How can I slash my water bills at home?
Moving to a water meter can help some households save some extra cash.
However, if you use a lot of water then this makes no sense as it could see your water bills go up.
The Consumer Council for Water offers a free water meter calculator that’ll tell you if you can save by fitting a water meter.
There are also changes that you can make to your daily habits that could help to cut back on your water usage, including reducing the time you spend in the shower and not leaving the water running while brushing your teeth or washing dishes.
Plumbing expert’s hack to make your house more efficient this winter
A plumbing expert has shared a simple hack to make your house warmer this winter.
If you have found your radiators aren’t giving off much heat or they feel cold on the top half and warm on the bottom half then you may need to bleed your radiators.
This is relatively simple and can be done yourself with a radiator key and cloth.
You need to check if you have a sealed or opened system and ensure the heating is turned off before opening all the radiator valves including thermostatic radiator valves.
Using your radiator key, put it into the valve and twist it until you feel any air or water coming out.
Lynn Beattie, aka @mrsmummypenny on Instagram said: “If air comes out, keep it open until water starts coming out. Then shut it by tightening it. All air should be removed from the radiator now. “
You can then repeat this process on all radiators in your house before turning on the heating and allowing the system to heat up.
Top saving trends to start today
There are several major trends you can follow that could see you stash away hundreds if not thousands of pounds by the end of the year.
The right one for you will depend on how much you want to save and what you can afford to put aside.
Anyone can take part in the 1p savings challenge and the idea is pretty straightforward.
You start by saving 1p, then increase the amount you save by 1p each day.
So as day one is 1p, day two means you stash away 2p, and the next day it’s 3p and so on.
By day number 365, you’d be adding just £3.65 to the account.
If you started on January 1, 2024, and kept it up, you’ll have saved a grand total of £671.61 by December 31, 2024.
Don’t worry if you didn’t start right at the beginning – just add up the total number of each day missed and start from there.
How much am I paying to run my dishwasher?
Research by the Energy Saving Trust has previously found dishwashers contribute 8% to overall electricity bills.
But how much your’s costs to run depends on its wattage.
Will Ashton Smith, director of sustainability at Domestic and General, said under the current Ofgem price cap, a 1.6kWh model would cost around 43p an hour to run.
He explained: “If you are charged 27p per kWh of energy you use, and you have your 1600 wattage dishwasher on for three hours a day, you will be charged £1.30 per day for this.”
Even if that seems cheap, you might still want to cut costs – here are some ways you can do that.
How do I apply for the cold weather payment?
You do not need to apply to the scheme, as cash is automatically sent within a two working weeks to anyone eligible.
If you don’t receive a payment but believe you’re eligible, contact your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office.
Alternatively, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
When temperatures plummet, you can check if your area is due a cold weather payment by typing your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
Top tips to save money on your heating
You may not be aware that by using “vampire settings” you could save £850 on your energy bills.
Here are some different ways to save:
- Thermostat – £380 Reducing your thermostat by one degree can reduce your fuel bill by 10%, according to Energy Saving Trust
- Dishwasher – £143 Running your dishwasher at a lower temperature such as 45ºC to 50ºC can save you more that £100
- Boiler – £112 Changing the flow temperatures on combination boilers, according to charity, Nesta means you can save an average of £112 per year
- Radiator – £75 The average household can save up to £75 every year if they have thermostatic radiator valves fitted on all their radiators, according to British Gas
- Tumble Dryer – £53 Tumble dryers can cost around 67p per cycle but most models come with an eco-mode that can be used to save the environment – and some cash
- Fridge Freezer – £50 The Food Standards Agency recommend that the temperature of fridges be set to 5°C and freezers should be at -18°C. Having it set at the optimum temperature is also better for your wallet
- Washing Machines – £37 Most models of washing machine come with an eco-mode that can be used to save some money
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
