It won’t be too long until we’re putting the heating back on again, and of course we all want to keep our heating costs down as much as possible. Fuel prices in the last year or so have been eye-watering. But thankfully on the 1st October the price cap on dual fuel costs was reduced to £1923. There is much speculation that this is likely to rise again in January. Whilst the Government is pledging to help everyone with their bills, especially those on low incomes, it’s clear that we must continue do as much as we can ourselves to keep costs down.
Energy supplier
It’s not too late to switch your energy supplier. Many people stick with the same energy supplier, perhaps because they are unsure how to change, or they think it will be a complicated process. If you would like to easily compare prices, try ‘USwitch’ www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity. On the website you can enter your postcode and details of your current provider (have your bill to hand). Click ‘show me cheaper deals’ and it will provide a list of the suppliers that will save you the most money, and give you further details with an option to switch. If you don’t have access to the internet you can phone USwitch on freephone 0800 688 8244. There are less deals to switch to in the current climate, but it’s still worth checking.
Check your boiler
It’s important to give your boiler & heating system regular overhauls, and good to do it before the wintery weather descends. If you would like to have your system serviced do call Home & Company and we can arrange for our plumber to visit you. Did you know that the factory settings flow temperature on most boilers is set far higher than it needs to be (80 degrees)? Jo at “The Heating Hub” says if you have a condensing boiler you can reduce the flow temperature to 60 degrees. You might be able to turn down the water temperature by a degree or so too. If you’re not sure what to do make sure you get a plumber to assist.
Top tips to help you heat your home
It’s worth looking around your home to check if you have any draughty doors and windows. Would they benefit from rubber seals and draught excluders? Give us a ring if you need the Home & Company handyman to help https://www.homeandcompany.co.uk/contact/. Remember that 25% of heat is lost through the roof so do invest in insulation if you haven’t already done so. New Government roof insulation recommendations in 2022 mean that we should all have 27cm depth of insulation, but incredibly some homes build in the 1980s only have 2.5cm. The Government has advice, bespoke to your home, on ways to save energy https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency. A simple tip, but make sure you open your curtains and blinds when it’s sunny to utilise the warmth, and shut them as soon as it’s dark. Wearing warm layers really helps, and we at the Home & Company office are very partial to a hot water bottle!
Let’s hope we’re in for a mild winter this year.