Energy expert shares ‘often overlooked’ saving tips to slash bills this winter | Personal Finance | Finance

Although energy bills are still very high, many people may be questioning whether there are any other easy home improvements they can make to keep costs as low as possible.

Often, people’s “energy efficiency” equates to expensive measures, such as insulation. However, Express.co.uk spoke to an expert to discover additional cheaper options to help people save even more.

Glynn Williams, UK country director at energy solutions provider Grundfos, said: “As people look to keep a lid on rising energy bills, households can take advantage of opportunities that are impactful but perceived frequent them to boost their energy efficiency this winter, and for many winters. come

“From hydraulic balancing to replacing an old circulator pump, there are some simple opportunities within the home that are often overlooked compared to traditional upgrades.

“Energy efficiency upgrades that deliver significant environmental and financial benefits don’t have to be expensive or time-consuming – which is just as well given how close we are to winter already.”

Mr Williams added that focusing on easily achievable upgrades can generate “substantial” savings in both the short and long term.

Boiler checks

According to a report from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), more than a quarter Consumers will never monitor the energy performance of their heating system, but something else 40 percent just check it once a year.

Mr Willams said: “It is important that households carry out regular home energy audits, identifying areas where energy is being wasted and finding ways to optimize energy use.”

Although it is assumed that energy efficiency audits are regularly included in boiler services, this is not always the case.

Afterwards, Mr Williams said: “Households should take extra care to ensure the efficiency of their boilers is checked regularly. Ensuring boilers are running efficiently is essential to avoid the dangers of poor performance: wasted energy, compromised family comfort and high energy bills.”

Regarding boilers, Mr Williams said families often fall into a “temperature trap”. This wastes energy and money.

Mr Williams explained: “Boilers are often set unnecessarily high – between 70C and 80C to be exact. Many households with condensing boilers can be adequately heated with a heating flow temperature of around 50C to 70C.

“By lowering the maximum temperature by just 10 degrees, households can reduce their energy use by around 10 degrees nine percent and help lower energy bills.”

Another “efficient” tool is a control device – such as a radiator thermostat – that households can use to manage their heating more effectively.

Mr Williams said: “A radiator thermostat can automatically feed the right amount of heated water into a radiator, effectively bringing a room to the desired temperature and avoiding unnecessary waste of energy.”

Circulating pumps and hydraulic balancing

Mr Williams said: “Circulating pumps – the obscure gizmos that move hot water around your central heating system – are among the main causes of excessive energy consumption in the home, behind only freezers and tumble dryers.

“However, few people even know what these devices are, let alone understand the impact an outdated circulation pump can have on unnecessary energy consumption.”

In the typical home, heating systems are roughly equivalent to boilers 60 percent of energy consumption. Therefore, improving these systems at their core can generate significant savings. According to Grundfos research, modern pumps consume up to 75 percent less energy to provide the same heat output.

Mr Williams said: “By upgrading an old inefficient circulating pump, households can reduce their energy costs and recoup the cost of buying a new pump within two years. The simple switch is a concern for those trying to reduce their energy use.”

Households can also take better control of their energy consumption by ensuring that their heating system is “hydraulic balanced”.

Mr Williams said: “Many homes in the UK have unbalanced and inefficient heating systems. In fact, the Ministry of Energy – formerly BEIS – has speculated directly 10 percent properly balanced UK heating systems.”

According to Mr Williams, an uneven heating system could be the reason why some rooms in a person’s house are still too cold, while others are too hot.

He said: “This imbalance is not only a source of discomfort but is also responsible for increasing energy consumption and therefore utility bills. Households should keep a close eye out for any issues, such as cold or hot spots on a radiator, which suggest an uneven heating system.”

To remedy an unbalanced, inefficient heating system, families can consult with an installation professional to ensure that their heating system is hydraulically balanced.

Mr Williams said: “Hydraulic equalization is a simple but effective solution which ensures efficient distribution of hot water throughout the heating system. This adjustment alone could result in energy savings of between five percent and 20 percent, resulting in greater home comfort as well as significant reductions in heating bills.”

Mr Williams said: “While insulation is undeniably an important layer of the energy efficiency answer, consumers need to go beyond surface fixes to address the root causes of energy waste and save money.”