Staying warm without burning through your budget!

Beat the Winter Bills! Your Guide to Saving Energy and Gas This Season

Let's be honest. Winter energy bills in the UK can be absolutely brutal. The heating's on all day, it's dark by 4 PM, so the lights are constantly running, and somehow your energy meter is spinning faster than ever. But here's the good news: there are actually loads of practical ways to cut your energy costs without freezing or living in the dark! Let's dive into some real, actionable tips that'll make a difference to your bills this winter.

Understanding Your Energy Tariff (This Actually Matters!)

Before we get into the tips, let's talk about something most people ignore. Your energy tariff.

If you're on a standard single-rate tariff, you're paying the same price for electricity whether you use it at 3 PM or 3 AM. But there are cheaper options!

Economy 7 & Economy 10 Tariffs

These are time-of-use tariffs that give you cheaper electricity during off-peak hours:

Economy 7:

• Cheaper rates for 7 hours overnight (usually 12 AM - 7 AM, but times vary by supplier)

• Perfect if you can shift heavy energy use to nighttime

• Ideal for: dishwashers, washing machines, electric car charging, storage heaters

  
  

Economy 10:

• Cheaper rates for 10 hours total across the day (usually split between overnight and afternoon)

• Three time slots: overnight, afternoon, and evening

• More flexibility than Economy 7

  
  

Is it worth switching?

It depends on your lifestyle! If you work from home during the day and use most electricity then, probably not. But if you can run appliances overnight or have storage heaters, you could save 15-20% on your electricity bills.

Quick tip: Check with your supplier about exact off-peak times in your area; they vary!

Practical Tips!

LED Bulbs Everywhere

If you haven't already, switch every bulb to LED. They use 75% less electricity than old bulbs and last for years. Cost: £2-5 per bulb. Savings: About £7 per bulb per year. With winter darkness, your lights are on A LOT. This adds up fast!

Turn Things OFF (Actually Off!)

Standby mode still uses electricity! Turn off at the plug:

• TV and entertainment systems.

• Computer monitors.

• Kitchen appliances.

• Phone chargers (they draw power even with nothing plugged in!)

Potential savings: £30-50 per year just from eliminating standby power.

Kettle Wisdom

Only boil what you need! Filling the kettle fully when you only want one cup wastes energy. Also, descale your kettle regularly. Limescale makes it work harder and use more energy.

 Fridge and Freezer Efficiency

• Keep your fridge at 3-5°C (anything colder wastes energy)

• Keep your freezer at -18°C

• Defrost regularly (ice buildup makes them work harder)

• Don't put warm food straight in, let it cool first.

Heating Tips That Actually Work

Your heating is probably 50-60% of your winter energy bill, so this is where the big savings are!

1. Get Your Boiler Serviced NOW

A well-maintained boiler runs 15% more efficiently than a neglected one. That's real money saved every month! Plus, you avoid expensive breakdowns in January when every heating engineer is fully booked.

Cost: £80-150 for a service. Potential savings: £150-200 per year

2. Bleed Your Radiators

If the top of your radiators feels cooler than the bottom, trapped air is stopping them from heating properly. Bleeding them takes 5 minutes and costs nothing!

3. The 1-Degree Rule

Turn your thermostat down by just 1°C , and you'll save about 10% on your heating bill. You honestly won't notice the difference, but your wallet will! Most homes are heated to 20-22°C. Try 19°C – it's still perfectly comfortable with a jumper on.

4. Use Your Thermostat Timer Smartly

Don't leave heating on "constant". Use the timer! Heat your home for when you actually need it:

• 30 minutes before you wake up (so it's warm when you get up)

• Off when you're at work (unless you have pets)

• On 30 minutes before you get home

• Lower temperature overnight (16-18°C is fine for sleeping)

5. Close Doors and Curtains

Sounds obvious, but it works! Close doors to rooms you're not using, and draw curtains at dusk to trap heat inside. Heavy curtains can reduce heat loss through windows by up to 25%.

6. Move Furniture Away from Radiators

Is that sofa blocking your radiator? It's absorbing all the heat before it reaches the room. Move furniture at least 30cm away from radiators for better circulation.

7.Draught Excluders Are Magic

Those gaps under doors? Cold air pouring in, warm air escaping out. Draught excluders cost a few quid and save loads. Check:

• Under doors

• Around windows

• Letterboxes

• Cat flaps

• Loft hatches

  
  

8. Chimney Balloons

Got an unused fireplace? Cold air is rushing down it! A chimney balloon (about £20) plugs it and stops heat loss.

9. Check Your Loft Insulation

It should be at least 270mm thick. If it's less, adding more could save you £200+ per year. Sometimes, grants are available for insulation upgrades. Check the Energy Saving Trust website.

Winter bills don't have to be scary! Small changes add up.

At Preventor, we handle all commercial & residential property heating, insulation, and energy efficiency work across the UK and Ireland. If you need professional help winterising your property, we're here for you!