The UK’s energy bills are currently at the highest they have ever been and a recent survey by the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), found 93 percent of respondents were worried about the price of heating this winter. The survey has also revealed a third were “extremely worried” about the cost of heating, and over half would not turn their heating on if they can’t afford it over the coming months. The trade body urged Britons to take steps to check the efficiency measures for their home.
The heating equipment supplier Underfloor Heating Store also urged Britons to take steps as they could be wasting thousands on their energy bills due to “common snags” in their home that could be causing heat to escape.
In turn, this could be causing them to waste hundreds of pounds on their energy bills every year.
The insulation experts at the Underfloor Heating Store noted that low-quality wall insulation can cause a whopping 35-40 percent of heat loss in homes according to Underfloor Heating Store.
This is because UK homes built before 1930 will have “solid walls” and houses built after 1930 will have “cavity walls”.
READ MORE: Attendance Allowance recipients must report changes in circumstance
The expert at the company said: “This is the most significant source of heat loss in homes at the moment, so it’s worth checking if your wall insulation is of high quality.
“Fortunately, cavity wall insulation is an easy and relatively pocket-friendly process that injects the cavities of your walls with insulating material, slowing the movement of heat within your walls, and keeping your home warmer for longer.
“Solid wall insulation is a lot more complicated and costly to properly insulate. Therefore, ensure you seek professional advice on how to add further insulation to your home if your property was built pre-1930.”
The experts at the company also noted that one “important appliance” to regularly check is the boiler, as incorrect use or function of it can massively impact energy bills and the quality of heating around a property.
They said: “We’d encourage homeowners to get their boilers to a temperature where they can condense water.
DON’T MISS:
“At 60°C, your boiler can more readily condense water vapour and recover latent heat from this vapourisation, which would otherwise have been lost up the flue.
“Altering your boiler temperature to 60°C will help your boiler achieve higher efficiency by utilising its whole functions, resulting in cheaper heating bills.”
It is now common knowledge that windows with poor insulation can cause heat loss.
The experts at Underfloor Heating Store explained this is due to radiation through glazing or air leakage and this can cause around 10 percent of the heat of a household to be lost.
They said: “Unfortunately, repairing window glazing isn’t the easiest thing to fix or the cheapest. Incorrectly fitted windows can cost as much as £200 per window to repair.
“As a temporary solution, you can use caulk to seal any noticeable cracks near your windows and use a gap filler to easily conceal any tiny gaps that may run along your windows and let the cold air in.
READ MORE: Britons worried about their pension told about ’storm in teacup’
“Keeping your windows locked pulls the seals together, blocking up any space that air can possibly leak through too. If you have large windows, consider installing more locks a few inches from the outside edges rather than just one in the centre, to ensure the gap is closed all the way around the seal.”
The experts urged Britons to also look out for poorly installed trickle vents as these can easily allow heat to escape too.
They added: “If your windows have been installed correctly, as an extra measure you could introduce draught proofing or add thick curtains to improve your insulation.
“However, if your windows need an update, it’s worth replacing them with secondary glazing to prevent cold draughts and save on your bills over time, as well as improving soundproofing throughout your property.”
Similar to low-quality windows, Underfloor Heating Store highlighted that homes can also lose around 10 percent of their heat through the floor.
If it’s within budget, well-insulated underfloor heating can be a great alternative, according to Underfloor Heating Store experts.
They said: “Similar to your home’s walls, there are two main types of flooring, solid and suspended timber, so it’s worth checking that your underfloor ventilators are clear and unblocked.
“If they are clear with no blockages, you can use a thick underlay to prevent any air from coming through the floorboards allowing colder air to seep through.”
Britons are also urged to check whether their thermostat is installed in an “appropriate location” so it can accurately read the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding it.
If the thermostat is placed in the wrong location, such as a hallway or near an entryway, it could be detecting lower temperatures from atmospherical factors, such as cold draughts around a doorway.
Underfloor Heating Store experts said: “Thermostats are best positioned in the main areas of the home, ideally a living room or landing, but never above a radiator or near a draughty door.
“Remember that increasing the temperature of your thermostat does not provide instant heating either, instead, it consumes more energy over a longer period of time.
“Your thermostat has a specific temperature comfort level and is designed to pause heating after reaching a certain degree.”
If people need to warm their homes faster, the experts recommended people should turn up the radiator valve in rooms that are in use and turn them off completely for rooms that are not.
They added: “This way, heat is sent directly to the rooms needed, while you don’t waste energy on heating rooms that are mostly empty or not in use.”
For all the latest Business News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
