The temperature outside is dropping rapidly and the heatwaves of summer feel like a distant memory to us all now. We’re also forecast one of the coldest winters on record, so keeping warm is a must for everyone!
But you might already be finding that your heating bill is creeping up — and it isn’t even winter yet. Here are some easy ways you can save money on your heating bills this year.
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Why it’s important to stay warm in later life
Older people definitely feel the cold more around this time of year. Unfortunately, those in later life are also more susceptible to colds, coughs, and bugs that can be brought on or made worse by the wet and wintry conditions.
Reports show that about 60% of pensioners will cut down on heating to save money. And a further two in five would think about cutting back on food just so they can afford to heat their homes.
With these statistics in mind, we thought it would be worthwhile to put some easy steps together that you, or one of your loved ones, can use to stay warm this autumn and winter.
Get rid of draughts
Older properties may have ill-fitting doors and windows that allow draughts to pass through from room-to-room circulating cold air. Blocking and sealing these gaps will help to reduce the spread of cold air in your home.
You can use draught-proofing strips or draught excluders around your windows and doors to physically block the cold air from moving between rooms. You could even cover your letterbox and any keyholes to prevent more draughts.
It’s important to remember when you’re draught-proofing that you should always leave a little room for ventilation — particularly with windows. This will help to reduce condensation.
Make your heating last
You might only need to have your heating on for half an hour or an hour every now and again and you can take steps to maintain this warm air for longer.
Using your heating for brief periods of time will help you save money, as will protecting your home from draughts.
Windows in particular can lose a lot of heat in winter, so when it’s getting darker, draw your curtains to help minimise heat loss in your home. This is a particularly easy way to help save money on your heating bills.
Try to remove any obstructions from in front of or around your radiators to be more efficient. This means moving any laundry you are drying or even long curtains that go in front of your radiator need moving or tucking away so that you can really make the most of the heat coming out of them.
Think about the rooms in your house that are often left empty or un-used all day; you may want to turn the heating off altogether in these rooms to save money on your heating bills. Prioritise rooms you use regularly for heating (i.e., the living room, bedroom, kitchen).
Whilst you’re at home, the ideal temperature of your living room should be about 21°C. Put the heating on in your bedroom before you go to bed and warm the room up to about 18°C for a comfortable night’s sleep.
Other ways to save money on your heating bills
Other habits you might want to get into to save money on your bills include:
- Switching off electrical appliances when they’re not in use
- Using appliances like washing machines and tumble dryers in off-peak periods (if you have an off-peak energy tariff)
- When making hot drinks, only boil the amount of water you need
- Use energy-efficient lightbulbs
- Get your boiler serviced regularly
Summary
We hope this gives you some quick and easy ways to save money on your heating bills this autumn and winter. Do you have any other tips we could use? Let us know!
Graeme has worked alongside the public sector for much of his working life, helping departments improve efficiencies and deliver on projects. In his role at Vivid.Care, Graeme used his experience to tackle some of the most challenging issues in the healthcare sector, from falls through to winter pressures. He was also a guest speaker and a number of different conferences, including at the Falls Prevention Summit in London.
