HEAT HACKS
Six areas of the home that lose the most energy and could be costing you up to £1,210 a year
How to cut your bills and keep your home warmer this winter
WITH temperatures falling and energy costs remaining stubbornly high, improving you home's energy efficiency could lead to big savings this winter.
Heat can be lost from many areas of your home and, if you're failing to keep it inside, you'll be using more energy to keep your family warm this winter - driving your bills up.
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Research by E.ON showed that heating and hot water account for more than half of Brits' energy bills so minimising any loss could help you make big savings.
The primary reasons for heat and energy loss are poor insulation and draughts.
In a detached property around 35% of heat and energy is lost through the building's walls, 25% from its roof, 10% from windows and doors, 15% from draughts and 15% from floors, according to energy experts Power to Switch.
But making a few changes to improve your home's energy efficiency could save you more than £1,200 a year.
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And while you may need to save up for some fixes, others are cheap to complete and can make a big difference.
A spokesperson for the Energy Saving Trust said: “Draughts allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter, making your heating system work harder.
"Installing inexpensive draught-proofing strips on windows and doors is a quick and easy DIY task that could save you around £35 annually on energy bills.
"If you have an open chimney then you can use a chimney draught excluder to block this whenever you’re not using it, saving £50 a year.
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“To find draughts, run your hand around windows, doors and skirting boards. If you feel cool air, you likely have a draught that can be sealed with caulk, brushes, strips, or other DIY materials.
"But be careful not to block ventilation, including air bricks or trickle vents, especially in high moisture areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, or damp rooms.”
Here are all the areas where you can limit energy loss and save cash:
ENERGY FIRM CRISIS
Roof
Your roof is a hotspot for heat loss, with around 25% disappearing upwards.
A quick glance down your street after snowfall will give you a good idea of how much energy you're losing from your home.
If snow remains on your roof after a flurry has past your insulation is doing its job, if not it's time to consider some home improvements.
If your loft is easy to access and you don't have damp problems, you may even be able to complete the work yourself.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation will pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime.
It could save £340 annually for detached homeowners, £200 a year in semi-detached properties and £180 a year for those living in mid-terrace homes.
Walls
Detached homes can lose 35% of heat and energy through walls, making them the biggest potential leak in your home.
In general, homes built in the 1990s or later should have wall insulation, but if you're home predates this it may not.
If a property was built after the 1920s you probably have cavity walls, and can employ a company to inject insulation for a cost of around £4,000.
If you have an older property with solid walls, it can be trickier and more expensive to add insulation.
The Energy Saving Trust has advised that costs can be spread by having insulation installed as you come to decorate a room.
Insulating solid walls could provide energy savings of up to £500 a year, while cavity wall insulation could save you £370 a year.
Windows and doors
Windows, doors and conservatories can account for up to 10% of energy and heat loss, so improvements can make a real difference to both bills and your carbon footprint.
The Energy Saving Trust advised that installing double or triple glazing, secondary glazing or even simply heavy curtains can reduce loss.
It said that a set of A-rated windows for a semi-detached house will typically cost around £15,000 and could save you £120 a year in energy costs.
Draughts
Reducing draughts is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reduce heat loss and deliver savings.
The Energy Saving Trust said draught proofing around windows and doors could save you £35 a year, while draught proofing a chimney when not in use could serve up a £50 saving annually.
Minimising draughts may also make your home comfier and reduce the need to switch on your heating.
Professional draught-proofing could cost around £250 per property, but DIY fixes can be completed for less.
Floors
Insulating your ground floor is a good way to limit heat loss and it could save you up to £110 a year.
Experts have said the 15% of lost heat could be disappearing under your feet.
Newer homes will have solid concrete floors, which can be insulated when replaced or be topped with insulation.
While in older homes with timber floors, insulation can be added between supports by lifting floorboards.
Water tanks, pipes and radiators
Insulating water tanks, pipes and radiators can help to keep your home warm and your water hot for longer.
The Energy Saving Trust said that simple measures such as fitting a hot water jacket on your cylinder could save you £35 a year in energy costs.
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Other tips are using radiator reflector panels, which reflect heat back to the radiator, rather than letting it escape through a wall.
Insulating primary pipes can also help to keep your home warmer for longer and the Energy Saving Trust estimated that together these measures could save you as much as £175 a year.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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