Tips to Help Save on Family Utility Bills

The rising cost of energy bills is a constant worry for the modern day household. However, it’s easy to cut the cost of your bills by increasing the energy efficiency of your home. Follow our handy tips to start saving money today!

Insulate your tanks and pipes

You don’t have to be a DIY expert to make your home more energy efficient. You can buy a insulator jacket for your hot water tank for under £20. In some cases, this has saved £45 a year on energy bills! Insulating your pipes is also a relatively easy job. The DIY cost is low, and you could start saving up to £15 on your bills each year.

 

Replace old boilers

Although some jobs are much bigger and more costly than others, they can really make a difference to your annual energy bill. Older boilers tend to cost more to run, and by replacing your boiler for a more energy efficient model, you could begin to cut your energy costs by more than £300 a year. Although this seems a daunting and expensive task, you’ll begin to see the benefits later on.

Heat Loss

 

A quarter of the heat in your home can be lost via the roof, if your loft isn’t insulated. Professional tradesmen do charge a hefty sum to install loft insulation, however it could begin to knock hundreds off your energy bill and the cost of the initial insulation can be earned back within two years! If your loft is already insulated, it’s worth checking the thickness of your installation. The recommended loft insulation thickness is 270mm – if yours doesn’t measure up, it’s easy to top it up to start making maximum savings.

 

Replace your thermostat

You can reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs by about 15% with a programmable thermostat. It automatically keeps the temperature at a comfortable level when you’re home, but switches to an energy-saving level when you’re away or asleep. CNM Online have quality range of programmable thermostats, ranging from simple programmable models to more expensive thermostats with various options. Be sure to read the packaging to make sure the programmable thermostat you buy is compatible with your original heating and cooling system.

Prevent the draughts

Draughty homes always feel chilly and are constantly wasting energy. You could find yourself saving £55 a year on average if you fully draught proof your home. The most common sources of draughts tend to be windows, doors, letterboxes, chimneys and fireplaces. The majority of DIY stores stock a good range of draught proofing equipment. Draught proofing isn’t too difficult and the job can also be done by yourself to save money. Just be careful if you are sealing any gaps in a room that needs to be well ventilated, such as the bathroom or kitchen.

Our top 5 quick tips!

• Turn it off. We all waste so much energy by leaving our electrical appliances on standby. The average household can save up to £85 by turning the switch off at the wall.
• New bulbs. Replace your old light bulbs with energy saving alternatives! You can save up to about £3 a year and they don’t cost the world.
• Turn it down. Many of our rooms can get overheated. If you can turn your thermostat down by a few degrees, or throw on a jumper, you can begin to save £65 a year on heating costs.
• Bath time. Why not take a shower instead of a bath? You’ll use a lot less hot water. You can also install a water-efficient head to your shower, which could save you about £75 a year.
• Cool it down. Start washing your clothes at 30 degrees and no higher. This can knock up to £9 off your energy bills.