How to Save on Heating Bills Guide

With rising fuel prices we are all looking for the best way to save some money on our fuel bills. The costs of keeping your house warm in winter are high, but there are ways to save.

Control your heating

Having a programmable thermostat will minimize your chances of leaving the heating on when you go to work – which is the equivalent of keeping warm by burning your money in the fireplace. You can program thermostats to begin warming the house before you leave work, so when you return the house is warm and you’re still not out of pocket.

Another way to control the way your house is heated is to change the circulation of air in your house. If you have spaces in your house which are used infrequently then shut them off from the flow of air, shut doors or switch off vents if you have them. This applies to the rooms of children who have moved away as well as home offices on the weekend. Shrinking the amount of rooms you live in during winter will often be a great way to save on heating bills.
One way of saving money which may seem like a pain at the time is having your boiler regularly serviced. It may seem like you are spending money and seeing no return but the savings can be huge over time compared to the small cost of a service.

Insulating your home

While controlling your heat is a good way to manage your home fuel consumption it only has a limited ability to save you money. Insulation on the other hand could save you drastic amounts of cash. Loft and cavity insulation may be expensive at the start but they will pay themselves off reasonably quickly in savings – especially with the increasing price of fuel. Sealing windows and doors is another way to keep the cold out. This, as well as draft excluders can make little savings on top of any larger savings you might be making through the use of insulation.

Insulate yourself

We sometimes forget that winter is supposed to be cold – just because we are used to the comforts of modern life doesn’t mean the seasons are going to change the way they operate! With this in mind we should attempt to wear more appropriate clothing. Dressing up in a couple of extra layers will cut the need to heat your house. Combined with other tips and this can be one of the easiest ways to save money on heating bills.

The inevitable

As heating bills are bound to go up as the price of natural gas and oil rise – due to supplies becoming less available worldwide – thinking ahead may be a good option. Alternative heating systems – geo-thermal heating for example – will eventually become a necessity, and while they are not immediately required doing your research now might save you time and money when you do need to switch to a more self-sufficient lifestyle.