Although almost everyone in the UK wakes up incredibly confused that first morning where clocks have gone forward, I love knowing that we’re approaching brighter evenings and a much-needed change in the seasons.
While little things around the home change, like swapping your duvet or putting the big coats away back in the wardrobe (we’ll see you again in autumn), there is one area where the not so reliable British weather throws things into complete chaos: home heating.
I don’t know about you, but this time of year is when the family gets into some very intense debate about resetting the timer for the heating to come on, whether it needs to be on at all, and what rooms are deserving of a sniff of warm air in the evenings. If this sounds familiar in your home, and you’re looking to get those heating bills down to an absolute minimum, here is some advice I’ve picked up over the years.
From tinkering to valves to buying a new radiator (yes, it can save your money!), here are some of the things you can do to perfect the summer heating in your home.
The secret in your boiler
Maybe declaring that your boiler has a secret is overstating things a little. Still, I reckon most people don’t know there is something they should be doing in the warmer months, especially if it supplies hot water in the home too.
Whether you have a gas combi boiler or an oil boiler outside that pumps into the home, you’ll want to go and look at the thermostat on the boiler. You should find that it is sitting somewhere in the mid-70s to around 80°C, and there’s a reason for this. Most boilers are set at a high temperature to combat any problems in the winter months. If your boiler is sitting at 90°C (or whatever the max is), I’m sorry to let you know you’ve been wasting money all this time. Get that thing turned down.
Now that we’re in the summer, the magic number to set your boiler to is 60°C. The lower temperature is something radiators can work with. It also is ideal in helping prevent bacteria from being present in your hot water. On the off-chance there’s a problem with your water at this time of year, 60°C helps prevent any nasty stuff from getting in. It’s the reason why the local water authority will say to boil water if your local supply has a problem for a day or two.
It is also a good idea to make sure that your boiler has been services and that you have carried out basic maintenance steps. This will help your boiler run at its maximum efficiency as well as extend its life.
Going electric in the colder rooms
What if I told you buying a new radiator was going to save you money on heating bills? Well, it is 100% true when you get an electric radiator. While the summer means you can have all the windows and doors open during the day, there are still some rooms that might need a heating boost at night. A dedicated electric radiator on the wall is cheaper to run than those portable plug-in or blow heaters that suck up electricity like there’s no tomorrow. Getting a cheap electric radiator (Trade Radiators have a tonne of offers on right now) will see no need to have the central heating on, even if just for an hour.
Over time, and the years, lowering the reliance on central heating will see you saving on oil/gas. Just make sure you get an electric radiator that matches other radiators in the room. Alternatively, you might want to get a beautiful design or colour and transform the radiator into a style statement.
Getting valves to an absolute minimum
If you don’t have space for an electric radiator, you can still lower the number of times your boiler is firing up by telling your radiators you don’t need as much heat. I’m sure most of us are guilty of cranking those radiators up to 5 if a room doesn’t feel 100% toasty.
This time of year is when you want to get those valves all the way down to 1 or 2 at the most. The 2 on a thermostatic radiator valve is around 15°C (depending on the manufacturer), and that’s all you need in a room during the warmer months. Honestly, give it a go.
Now get that home cosy for summer!
Thanks for reading. I’m hoping this advice will see you lower heating bills this summer and lower the reliance on hitting that boost button on the thermostat most evenings. If I’ve gotten you in the mood to get little bits and bobs around the home in working order for summer, don’t forget to check out our tips for your garden too.
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