Tips for Tenants & Landlords in Chorley to Save on Heating Bills

With energy bills soaring, we are all looking for ways to stay warm without breaking the bank. Here are 10 tips for both tenants and landlords in Chorley for keeping those heating bills down while still staying warm and cosy.

Turn your combi boiler temperature down

Turning your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60°C could save you up to £100 a year. Flow temperature is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to radiators. Reducing flow temperature isn’t the same as lowering your thermostat and won’t noticeably reduce the temperature of your home but may increase the time it takes to reach the target temperature on your thermostat.

Turn your thermostat down

Turning your room thermostat down by even just 1 degree can shave 10% off your bills!

Turn your heating off when you are out

Heating an empty house is a waste of money. If you go out to work set the timer to come on just before you get home and you get to come home to a warm and cosy house without the expense of having heated it all day.

Turn down radiators in rooms you are not using

Turning down radiators in rooms you aren’t using or use less could save you up to £70 a year. When you’re not using rooms, turn radiator valves down to between 2.5 and 3 (roughly 18°C). While you are using a room, increase the temperature to a comfortable level by turning the valve up. Turning off radiators completely in rooms you are not using is less energy efficient as this means your boiler has to work harder to increase the temperature again than if kept at a low setting.

Buy a winter duvet

Although this is an upfront cost, the money it will save you makes it worth it. With the correct duvet for the season you won’t feel any need to have the heating on at night, which is better for your wallet and better for your health.

Studies have demonstrated that sleeping in a cool room can help you fall asleep faster, fight insomnia and help increase melatonin production.

Put on an extra layer

Apologies for sounding like someone’s parent but putting on an extra layer of clothing will help you to fight the chill so you don’t need to turn up the thermostat. The key is layers: multiple thin layers will keep you warmer than one big jumper.

Insulate your chimney

Chimney balloons can be used to block draughts from the chimney cavity and then can be easily deflated when you would like to light a fire. If your fireplace is not in use then you can use newspaper or cardboard to block up the cavity and save yourself from cold draughts.

Line your curtains

Thermal curtain lining can reduce heat loss from your windows by up to 25% and can also help to reduce draughts. If you are not particularly nimble with a sewing machine then fabric glue is an excellent solution to attach thermal lining to the back of your curtains.

Add insulation

Stop heat from escaping through your roof by making sure that you have sufficient insulation in your loft. Insulation is like a hat for your house and plays a key part in making sure that the heat you are paying for isn’t literally floating off into the sky.

If you have insufficient insulation in your loft speak to your landlord and ask if they will consider adding more. From 2025, all newly rented properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above so most landlords will be keen to undertake work to improve their property’s Energy Performance Certificate rating.

Have your boiler serviced

It is a legal requirement for your landlord to have a gas safety check on your boiler every year, however a gas safety check is not a service of the boiler. Aside from the obvious safety benefits of ensuring that your boiler is in tip top condition, having a boiler that is serviced and working well will save you money on your heating bills.

If you are a landlord in Preston, Leyland, Chorley or the surrounding areas and would like to know more about how you can improve your rental property’s EPC rating and help your tenants to reduce their heating bills please give us a call on 01772 284606