
Reinforcing Your Radiator’s Effectiveness
They claim that placing tin foil behind your radiators will improve their ability to heat rooms and enable you to turn the heat down a little. Instead of allowing heat to escape through the walls, it works by reflecting heat back into the space. You can use regular kitchen foil or “radiator foil,” which has been specially created for this exact purpose.
It is also important to maintain the cleanliness of your radiators to keep them working the way they should. The heating system of your choice for your house will operate more efficiently and will produce more heat in the most effective manner possible if your system water, which is the water that you can find in your pipes and radiator systems, is clean and doesn’t have any sludge in it. Keeping the water in heating systems sludge-free extends the lifespan of your boiler, connected radiators and the central heating system.
If you find your radiators containing cold spots at the bottom or their lower sides, or if some of them take unreasonably long to heat up compared to other radiators even around your own house, your system or that particular radiator may be too sluggish. Enertek International, an independent business that provides cutting-edge services to the gas, oil, and renewable heating industries, conducted research that reveals a badly sludged heating system can raise your bills by as much as 25%. Thus, it is difficult to overstate how important it is to make sure your radiators are at their best if you would like your home to stay warm throughout the cold seasons.
Adjust The Temperature
Your heating costs can be reduced by making a small adjustment to your heating. Even insignificant changes in your temperature numbers can have a visible impact on your heating bills: reducing your thermostat by 10 degrees might enable you to save up to 10% on your yearly heating costs. Even though we believe 10 degrees is excessive, lowering your heating by one degree could help you save money on your monthly bills.
Moving Things Around Can Help
Although we frequently think about relocating our furniture to update or change the appearance of our home, dining room, or bedroom, there can also be financial advantages.
Check to see if any of your couches, chairs, mattresses, or bookcases are blocking any of the room’s heaters, radiators or other heat sources like a fireplace. If they are, think about relocating the troublesome furniture to a different area of the room so that the heat can spread more evenly.
Look Into Thermal Curtains
Using thermal curtains or adding a thermal curtain lining layer to your current curtains will both significantly reduce heat loss.
Have a look in your neighborhood charity shops if you do not want to spend a lot of money on brand-new thermal curtains or thermal lining. This will enable you to save money twice.
Insulate Your House’s Attic or Loft Space
The loft and walls of your home will let heat escape if it is improperly insulated. As less heat will be rising to the loft and departing your home, loft insulation should help you reduce your energy costs even if it can initially be a highly expensive investment.
If you would like to know more about different types and methods of insulation you can use to fortify your home from the outside elements, you can check our home insulation guide.
Place More Rugs and Carpets
Up to 10% of the heat wasted in your home can result from floors that are not insulated. You may assist maintain more heat and prevent the discomfort of walking around on a chilly floor by simply covering them with a rug.
The more well insulated your home is, the less energy you will need to keep it warm. Carpets can be a very effective way to do this. A thick rug placed on the floor or carpeting in rooms that are frequently used can both assist a room retain heat. And so, decorating your floors with partial covering serves not only a decorative purpose, making the place it’s placed in instantly cozier, but has a technical and thermal benefit you may have overlooked before.
Install and Incorporate Draught Excluders in Your Interior
Draft excluders provide heat retention without the need for installation fees or expert assistance and are an easy but efficient solution to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.
Draught excluders may be found in a variety of stores, and you can pick the one that best complements the style of your house, whether it be a cute rubber trim attached to the bottom of a door or a quirky green snake. Simple items like a keyhole cover and brushes in the letterbox are some small things that might prevent a cold draft from entering your home.
We hope you all will stay safe and healthy through the upcoming colder seasons, and these tips and ideas for keeping your home warmer without spending a fortune on renovation will, hopefully, come in handy for you!
