Save Money On Your Energy Bills.

Energy saving tips Help. 20 ways to save money on your energy bills

The Energy Saving Trust

read our blog on replacing your old inefficient boiler

      1. Turning down your thermostat by 1 degree can save over £150.00 per year on your energy bills. For every 1 degree below your                         normal temperature setting you will save money on your energy bills.

      2. You can save energy by upgrading your old boiler to a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and                      thermostatic radiator controls.

       3. Adding a chemical inhibitor to your central heating system on your annual boiler service will keep your boiler protected to                               save money on breakdown bills.

       4. The ideal pressure on your boiler’s pressure gauge is between 1 and 1.5 bar. If your pressure gauge is higher or lower, you could be                 losing lots of money.

       5. Familiarise yourself with topping up the pressure on your Combi boiler. Over time, your combi boiler’s pressure will decrease,                       which will impact the efficiency of the boiler.

       6. Getting your boiler serviced annually helps to maintain safety, energy efficiency and keep your boiler warranty/guarantee valid.

       7. Having a magnetic filter helps with boiler reliability, causing fewer breakdowns by catching magnetic debris (often referred to as                   sludge). They can also collect non-magnetic debris as well if they have a screen inside.

Loft Space Energy Saving Help Tips

8. Insulating your loft will shave around £135 off your energy bills each year if you live in a typical semi-detached house.

       Empty Rooms

9. Are you heating rooms that aren’t being used? Make sure all your radiators have thermostats on them and are being used correctly.                The Energy Saving Trust suggests that turning down your thermostat by just one degree could save around £75 per year.

Radiators Save Energy

10. Periodically bleed all of your radiators to make sure there are no cold spots at the top of your radiators.

Hot Water.

11. Taking shorter showers uses less hot water and saves energy and money.

12. Save upto £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap.

13. Buying an efficient showerhead can save you as much as £18 per person a year on energy bills. An additional savings can be had if                  you have a water meter.

Curtains

       14. Closing your curtains and tucking them behind the radiator when installed under a window is a great way to save money and keep                 the heat in your room to make it warm and cosy. The thicker the material the better insulating they will saving more energy usage.

Draught Proofing.

15. Check around your home for draughts, especially near outside doors. Draughts can cause your home to be cooler, which means                       you’ll have to spend more on heating your home.

Electrical Appliances.

16. Electrical appliances that you are not using should be switched off. Having an appliance or item on standby uses electricity, which                means you are losing money.

17. Turn off lights when you are not in that room, Every little helps.

Solar.

18. Consider having solar panels with a batteries fitted while the initial investment may be high. With electric and gas prices                                   constantly rising, having solar panels coupled with batteries installed may prove to be a good long-term investment.

Windows

19. Are your windows are double or triple glazed. Nearly all homes in the UK will have either double or triple glazed windows,                               but do pay attention to windows that have condensation inside the window panes. This indicates they have lost the argon                                 gas, that helps insulate your home, has dissipated away. There are specialist firms that will repair glazed window units.

20. Internal and external doors closed. Rooms not being used will suck the heat out of other rooms if you don’t close                                                 your doors. Keeping the external doors open will waste even more heat energy than internal doors due to letting the cold                                  from outside into your home.

What is a combi boiler?

A combination boiler, otherwise known as a combi boiler, is the most common type of boiler found in the UK, with over 50% of the new domestic installations in the UK being combi boilers.

How long do combi boilers last?

Combi boilers last between 10-15 years, depending on the model of the boiler and how well it is maintained. One way to improve it’s lifespan is to have your boiler serviced every year. To find out why it is very beneficial to service your boiler every year, please click here.

What are the benefits of a combi boiler?

Combi boilers are very popular due to how useful they are to many types of households. Benefits of combi boilers include:
-Saving space: combi boilers combine the central heating boiler with the water heater, which reduces the amount of space required. This means combi boilers are more space effective, allowing you to use the extra space as you wish.
-Lower costs: Due to the boilers being combined, they are easier to install, which can lead to lower installation costs than system and conventional boilers.
-Instant water: Combi boilers use the water mains grid to retrieve water to use in your heating system, meaning your showers will be more powerful.
-Efficiency: Combi boilers are considered to be highly efficient, with many combi boilers having an efficiency rating of over 90%.

What are the disadvantages of a combi boiler?

Combi boilers, despite being used in most UK households, do have one major drawback: they are not ideal for larger households. If your household has several bathrooms, or lots of rooms, then a combi boiler will not be powerful enough to supply the entire house. A system or conventional boiler will be more efficient for larger houses due to their use of a water cylinder.

The other main drawback to combi boilers is their usage of the mains. This may be beneficial from a space perspective, however, this can significantly impact the pressure of the water if multiple water appliances are being used at the same time.

If you would like a boiler installation or repair, please contact Bradford Boiler Company at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk or 01247 317169.

The Law

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act (1985), the landlord is responsible for repairing and supplying water, gas, sanitation and electricity. A landlord is also responsible for arranging annual gas safety checks with a Gas Safe engineer. They do not necessarily need a boiler cover, but the repairs and maintenance of the boiler is the responsibility of the landlord.

The only exception to the landlord taking responsibility for boiler repairs is if the tenant caused the damage to the boiler. The tenant’s general responsibility is ensuring the general upkeep of the boiler is maintained, and reporting any issues they identify to their landlord.

Can tenants get boilers fixed on their own?

A tenant is not legally responsible for boiler repairs, unless caused by their own doing, therefore tenants should contact their landlords regarding the situation. Tenants should especially not attempt to repair the boiler themselves; not only is this dangerous, this can also cause issues with your boiler, which is your responsibility to amend.

In conclusion, if you are a tenant, your responsibilities are to maintain the boiler and to report any issues with your boiler to your landlord. Your landlord’s responsibilities are to ensure the boiler is annually serviced and repaired. To find out why you should annually service your boiler, please click here.

If you would like a boiler installing or repairing, please contact Bradford Boiler Company at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk or 01247 317169.