Heating

Finding the best prices for your energy

This year energy companies are set to hike their prices up a lot which may mean that the average family has to fork out another £150-£200 per year. The last 18 months or so have been extremely hard for many people anyway due to Covid so this price increase could not have come at a worse time.

If you have been notified that your prices are set to increase then you may want to start shopping around for a better deal. There are some great comparison sites out there that allow you to put in your usage or your usual spend and see if you could save money by switching.

If you have electricity and gas with the same company then you often get a discount for dual fuel.

If you are on a low income then you may be able to get financial help such as the warm home discount. This will allow you to apply for a discount of around £130 off your electricity bill every year. This can make a big difference and may reduce your monthly direct debits by around £10 a month.

Always contact your supplier before switching to a new provider as they may well be able to offer you a better deal if you choose to stay with them.

Sep 09 2021

Is it time to change your boiler?

If your boiler is older than twelve years old then it is sensible to consider changing it for a more modern one as boiler technology is improving and boilers are becoming more efficient ultimately saving the householder money on their energy bills.

A free energy survey can be carried out by a company specialising in boiler replacement to see if it would be advisable to upgrade the boiler in your home and whether there are other improvements that could be made to your heating and hot water system. If the results of the survey show that savings could be made on your energy bills by changing the boiler many people choose to have a combi boiler installed. This type of boiler heats up the hot water that you need instantly and there is no requirement to have a water cylinder to store hot water. It is an energy efficient way to heat the home and provide hot water whenever it is required. With this type of boiler there is also no need to have a water tank in the loft which frees up storage space.

Replacing a boiler can mean some upheaval in the home but if done at the same time as other home improvements it should not be too disruptive.

Mar 14 2021

Is the heating system in your home struggling to cope?

It is at this time of the year that we rely on the heating system in our homes to keep us warm and cosy but what if you feel that despite having the heating on your home fails to get to a comfortable temperature and you find yourself having to snuggle under layers of blankets to get warm?

There are a few things that you can check yourself before resorting to getting an expert heating engineer into your home. The first thing to check is whether the heating in the home is working correctly. If there are radiators in the house, they should feel warm all over not just in one area. If they are not getting hot all over then they may need bleeding to release trapped air in the system. Another simple solution is to check whether the radiators are fitted with thermostatic radiator valves and that they are set at the temperature required for the room as you may not want bedrooms as warm as other rooms.

Most heating systems have a room thermostat fitted to regulate the temperature for a room. Be aware that if the thermostat is in a hallway the heating will switch off once that room reaches the set temperature so do not set those radiators too high otherwise the heating will switch off before the other rooms are warm.

Dec 10 2020

Important Log Burner Maintenance

When you invest in a log burner, it is usually for a number of reasons. The aesthetics come into it heavily, but usually, so does efficiency. If you are going to invest in a log burner – and they aren’t cheap – you want to know that they are running as efficiently as possible, and are doing as much as possible for you in terms of the heat they will give out. In order to keep this up, you need good maintenance.

Maintenance doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. It is as simple as clearing out the ash on a regular basis, something that the owner of a log burner might start to neglect after a little while. It can also include things like servicing, to check the fire is still connected up properly and doesn’t have any leaks, so you know that it is working to its full capacity.

Sep 14 2018

Finding Wooden Logs for your Log Burner that Offer Good Value for Money

Wood burners and fires need high quality logs to burn, so that you have a long lasting fire that burns well for as long as possible. It’s in your best interests to find wood logs for sale that will come in at a reasonable price point, but that will also give you the kind of fire you crave. After all, you have spent time and money installing a log burner, so you may as well get the most out of it!

Local log suppliers are all well and good, but if your issue is value for money, then they probably aren’t going to be right for you. It’s entirely likely that they will be more expensive than online products, and you will simply be paying a premium for the convenience of having them nearby. However, when you actually consider the ins and outs, is it really more convenient than having high quality logs delivered to your home? Probably not, unless you have your own van for transporting logs in large quantities.

So the answer lies in choosing an online supplier. Make sure they have the logs you want to buy – most log burner owners are going to want premium seasoned logs, though softwood might also be good if you are looking for a bargain. Quality really comes through with seasoned logs, which have been aged over time to get rid of moisture and create a roaring fire in your hearth. When you have found a retailer you like the look of, check their credentials and make sure their product offering matches what you want. Buy in large quantities, such as builders’ bags, where possible to keep the price per unit down and make delivery cheaper as well. Make sure they deliver in your area and can get your wood to you easily, then all that’s left to do is place your firewood order.

Aug 20 2018