Reduce your home thermostat temperature
Setting your thermostat between 18 and 21°C will reduce the cost of your heating whilst still being comfortable. If you’re older or have a health condition, you may need to keep your home warmer.
Check your thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
Thermostatic radiator valves control the temperature of a room by adjusting the amount of hot water that enters the radiator. If you don’t use a room all day, then set it to a lower temperature. Don’t switch the radiator off completely as this may increase the likelihood of damp issues.
Programmers and times
Program your heating around your day. For example, switch it on half an hour before you need it and switch it off half an hour before you no longer need it. This is because most homes take about 30-minutes to heat up and cool down.
Reduce your gas boiler flow temperature
If you have a combi boiler you could be burning more gas than you need. This is because the default setting for boilers is usually 80°C, but the boiler works most efficiently at 60°C. Changing the boiler flow temperature could save you over £100 a year. Find out how to change this on the Money Saving Boiler Challenge website (opens in a new window). More information about heating your home efficiently is available on the Centre for Sustainable Energy website (opens in a new window).
Economy 7 and night storage heaters
If your house has no gas supply, then you may well be on an Economy 7 tariff. It also means you’ve probably got storage heaters and a hot water tank, these work differently to standard radiators. Citizens Advice and the Centre for Sustainable Energy have information to help you get the most from storage heaters.
- Citizens Advice - Using storage heaters efficiently (opens in a new window)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy - Economy 7 tariff (opens in a new window)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy - Night storage heaters (opens in a new window)
Hot water tanks
If you have a traditional hot water tank, ensure it has its own thermostat and set it between 60 and 65°C to avoid legionella. Also look to instal a timer so you are not heating it all day and make sure your tank has as much insulation as possible.
Electric showers
Electric showers that heat the water use a lot of electricity so taking shorter showers can save money. Search for 'navy shower' on the internet as a way of saving water and energy.
