A couple of weeks ago we shared our top tips on how to warm your home for less. In this blog, we want to share with you the best ways to reduce your gas bill with practical energy cost saving advice. These two posts together are a money savers toolkit.
Homeowners can reduce their gas bills by implementing strategies such as installing smart thermostats, lowering the central heating thermostat by one degree, and upgrading to an energy-efficient boiler. Turning down a central heating thermostat by just one degree can save an average of 10% off the heating bill. Additionally, replacing an old G-rated boiler with a modern A-rated version could lead to impressive savings of up to £300 annually, as modern boilers are typically 92% efficient compared to older models around 70%. Installing smart thermostats like Google Nest or Hive can also contribute to savings, potentially averaging £75 a year in a typical UK home.
No need to choose between being out of pocket or left out in the cold. Our tips help you save money without compromising on the warmth of your family and home.
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How can installing a smart thermostat help reduce your gas bill?
Smart thermostats have been around for several years now and there are a wide range to choose from. Google Nest and Hive to name a couple. The great thing with these thermostats over conventional ones, is that they truly are ‘smart’. They learn how long it takes to heat your home and can heat just the parts of the home you are using. They can also be controlled via your mobile phone, you never have to worry about leaving the heating on when rushing out the door, as well as being able to warm up the house before returning.
In a typical home in the UK, following the installation of room thermostats / thermostatic radiator valves and the required programmer, you may save on average £75 a year.
How much can you save by turning your thermostat down by one degree?
By turning the thermostat down on your central heating boiler by just one degree, you will on average save an impressive and pocket-friendly 10% off your heating bill. In contrast, if you turn the heating up by just 1 degree, it is worth bearing in mind that it will cost more to heat the home at a higher temperature. This is one of the simplest ways to improve the efficiency of your gas boiler without needing to replace the system straight away.
Can replacing your boiler with an energy-efficient version reduce your gas bill?
Depending on the age of your boiler, it is likely that replacing with a newer version will save money. All modern boilers are what are known as condensing boilers. This means they can recover the heat that was previously lost via the flue. As a rule of thumb boilers that are more than 20 years old have an equivalent grading of an E or below. A switch from a G-rated boiler to an A-rated one could save you an impressive £300 a year!
Another way of looking at it is boilers of today must be 92% efficient. This means that for every £1 spent, no more than 8p is wasted. With older boilers, the efficiency is often closer to 70%. A saving of approximately 20p per £1 spent.
Please contact us to arrange for a free boiler quotation or take a look at our Boiler Install page for more information.
How does professional boiler servicing help reduce your gas bill?
To ensure your boiler is working at maximum capacity and efficiency, it needs to be serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer such as Aren Heating and Plumbing. During a service the engineer will check, clean, and replace parts, catching potential problems before they cause a breakdown and keeping gas bills as low as possible. Please see our Boiler Service page for more information.
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Feeling the chill? Our team of fully qualified heating engineers can service your existing boiler or install a brand new one. Please head to our Contact page and fill out the online form. Alternatively, you can call us directly on 020 8287 7194.
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