With energy prices soaring the hot topic on everyone’s lips these days is ‘How can I reduce my energy costs this winter?’. Cutting energy costs isn’t about simply switching to a cheaper tariff. The main way to save during the current energy crisis is to use less. Not only will you save money, but you will be reducing your impact on the environment.

We spoke to Aaron Wilton of Belfast Heating Limited, and he gave us a host of ways to reduce your energy use this winter.

GET YOUR BOILER SERVICED

A regular boiler service ensures that your boiler is running as efficiently as possible. This helps to prevent energy wastage and reduce energy costs.

While your boiler engineer is there, they can check that the boiler temperature is not set too high. Quite often people have the boiler temperature set much higher that it needs to be.

If you’re looking for a good balance of warmth and efficiency, you want to set your boiler to at least 65°C. Setting it a few degrees higher won’t hurt. But it’s important not to set it any lower than that. This is so bacteria in the water doesn’t grow and cause Legionella.

TURN ROOM THERMOSTATS DOWN

Are you guilty of cranking those thermostats up full blast? Expect to cut bills by around 4% for each degree you cut the thermostat. The World Health Organisation says that 18°C is enough for healthy adults. For those with young kids or older adults in the house go for 20°C and be disciplined to sticking with that.

USE THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR VALVES

Thermostatic radiator vales can help to zone the heating in your house. Why would you fully heat the whole house when you only spend most of the day in one room? Thermostatic radiator valves are an extra control which you can use to set the temperature of each individual room (other than where your main thermostat is).

Most people have these valves turned up full on all radiators. Try turning them down to 3 in lesser used rooms, like bedrooms to help reduce energy costs.

BALANCE YOUR RADIATORS

When you balance radiators, you allow more water to flow to the colder radiators and restrict the flow from the radiators that are too hot. For example, if the radiator in the kitchen heats up quickly but the one in one of the bedrooms takes forever, then your radiators need balancing.

This is something a good plumber can do for you when they are out servicing your boiler.

BLEED YOUR RADIATORS

Bleed your radiators regularly to prevent air being trapped inside, which will leave cold spots in your radiators. This will make your heating system less efficient, as you’ll be using more energy to get adequate heat out of them.

Contact Aaron from Belfast Heating Ltd on 07487 627757 or info@belfastheating.com.