That winter chill might mean that you're feeling the cold until you receive that first huge gas bill. Your temperature then boils over as you try to figure out how to pay it.
Well, we've got ten easy ways to stop making you feel so hot under the collar.
Shut your windows
If your windows are open then it's clearly not cold enough to have your heating on. If you really feel the need for fresh air, just crack them open an inch or two. You only need enough of an opening to let cool air in without allowing the heated house air to escape.
Turn your boiler off
If you're going out for the day or even for just a couple of hours, turn your boiler off. If nobody's home, you'll need neither your hot water nor your heating on. You could always twiddle the controls and put it on a timer?
Bleed your radiators
To make sure that your radiators' performance is up to scratch, bleed your radiators twice a year and help to cut gas bills further.
Properly fill your machine
Don't run your dishwasher or your washing machine if it's not full. Your dishwasher uses 45 litres of heated water and your washing machine uses 110 litres of heated water each time they run a full cycle, which is costing you a lot of money.
Match up your pans
Matching up pan size to element size will save you money. For smaller pans, use a small burner, and for larger pans, use the opposite. Using the wrong sized element will waste more energy when you're cooking.
Shower
You use 90 litres of heated water every time you run a bath, but only 45 litres every time you have a 5-minute shower. Taking a shower could save you up to half the amount of money needed as it would to heat the water for a bath. If you don't have a shower, don't fill the bath up as much, and save money and energy.
Check your boiler
If yours is more than 10 years old then the time has come for you to get a new, more energy efficient boiler that'll slice your bills and will do wonders for the environment. A brand new condensing boiler fitted with full heating controls would cut your gas bills by £190-£230. Not bad, right? Find out about the full benefits of replacing your boiler
Insulate
Insulating your home is an essential part of reducing your gas bill. Fitting a 75mm water jacket on your tank could save you around £40 a year, insulating your loft will put an extra £200 in your pocket in a year's time, and £160 a year could be recovered if you insulate your wall cavities. Also if you haven't already, double-glazing your home could save you up to £110 a year on your gas bill.
Draught-proof
Installing a cheap brush or PVC seal on your doors, letterboxes and keyholes will eliminate draughts and wasted heat. Draughts can also creep in through gaps in skirting boards and floorboards. Stop heat escaping by filling these gaps with beading, sealant or even newspaper.
Be sensible
The easiest things will affect how much you spend on your gas bills. Drawing your curtains or wearing that extra jumper could conserve energy, and by turning down that thermostat just one degree, you could reduce your gas bill by up to 10%.
Following these ten simple and straightforward steps really will make a difference to what your outgoings.
It really is as easy as 1, 2, 3... and only a few more.
