Save money on your fuel bills

There are ways to save you money on your fuels bills at no extra cost:

Central heating

  • If you are too warm, turn the thermostat down by 1°C and cut your heating bill by up to 10%.
  • If you are going away for a few days, turn the thermostat to a low setting so that it protects your home from freezing without costing too much.

Hot water

  • Water should not be heated to a scalding temperature. Turn the thermostat on the hot water cylinder to no more than 65°C, which is usually fine for washing and bathing.
  • Put the plug in the basin or sink as leaving the hot water taps running without the plug in wastes water and money.
  • Arrange for dripping taps to be fixed and make sure they are turned off properly.

Curtains

  • Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Lights

  • Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
  • Adjust your curtains or blinds during the day to make the most of the natural light.
  • Replace your light bulbs with energy saving ones – saving you up to £100 over the lifetime of one bulb.

Electrical appliances

  • Avoid leaving electrical appliances such as televisions, videos, stereos, cordless phones and electric toothbrushes on standby or charge unnecessarily.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that performance and memory are not affected.

Fridges and freezers

  • Avoid leaving the fridge or freezer door open for longer than necessary to stop the cold air escaping.
  • Avoid putting hot food in the fridge or freezer, as this uses more electricity.
  • Defrost the freezer regularly to keep it working efficiently.
  • Position the fridge or freezer away from the cooker, boiler or other heat sources.

Washing machines and tumble dryers

  • Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine or, if that is not possible, use the half load or economy setting if your machine has one.
  • Try to use the low temperature cycle, as modern washing powders and liquids often work just as effectively at low temperatures.
  • Do not put very wet washing into tumble dryers. Make sure you wring or spin it first to dry it quicker and more cheaply.

Pots, pans and kettles

  • Choose the right size pan for the food and the cooker ring, so that heat is not wasted up the outside.
  • Keep pan lids on during cooking.
  • Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need, but make sure you cover the element in electric kettles.

For more information on how to cut fuel bills and on grants for energy efficiency contact Scarf on 08088 082282.