AS snow falls on parts of the UK and temperatures plummet, many households will be battling over the thermostat.
While some family members may be tempted to crank things up in a bid to keep warm, higher energy prices mean the cost of heating your home is now more expensive than previous years.
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Prices have increased this month in line with the current Ofgem energy price cap, with the typical dual fuel bill up from £1,834 to £1,928 per year.
It’s a rise of £94, on average, though the exact amount will depend on usage.
But while household finances are being stretched by eye-watering gas and electricity costs, it could be down to more than just energy price hikes, according to Llewellyn Kinch.
The energy-saving expert at from MakeMyHouseGreen.com has revealed one of the common errors that people make which could be costing you money unnecessarily.
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He told The Sun: “Lots of people have some strange beliefs when it comes to winter heating, many of which might be making their home less energy-efficient – and less cost-efficient – to heat.
“Some consumers wrongly assume that cranking up the thermostat heats the home more quickly. But this is not the case.”
For most systems, he explains, this only sets the final temperature, and risks you overheating your home.
“Since these systems work at a constant rate, you can do nothing to make the process faster,” he said.
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“So, you should only set the thermostat to the desired temperature.”
Turning up your thermostat by just one degree can add £100 a year to your bill, so by doing this multiple times, you could be adding hundreds of pounds unnecessarily.
Llewellyn adds this is not the only myth that needs debunking to help money-conscious customers save cash – and stay warm – this winter.
“Lots of people believe that electric heaters are more efficient than central heating,” he said.
“In reality, these are effective for heating small spaces that need additional warmth.
“They can be great if, say, you only need to heat one room of a large house, or if you need to provide bursts of extra warmth.”
But, he warns, they will cost more if used as the primary heat source.
“Well-maintained modern central heating systems are designed to heat entire spaces more evenly and efficiently,” he added.
Another misapprehension, according to the energy-saving whizz, is that it’s cheaper to leave the heating on low all day than to turn it on and off.
“Modern heating systems reach the desired temperature quickly,” he said.
“So there’s no need to leave your heating constantly on.”
This can, in fact, lead to excess energy usage and overheating your home.
“Programmable thermostats and smart home systems can optimise heating usage, allowing you to set a schedule for when your heating goes on and off,” said Llewellyn.
“This can help reduce your overall consumption.”
Smart thermostats such as Nest, Hive and Tado can all save you time and money, but they will only do so when used correctly.
If you don’t have one already, you’ll need to factor in the upfront cost of installing a smart heating system like this, but this should be offset in future against the savings you can make on energy bills.
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Llewellyn also reminds homeowners that a lot of heat can get lost through windows and doors.
“You need to address issues such as poor insulation unsealed gaps and insufficient weather-stripping,” he said. “These are simple ways to make energy-saving – and heat-saving – improvements.”
You can, for example, apply weather strips to windows and the foam will help to prevent the movement of air from the outside.
You can pick these up from a DIY store for as little as £7, though the exact cost will depend on how many windows you have to apply it to.
Stretching cling film or bubble wrap over the inside of panes can also help trap air and stop draughts.
At the same time, another simple tip involves placing draught excluders at the bottom of doors.
You can pick up cheap ones at the likes of Dunelm for just a couple of pounds.
Better still, you can fashion your own version for free by putting stuffing into the leg of an old pair of tights and sewing the end closed.
Llewellyn said: “By making just a few small changes, you’ll be able to enjoy a cosy home, without being plagued by worries over your heating bill.”
The eco expert also has a clever tip for homes with ceiling fans.
“People believe these devices are only useful in the summer,” he said.
“But they can be helpful in the winter, too. During the colder months, set the fan to rotate clockwise at a low speed.
“This will push the warm air that has risen to the ceiling gently down into the room, making sure none of that warmth is wasted.”
The energy whizz adds that it’s a common misconception that solar energy doesn’t work in the winter.
“Despite shorter daylight hours and the sun’s lower position in the sky, solar panels can still produce a substantial amount of energy,” he said.
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“They are still a great source of energy in the winter and can help to off-set the energy intensive demands of heating a home.
“While there is less sun during the shorter winter days, the cold weather helps panels operate more efficiently.”
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
