Cut your bills by making your central heating smarter

When it comes to cutting heating bills, most of us think that the solution is throwing on some extra jumpers and keeping the heating off for as long as bearable. However, smartening your central heating system can mean that you save money on your energy bills while your heating is on.

Achieving a smarter central heating system doesn’t always mean getting a new boiler, and can be accomplished by installing additional heating controls or making full use of existing controls.

Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)

Adding TRVs to your radiators can be an easy way to cut your energy bills. TRVs allow you to control the water flow of each radiator in your home, helping you to control temperature in each individual room. This means that you don’t have to heat the rooms you don’t use, which can save you money on your energy bills.

Setting a timer

Controlling when your heating is on using the system’s timer can help reduce the cost of your energy bills. Setting your timer so that your heating comes on 20 minutes before you get home from work and 20 minutes before you wake up in the morning should heat your home sufficiently for use.

Using room thermostats

Using a room thermostat can help your home stay at a consistent temperature and save you money on your energy bills. A room thermostat regulates temperature by turning the heating on until the room reaches a set temperature, then turning the heating off until the temperature dips.

Thermostats are usually set between 18°C and 21°C, and turning them down by a degree can save you money on your energy bills without seeing a noticeable change in temperature.

Boiler servicing

A fault in your boiler can prevent it from working efficiently and cause your energy bills to rise. Annual servicing can help locate faults and potential problems, and ensure that your boiler is in best working order for winter. DHS’ boiler servicing costs just £78 for a gas boiler and £130 for an oil boiler. To find out more, or to book your boiler servicing for your Bristol home, please call us on 0117 924 7200.