No home in the UK can survive without adequate heating. You need to stay warm for a good portion of the year, and you can occasionally find yourself putting on a woolly jumper in the middle of the summer. There’s not much you can do about average temperatures, except move somewhere else, but you can take steps to make your home as warm as possible. However, many people worry about the cost of heating their home. And if you want to reduce costs long-term, you often have to spend a little money. Choosing the right investments will help you make sure that your money goes a long way and that you ultimately save more than you spend.

 

Insulation

If you want to save money on heating, the first thing you should pay attention to is usually how well your home is insulated. If your home isn’t insulated well enough, it will lose heat and drive up your energy bills. The good news is that if you live in the UK, you might be able to get a government grant to pay for new insulation. You might be able to get money to insulate your loft, attic room (if it’s accessed by a staircase and not a ladder) or cavity walls. To find out if you’re eligible for a grant, you can look on the government website and answer a few questions. Even if you’re not eligible for a grant, replacing or installing insulation could be one of the best things you do for your home.

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A New Boiler

Most homes in the UK have central heating with boilers. Typically, a boiler will last up to 15 years, but you might find that you need to replace yours before then. A newer boiler will be more efficient and help you to save money. Of course, when you’re considering the cost of a new boiler, you’ll have to take the cost of installation into account too. But once you’ve replaced your old one, you can enjoy the new boiler for years. The savings you make by having a more efficient boiler are likely to outweigh what you need to pay to get a new one installed.

 

Better Heating Controls

In addition to a new boiler, you might also want to consider how well you can control your heating. Different types of heating system will generally need different control types, but you can often consider a couple of different options. Better control over your heating means you can avoid having the temperature too high and make sure the heating is only on when you need it. A timer will turn your heating on and off when you tell it to, while a thermostat checks the temperature for you to keep the heat more controlled. You’ve probably heard a lot about smart thermostats recently, not to be confused with smart meters. With a smart thermostat, you can control your heating from an app, which is great if you want to put it on before you get home or if you forget to turn it off before going out. Or if you’re just feeling lazy and don’t want to get off the sofa!

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The Right Type of Radiator

Radiators are pretty standard in UK homes. Some people might have other methods of heating, like electric heaters, wood burners, or underfloor heating, but radiators are most common. What you might not know is that not all radiators are the same. Some are more efficient choices than others so you might want to consider choosing the right design for your home. If you want maximum efficiency from your radiators, column radiators are one of the best choices you can make. They’re great for heating over larger surface areas and will give more heat output depending on the number of columns. They can also be a great space-saving option, especially if you choose vertical radiators. They’re a flexible choice so you can make sure your radiators meet your needs.

 

Separate Heating Circuits

Most homes have one single heating circuit, so when you adjust your thermostat, it affects the whole home. But if you want even greater control, you can have separate heating circuits in different rooms, so each one has its own thermostat. This allows you to adjust the temperature in different rooms, so you have different temperatures or only have the heating on at certain times of the day. So you could have heat in your bedroom in the morning and evening, and perhaps have a lower temperature in the bathroom and kitchen. This could save you energy, and therefore money. However, it might not be your first choice if you want more efficient heating.

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Get Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating always sounds like something of a luxury. And it’s true that it’s not exactly the best value when it comes to installation. However, even though it’s not the cheapest option, it could still save you plenty of money long-term. It heats a whole room, covering all the floor space, and it just feels great under your feet. Underfloor heating is particularly popular in some parts of Northern Europe, where it can be a little colder than in the UK. If countries like Germany and those in Scandinavia prefer underfloor heating, it might be a good idea to take a leaf out of their book.

 

Get a Wood Burning Stove

A wood-burning stove is another option for an alternative heating system. And not only are they efficient, but they look great too. With a wood burning stove, you can find there’s no need for central heating, depending on the setup of your home. However, it can be a little more expensive to run than gas central heating. Having said that, it does offer a more efficient option compared to electric fires and gas effect fires. Alternatively, a biomass boiler could save you money, and you could even get payments from the government for installing one.

 

Some heating investments make more sense if you’re trying to save money. Weigh up your options to decide which ones could help you the most.

 

 

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