How to save money on your heating bill

Doors and windows can be responsible for up to 10% of all heat loss in the home. The main culprits? Old single-glazed windows, poor front door insulation, non-existent draught excluders or simply having north-facing windows.

It goes without saying that even the best draught-proofed single glazed window won't have a patch on the energy performance of double glazing. Rule number one is therefore to ensure all doors and French doors are double glazed and that your front door is adequately insulated. If you haven't done so already, think about how you can make your windows and doors more energy efficient.

It may seem obvious but if you are lucky enough to have shutters, use them! During the coldest weather, closing the shutters will reduce heat loss around your windows by creating an external thermal barrier. The better your shutters are insulated and sealed, the more efficient the cold protection.

Heat insulating shutters can save you up to 9% on your heating bill.

If your windows are letting in air due to the seals being worn, replace them. There are door and window seals to match all types of doors and windows from door brushes, to reinforced foam and rubber stripping. The same goes for the front door which can also be blocked by a draught excluder to stop cold from getting under the door.

Draught-proofing your windows can save you approximately 8% on your bill.

All doors and windows can be covered with thermal curtains. Alternatively, you may be able to get away with using curtains made out of a thick fabric – especially if your home is already pretty well insulated. Just like shutters, thermal curtains are used to create an extra layer of protection to improve the insulation of your door or window.

The amount of savings you can make by installing a thermal curtain depends on on the door or window over which it is installed but you could save as much as 15 to 40%.

Windows can be covered with secondary glazing film or window insulation film. Easy to fit, secondary glazing film helps to reduce cold spots produced by windows and improves the heat transfer coefficient (or U value) of the window.

Secondary glazing film is so inexpensive that it will pay for itself very quickly.

Not all rooms need to be heated to the same temperature. What's more, your home shouldn't be heated in the same way at night as it is during the day, nor when you aren't around. To avoid wasting energy, it's a good idea to read up on recommended temperatures by room type and to program your heating system to match your lifestyle.

Of course, even the best heating timer or controller is a poor substitute for an inefficient heating system. The performance of your heating system should be considered separately to the programming system. In other words, prioritise replacing an inefficient boiler or energy intensive electric radiators and then work on controlling the system optimally.

Lowering the temperature by just 1°C can save you as much as 7% on your bill.

In addition to adjusting temperatures according to room type, you can also program your radiator to set times with different temperatures for different times of the day. If your current thermostat doesn't allow you to set your own heating schedule, you should be able to transform your heating system into a smart system as detailed below.

A properly programmed radiator can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.

Smart radiators offer the best solution for keeping a close eye on your electric heating consumption without sacrificing comfort or having to carry out any major work. Smart radiators can be controlled on the spot or remotely using a wireless thermostat paired with a virtual assistant or smartphone. By programming your own settings, you can decide which rooms are heated, at what times and at what temperature. The most sophisticated smart thermostats even make use of geolocalisation technology to turn the heating on in time for you getting home.

And what about smart thermostatic radiator valves? In short, they are easy to install and ideal for consuming the bare minimum without sacrificing on comfort. In fact, using smart TRVS could mean savings of up to 30%.

A real marvel of technology, smart thermostats are also compatible with boilers and can be used to control your system at home or from a distance. Easy to set up, you simply need to install smart radiator valves on your central heating radiators and set up a smart thermostat to control your central heating as closely as possible.

Compatible with about 90% of heating systems, smart thermostats allow you to set your own temperatures and heating schedule.

Looking to reduce your energy bill and get a better handle on your consumption? Don't hesitate to check out our other guides:

• How to use less energy at home

• How to save money on your electricity bill

• How to save money on hot water

• 20 ways to cut down on energy bills