HOUSEHOLDS could save up to £162 on bills this summer by carrying out a few easy checks.
From keeping the washing machine at the right temperature to using energy-saving lightbulbs, there are a few hacks to try.
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We asked Nicholas Auckland, energy expert from Trade Radiators, which things people should be mindful of.
It’s useful to keep an eye on the following throughout the year as some of these checks could save you money even when it gets cold, but it’s good to start somewhere.
Without further ado, here are nine easy ways to keep those bills down right now.
Check your combi boiler flow temperature
You may not be using your boiler all summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
Making sure the temperature sits at 60°C could save you around £25 over June, July and August.
But if you maintain that temperature throughout the year, you could save a maximum of £100.
The trick works if you have a combi-boiler, which provides both hot water and heating – and it’s the most common type of model used by Brits.
Reducing the temperature means your boiler is using less gas to heat the hot water, saving money on your bills.
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Bear in mind exactly how much you can save depends on the original temperature settings and what you change them to, as well as how much you use your hot water and heating.
You’ll need to find two dials on your boiler – one for heating, and one for hot water – to reduce the temperature.
The heating dial will most likely have a radiator icon on it, while the hot water dial will probably have a tap on it, according to The Heating Hub.
Boiler settings vary from model to model, so it’s a good idea to check the manual to find out exactly how to set yours.
Turn down your radiators
If you’re not using the radiators in certain rooms of the house, turning them down could save up to £18 throughout summer.
Mr Auckland said: “A recent study by us found that 51% of people are in favour of turning the heating back on over the summer if they feel that they need it.
“However, in summer it’s more vital than ever that you only heat the rooms that you need.
“This is because it’s likely that only a few of your rooms will be cold, and you’ll only need your heating on for a very short amount of time, so there’s no point in wasting energy to heat up your entire house.”
Turn off appliances at the socket
Don’t forget to turn appliances off at the socket before you go on holiday, because you could waste a whopping £50 over the summer months if you do.
Apart from anything else, leaving devices switched on at the wall is also a fire risk.
Mr Auckland added: “It’s important to note this could be more or less depending on the efficiency of your electronics and how many electronics you have on standby in your home.”
So if you have more TVs, games consoles or computers it could cost you more money.
Wash your clothes at a lower temperature
During the hot weather, it’s good to turn the temperature down to 30 degrees on your washing machine.
A higher temperature could add at least £10 onto bills over summer, but more if you do more loads than usual.
Plus, your clothes will dry quicker if you lower the water temperature.
Most models of machine now come with an eco-mode, that can be used to save the environment – and some cash.
This setting will use less water and means you’ll use less energy to heat it when washing your clothes.
These are usually set to 30 degrees too, but may also run for a shorter time.
Dry your clothes outside
There’s no use for a tumble dryer if the weather is warm enough.
Sticking your clothes outside to dry instead could save you £17 over summer, particularly if you normally use the dryer a lot.
Mr Auckland added: “In summer, clothes will dry much quicker and will be less of a pain, often drying quicker outside than it takes to use the tumble dryer.”
Use energy-saving lightbulbs
Using LED lightbulbs could save you up to £15 throughout summer.
Over the year, they could help you slash £55 off your bills.
That’s if you replaced every room in your home with energy-efficient LED lightbulbs from standard or incandescent ones
Installing the likes of LEDs will keep rooms well-lit while decreasing your energy bills each year.
They use 90% less energy than traditional bulbs, according to EDF.
LED lightbulbs also last longer than traditional bulbs, saving on maintenance costs.
You can get bulbs for £5 from Wilko, for example.
Draw your curtains when it’s hot
Mr Auckland said: “This helps keep the hot sun out, preventing it from heating up your home for days on end.
“This could prevent you from needing to use an electric fan, which costs around £15 to use continually in the summer.”
Similarly, if we keep our windows closed then the hot air cannot enter our room and heat up the room.
Don’t overfill your kettle
Filling your kettle with just the right amount of water could save up to £50 a year.
That’s equal to £4.16 a month, so you’d save roughly £12.50 over the main three summer months.
Overfill it and you’re boiling more water than you need to, costing extra energy and crucially money.
Of course, the exact amount you can save depends on how much you pay for energy and how many cuppas you have each day – the more you drink the more you stand to save.
Mr Auckland added: “Although not everyone agrees with this, a hot cup of tea actually helps you cool off in the summer.”
So keep this in mind if you’re planning to have more cuppas when it’s hot.
Check the door seals on your fridge freezer
It’s crucial not to let that cool air escape, otherwise your appliance is working harder to maintain its temperature.
That, in turn, costs more money.
Mr Auckland said: “As well as this, make sure your fridge is always full so there’s less air space for it to cool down.”
You should also defrost your freezer compartment regularly – if you don’t it could also cost more money.
That’s because when ice builds up, it increases the amount of work your freezer’s motor needs to do to keep your food cool.
And the harder your motor is working, the more energy you are using.
To avoid the problem, watch out for a build up of ice (you’ll probably notice it when one of the drawers jams) and take this as a sign you’re due a defrost.
