At Mr Lender, we offer short term loans between £200-£1,000.
Keeping warm over winter is a costly process, but with our money-saving tips, we will advise you on ways to stay warm while also saving some cash from the energy bills that always seem to increase.
Above is a pie chart breaking down where energy and heat are lost throughout the home, but following these tips, we will get those numbers dropping along with your energy bill prices.
BLEED YOUR RADIATORS
One of the first things you should do once you notice that chill in the air is check the condition of your radiators. When you put your heating on check the radiator for areas that don’t feel as warm as others or to see if the unit is slow to heat up. These are all signs that your radiator needs bleeding due to a build-up of trapped air. If you are unclear on how to bleed your radiator there are many handy instructional videos on Youtube. |
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CHECK YOUR WINDOWS
With 10% of heat loss coming from windows it’s crucial that you regularly check them. Everyone is aware that both double and triple glazing is most beneficial in trapping heat within a home, but they do come at a cost. A cheaper alternative is a secondary glazing solution that comes in at a fraction of the price but will end up paying for itself in a matter of years as it can save you up to 25% on your fuel bills. They require no planning permission for installation. You could also contact your local mastic man about sealing the windows that you have. |
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SERVICE YOUR BOILER
Having your boiler serviced regularly ensures that minor issues that can be fixed easily don’t develop into a bigger more costly problem. With a standard efficiency boiler service setting you back about £50 – £80 and around £80 – £160 for a high efficiency condensing boiler, it’s most definitely a worthwhile investment in the long run. |
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HOT WATER CYLINDER JACKET
A lot of modern hot water tanks already come with sufficient insulation pre-installed as standard, but most older models don’t. By adding a standard cylinder jacket you could save yourself up to a £150 on your fuel bills a year. Even if your tank does have insulation, it’s still worth considering in investing in a jacket as you’ll still notice the savings. |
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PIPE LAGGING
In order to improve your pipe’s general efficiency and to prevent them from freezing up, you should insulate them. If you have insulated your tank to keep as much heat in your water, then you should maintain that heat as it travels through the pipes within your home. Frozen pipes cause massive build-ups and in most cases end up bursting which can be extremely costly to fix. |
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RADIATOR REFLECTORS
The majority of heat within a home is lost through the walls, radiators don’t allow you to control the direction of the heat, so a large amount of energy is lost from the back, where it’s being wasted warming up the wall behind it and eventually seeping through. Radiator reflectors can dramatically reduce wasted heat and energy. They can reflect up to 95% of the wasted heat from the rear of the radiator back into your room, meaning a much more efficient system and significantly lowered bills. |
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INSULATING WALLS AND ROOFS
The fastest way to lose heat and money is unfilled cavity walls, an uninsulated loft, or a solid wall without any form of external/internal insulation. No matter how much heat you’re pumping into the building through radiators or convection, if your home isn’t insulated then all it’s doing is letting it escape right through your walls. If you’re eligible for ECO (Energy Companies Obligation) funding then you may be able to get your insulation solutions paid for, or at least subsidized. |
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CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES
Hot water bottles and draft excluders are going to be your best friends. If you are alone in the house then don’t waste money and energy turning the heating on to warm up the entire home, instead, make a hot water bottle and grab a blanket and direct all the heat straight to you. 15% of heat is lost through draughts so make sure you close doors and seal up gaps with draft excluders, make sure you’re confining the heat within the areas you need it, this could save you £35 a year. Obviously, you want to feel comfortable in your home but the closer your indoor temperature is to the outdoor temperature, the less work your heater will have to do to heat your home. So keep an eye out for anyone adjusting the thermostat. |
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GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCHEME
The government has set up a warm home discount scheme between 2019 – 2020. You could get £140 off your electricity bill, the money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between September and March. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out. |
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