Cheap Ways to Save On Apartment Heating Costs Cheap Ways to Save On Apartment Heating Costs As summer gives way to autumn, many of us are already reaching for the thermostat and turning on our central heating. But with budgets tight this year and costs for goods spiralling, it’s more important than ever to keep your monthly bills down to a minimum. Given the fact that heating accounts for a large proportion of household energy expenditure, it’s a great place to start making savings. So to help keep your energy costs down to a minimum, we’ve put together some top tips for minimising your heating costs down this winter. Some require the help of a professional tradesman, but there are many that you can implement yourself. Switch providers When it comes to energy suppliers, there are no rewards for loyalty anymore. The best deals tend to be for new customers only while existing customers languish on costly tariffs. Changing suppliers might sound daunting, but it’s actually straightforward to do. Check out Uswitch for the best deals. Tariffs are continually fluctuating, and even if your fixed deal isn’t about to expire, you may still make annual savings if you switch. If your fixed deal has already expired, you should definitely check that you’re on the best rate, as you’ve probably moved on to a standard variable tariff. Switching to a new energy supplier could save you over £200 a year – the price of a weekend away! So it’s definitely worth looking into cutting your monthly energy bills. Install electric radiators OK, so this may not be the cheapest option, but it definitely won’t break the bank as a new gas boiler will. Many apartments share a central heating system, with warmth delivered via radiators or underfloor heating. While landlords will generally have to maintain such systems in rented apartments, if you own your apartment you’ll have some autonomy over the decision making. If you feel your gas heating system is no longer fit for purpose – be that spiralling fuel costs, inefficiency or unreliability – then you can choose to switch to an electric heating system. Indeed, given the impact of climate change, all homeowners are now being encouraged to move away from heating systems that use fossil fuels. New low-carbon options and those that use renewable energy will definitely be the future for home heating. The best and most straightforward option for all-electric home heating is electric radiators. Not only are they easy to fit, but they also provide amazing functionality to make your home comfortably warm, with heat supplied just when you need it. In terms of installation, electric radiators run independently of each other, so there’s no pipework or fiddly connections. Many simply require an electrical plug for installation and can be fixed to the wall using a set of brackets. They’re amazingly energy-efficient, converting 100% of the energy they use into heat. They also come packed with additional features, including WiFi connectivity, open window detection and 24/7 programming, to fit your lifestyle. Even if you rent your apartment and can’t persuade the landlord to update a tired central heating system, you can easily install supplemental heating, in the form of electric radiators and electric heaters. Use these new radiators and turn down the existing heating system, to instantly start making savings. Turn down your thermostat Apartments are unique from houses in that they can benefit from the heat in surrounding units. Indeed, if you’re on the top floor, you could profit from the heat rising from apartments below. So check your thermostat setting, and see if you can dial it down a bit. Even if you can only manage a 1-degree drop, this could save you up to £80 a year. Again, you can boost your heating using electric heaters. Fan heaters can be more expensive to run, so look for convection models to ensure lower energy costs. Check your insulation Gaps in windows are the main culprits for heat loss from apartments, and there are two solutions to drive energy savings here. Firstly, you can install draught-proofing strips to seal cracks around windows. These can be bought at any DIY store and are a quick and easy solution, Secondly, you can install double glazing. This may be more costly, but it will deliver instant energy savings and is also a great way to cut noise pollution. Use a smart control heating system With the easing of restrictions, society is opening up again and many of us are now returning to the workplace. Smart controls – or smart thermostats – are a great way to take back control of your heating system. With a smart thermostat, you can control your heating from wherever you are, at the touch of an App. They can be fitted to most home heating systems and will drive energy savings as you can ensure the heat is on just when and where you need it. This is especially useful if your daily schedule isn’t consistent, and if you travel, as the system can be controlled from anywhere in the world. Some even include a feature called geofencing. This nifty piece of tech creates a boundary around the property, sensing when you’re leaving and approaching the property, and turning the heating on or off as required. Here are some of our favourite models: Hive Active Heating 2Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation)Tado Smart Thermostat V3Drayton Wiser Multi-Zone Smart ThermostatHoneywell Evohome Zone your heating This is where smart thermostats come into their own. You can control which rooms receive heat, and when. You don’t need the bedrooms to be heated during the day. Likewise, you won’t need the kitchen heated during the late evening. So choose which rooms you want to use and when, and zone you're heating. This will ensure the heat is in the precise rooms that it’s needed, depending on your routine and the time of day. Shut the doors and use the power of the sun Zoning heat will only work if you shut the doors. This will prevent heat loss, ensuring warm rooms remain warm, and unused rooms stay cool. Also, use the power of the sun. Open your blinds and curtains during the day to let the light in and use the sun’s rays to heat your home. There really isn’t a cheaper way to save on heating costs. Add soft furnishings This may feel completely low-tech compared with smart thermostats, but it really is an easy way to make your apartment warmer and cosier. Plush curtains and deep-pile rugs are great for creating a feeling of warmth, and insulating space. Simple heating hacks One of our favourites is in fact the most simple, using residual oven heat to warm the home. Yes, that’s right! Rather than close the oven door after cooking a meal, leave it open and let that warmth flow through your kitchen and into the rest of the apartment. The thermostat will detect the increase in heat and dial down your energy use, instantly saving you money. If you’re interested in investing in electric heating options to lower your energy bills, then get in touch today. We sell premium electric radiators and electric heaters that utilise the best energy-saving features to ensure you’ll stay warm this winter and save money on your apartment heating costs. Contact us by calling 01252 560770 or you can e-mail us at enquiries@electricheatingexpert.co.uk to find out more about our product range and services.
