Heating: the biggest part of most bills
- Boiler flow temperature: check your manual or ask a Gas Safe engineer to set it lower. Don’t change hot water settings on system boilers with a cylinder without advice, because stored water needs to be hot enough to prevent bacteria.
- Radiators: bleed them, keep furniture away from them and use thermostatic radiator valves.
- Curtains: close them at dusk to keep heat in.
- Smart controls: a smart thermostat helps you heat only when you’re home.
Stop heat escaping
Draught-proofing doors, windows, letterboxes and floorboards is one of the cheapest DIY upgrades. For bigger savings, loft and cavity wall insulation help most homes; check grants first. The Energy Saving Trust has detailed, independent advice and calculators.
Make your tariff work harder
If you have a smart meter, moving washing, dishwashing and EV charging to off-peak times can save money on a time-of-use tariff. If you’re on Economy 7, run storage heaters and hot water on the cheap night rate.
Save on water too
Fix dripping taps, fit a water-efficient shower head and only run full loads. If you’re metered, every litre saved comes off your bill. See our water bills guide for meters and social tariffs.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
