We’re getting through spring into summer fast. While turning off the heating is the first thing we think of as soon as the sun comes out, here are five tips that can help you save on energy bills this spring
People warming their legs on a radiator
After months of cold and cloudy winter, sunny spring days can tempt us to turn off the heat as soon as possible – especially when energy and heating bills have gotten so expensive of late.
But instead of turning them off completely now, the spring season is actually the perfect time to start prepping your heating for the summer, when it won’t be used as much.
Heating UK Radiators’ Daniel Nezhad advises us to follow a few simple heating tips to have an efficient heating system that will save us money on energy bills over the years.
Try not to turn off your boiler
If you shut off your boiler to prevent the heating from starting, you would also shut off your hot water. So you better leave the boiler on.
Instead of turning it off, try tweaking your thermostat or control panel settings to provide hot water and not heating.
The only downside if you prefer to use a towel rail with central heating all year round, because then you have to turn on your heating.
The four most economical devices in your household – and how you can reduce the costs
One thing you can do to help solve this problem is to use a dual fuel towel rail as these systems are worth the money even if central heating is the more economical option during the winter months.
Instead of running your central heating just to dry towels in the bathroom in the summer, invest in dual fuel systems that give you the benefits of central heating with more flexibility and control.
Reduce the temperature of your heater
As the days get warmer, reduce the time your heating is on, especially when you’re away from home.
Evenings tend to be cool, even in spring, so keep the heating on during those hours. But even then, reduce the temperature to ensure no heat is wasted.
The ideal temperature for not getting too hot when the weather is unstable is on the low end of 18 degrees.
Spring cleaning for your system
Spring is usually the time for a thorough cleaning of your home – from the ceiling to the baseboards. Your heating system is also ready for a thorough cleaning in the spring.
Dusty or dirty radiators are not a nuisance, but also reduce the efficiency of your heating. Not only does dust clog radiators, but other issues such as rust and dirt can affect the look and function of your radiators.
Cleaning your radiators can end up saving you money and ensuring they’re ready should you unexpectedly need to turn them on even on warmer days.
The sun is a blessing when it comes to heating, especially for rooms facing south and south-west.
The brighter mornings and longer evenings mean not only less use of lights, but also less use of your heating as sunlight streams in and keeps rooms warm.
Therefore, it’s best to leave your curtains and blinds open in your sunniest rooms to let in as much natural light and warmth as possible.
The added bonus of using sunlight as an energy source is that you can even dry your clothes outside, which in turn means putting damp clothes on cold radiators and causing external damage like corrosion and rust.
Turn on the boiler every now and then in the summer
You may not need your boiler in the summer, but it’s best to fire it up every now and then to make sure it’s working properly.
Much like the battery in your car, if you don’t run your heater occasionally, you might find that your central heating won’t turn on when you use it in the fall.
So once a month turn on your heating and wait for the radiators to start heating. This will prevent the pump and diverter valve that directs the water around the heating system from getting stuck later when you really need the heating.
Source: mirror