A spate of recent stories is showing exorbitant price increases for swathes of Edinburgh residents. Residents of affordable housing schemes have been particularly affected, with some households’ bills rising by 5 times their previous rate. This has become an unsustainable condition for many residents as they try to pay off their bills.
In light of these increasing home heating costs, it’s important to keep an eye on bills and where they can stack up. Here are a number of things you can look out for when trying to keep your home warm.
Proper Insulation Measures
Inconsistent heating bills due to heat loss from inadequate insulation are a common problem. Check to see if you have draught zones in your home, severe fluctuations in temperatures, frozen pipes, water leaks, or ice dams, which are all signs of insulation problems. Cold floors and damp walls can also be a canary in the coal mine.
Other signs can include the presence of pests like mice and bugs, which are attracted to damp and unclean homes. This is also why insulation can be a sanitary choice as well, aside from keeping the bills lower and saving hundreds of pounds every year (up to £700 for some homes that may need all their walls insulated).
Proper insulation is among the cheaper ways to solve heat loss in the home. It can be self-installed (if you know what you’re doing), and the materials aren’t super expensive, so there’s one way to save on costs. However, you do need to know what materials will work best for what walls.
If you have a wall that is prone to moisture issues, you will obviously need moisture-resistant materials like mineral wool, rock wool, or polyurethane. You may also need to choose between insulation batts or foams depending on whether your wall or floor can be removed or need the insulation poured in.
You can save on insulation costs with the ECO4 government scheme if you live in a low-income household. This can help pay for both the installation and the materials in some cases, depending on the assessment of a surveyor who will come to check your home. You may also be eligible for different measures, such as boiler replacement or repair, among various others.
Whether Your Windows & Doors Are Wearing Out
Windows can also cause insulation issues and let out heat, but even windows with no issues can be inadequate for the home. First, you need to check to see if you have single or double glazing. In colder areas, this can be a major heat escape zone, which should be replaced with double glazing.
The average cost of new windows for a 3 bed house in the UK can be as high as £4,000 to £7,000 for basic windows. This may be expensive but governments offers several grants in the UK and a few in Scotland specifically aimed at improving glazing. You should take advantage of such grants if you haven’t already done so.
If you are not eligible for any grants and still find double-glazing expensive, you could opt for secondary glazing. While it isn’t as effective as double or triple glazing, it can provide better savings. Similarly, window insulation and sealing up gaps can also be a cheaper alternative. This can be done with items you can get at a hardware store.
Aside from glazing, the materials you have can also matter. Aluminium windows can be fine as long as they are thermally broken, so make sure you have the right type of aluminium. uPVC is the quickest to wear out, so if your windows are older than 20 years, this is something to look out for with that material. Conversely, wooden windows are the slowest to wear out, as they can last upwards of 50 years as long as they are properly maintained.
Boiler Repairs Can Save In the Long Run
It can be kind of hard to convince people who are struggling with paying their bills to opt for expensive boiler repairs (which often amount to over £300). However, these can save more money in the long run and there are cheaper ways to procure funding for boilers. Funding for a new boiler or for boiler repairs, for example, also applies through the aforementioned ECO4 scheme, so check if you are eligible.
If your boiler is giving inconsistent readings or putting out water that is not as hot as it should be. It might be in need of repair or replacement. If it is frequently starting and stopping, it definitely needs a checkup. Check the flame to see if it is in an unusual colour (sometimes it can be yellow). Aside from saving on your heating bills, replacing a gas boiler can also be a matter of life or death, so do not treat it lightly.
Get an expert to inspect it if you see any of these signs.
These are just a few of the things you can do to help save on heating. While the bills are rising, taking smart preemptive measures, no matter how small, is the way to go.
