There are a number of ways that you can go about saving money in your home, but with a number of monthly bills causing strain on your monthly budget, it can be difficult. With some of these bills amounting to a small fortune, it leaves many opting for small loans when faced with a financial emergency.
However, there are several ways to save money on heating costs and utility bills. In fact, with the right strategies, you can apply the same concepts to all your energy costs and lower your bills across the board. Here are the 5 best ways to save money on utility and heating costs.
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Insulation
When looking to cut money on your energy bills, insulation is the perfect place to start. By placing insulation in the rafters as well as the loft, you can stop heat escaping from the roof and can keep it in the home. Depending on the year that your house was built, you may also be entitled to insulation for free under a government grant which will further help you to save money in the long term.
Bleeding The Radiators
Another way to save money on your heating bill is through bleeding your radiators. This removes the air from the pipes, allowing the system to heat up much sooner. It is important to do this regularly as the air can build up, causing your heating to not work as efficiently. Bleeding the radiators will help to boost the time it takes to heat your home.
Replace Windows And Doors
If you are living in a home that is a number of years old, it may also be beneficial to replace the windows and doors – this is because they could be letting air escape through old seals that have since worn away. By replacing these old doors and windows with brand new double glazing, you can keep in the heat in the winter and keep it cool in the summer.
Although this can seem like an expensive upfront cost, it is important to invest in these energy-saving tactics now.
Benefits of Double Glazing
Not only is it strong enough to withstand a football if it was thrown at the window, it is also thick which means that less heat is lost as a result. This style of window also cuts down the amount of condensation on your panes of glass, as well as reducing interior fading, all whilst increasing the resale value of your home.
This investment is then perfect for those that are looking to sell soon as this will help to make your property more appealing to home buyers.
Invest In A Smart Meter
Investing in a smart meter can be a great way to reduce your utility costs going forward. This can be bought either out of your own pocket, or given to you through your supplier, and allows you to track where you are spending all your money and begin to put plans in place to make cuts.
The price is shown in dollars and cents, allowing you to see exactly how much you are spending and anticipate the price of the bills that you are going to be paying. Although it can take time to lower these initial costs, it is important to maintain this as this will then help to save you more and more money on your monthly bill.
You will also be able to track your spending due to the colored light that is also on the meter itself, which will clearly indicate whether you are in the green, amber or red zone and will help to indicate how you can spend money in the long term.
Other Ways To Save on Your Utility Bill
If heating your home is costing you significantly more, then opting for an alternative may be the best solution. Whether this is through the use of an open fire, wood-burning stove or other options such as infrared heaters, this can help you find a cleaner source of energy that saves you money in the long term.
Wood Burning Stove
One of the most popular options for alternative forms of heating is a wood burning stove. This technology uses the heat harnessed from the heat of the burning wood and spreads this heat around the home with natural air flow.
It is recommended that you burn hardwood in a wood stove as this takes much longer to burn compared to softwood. This will also produce less smoke and will require less maintenance.
Though this style of wood is recommended, you can also burn old furniture or soft wood as it will still have the same overall effect. There are also a number of multi-fuel options which burn all types of wood as well as coal or pellets and are attached to a water tank.
The heat from the burning water then heats the water and creates heat into the radiators. The stove is then taking place of the gas boiler and only burning all-natural fuels, helping you to save money on your heating bill as a result.
Open Fires
The same is also said for an open fire as this burns natural resources such as wood and coal and converts this into heat. Despite this being the perfect way to heat your home, this can be quite a messy job with the fire needing to be cleaned regularly as well as having the chimney swept which could be an additional cost to you.
Infrared Heating Panels
In addition to the natural resources, you can also lower your heating bill by harnessing the power of infrared technology. This source of heat travels through the air until it hits a solid object and then works to heat it up. This then reduces the need for gas and keeps your house warm in a much cheaper way.
Regardless of whether you are looking for an alternative way to heat your home or a sure-fire way to reduce your monthly bills, there are an abundance of interesting strategies to help you do just that, regardless of the size of your home.
The benefit of saving money everywhere you can is that, when you do have a financial emergency, you can avoid getting small loans with bad credit. Instead of paying outrageous interest rates and further hurting your credit score and history, living frugally can ultimately save you from much more financial pain in the future.
