Most of us tend to switch to central heating in October, and use it daily until March or April. This coincides with the transition to winter time and a fall in temperature, significantly affecting the state of the family budget. Thus, the reduction of this indicator - while maintaining heat in the house - will cut the bills for electricity and gas.
But how to keep the heat in the house? While the magnitude of this problem is of great importance, not all decisions need to be complex and costly. Listen to these simple tips to keep your home warm at low cost or no extra costs.
Use the curtains
Heat from the sun is free, so do not neglect it. Open the curtains and let sunlight out to take advantage of this free heat. When it gets dark, close the curtains. They will act like another layer of insulation, and keep the heat in the rooms. You also need to make sure that the windows do not have any crevices or gaps. This will not only prevent heat loss, but also help reduce condensation.
Use timers for central heating
Experts say that setting a timer for your boiler, which will enable heating a little earlier - for example, 30 minutes before your awakening - during winter colds will cost you much cheaper than leaving it on constantly at the temperature you need. This is because the boiler is heated at a constant speed, regardless of whether the thermostat is set to 20 ° C or 30 ° C. And do not make the mistake of leaving the heating for the whole day, because in that case you will pay for the heat when you do not need it.
Move the sofa
Perhaps you feel great sitting on your favorite couch in front of the radiator, but it absorbs the heat that could warm up your house. Move the chairs and sofas away from the radiator so that the hot air can circulate freely. The same goes for curtains or clothes drying: keep them away from the radiator to get the most out of your heat source.
Maximize the insulation
When it comes to heat, about 25% is lost through the roof. This percentage can be easily reduced by installing a 25 cm thick insulation in the attic. Also it is worth paying attention to the walls, as about one third of the heat in uninsulated houses is lost just this way. Although this is not as cheap as installing an insulation in an attic, but warming the walls will help you save a significant sum on heating.
Keep warm
If you have a hot water tank, make sure that it is properly installed and insulated. This will help to keep the water warmer longer, as well as reduce the cost of heating. Warming an uninsulated water tank can save a significant amount per year. In this case, even a simple upgrade of the "old clothes" for the tank will help save money.
Reduce the temperature
This may seem a bit illogical, but it's worth listening. The World Health Organization previously recommended a minimum indoor temperature of 21 ° C, but, for example, in England, as early as 2014, this figure was reduced to 18 ° C. Studies show that reducing the temperature on the thermostat by just 1 ° C can cut your heating bill by up to 10%. By keeping the room temperature at around 18 ° C, you will save money and avoid the negative effects of staying in a cold house.
Use seals
Even such a simple solution, as a toy-limiter for the door, will help to keep the heat in your home. Getting rid of drafts that appear due to loosely closed doors, windows and cracks in the floor, you can also save. The limiter can be made independently for a very small price. In addition, you can use self-adhesive rubber seals around doors and windows, they are relatively cheap and easy to install. The resulting savings are worth it to seal the doors and windows before the onset of winter.
Install thermostatic valves
Studies conducted at the University of Salford showed that the installation of heating controls and thermostatic radiator valves leads to energy savings of up to 40%, compared to homes without any controls. They allow you to program the heating so that it is switched on only at the set time. Thus, you use energy only when you need it. Thermoregulators of a new sample allow you to manage the heating system remotely, via mobile, so that you can turn it on the way home. The thermostat will ensure that the house warms up to your arrival.
Update the boiler
If your boiler is more than 10 years old, it may be time to replace it with a new, more efficient model. The amount that will be saved will depend on your old type of boiler and home. New condensing boilers consume less energy to produce the same amount of heat. In addition, if the boiler is new, you are less likely to face any problems with its operation when the heating season starts.
Reflection of heat
Radiator panels are relatively cheap and easy to install. They ensure that the heat from your radiators warms the room, not the walls. Such panels work by reflecting heat back into the room.