Save money on your gas bills
Energy prices have escalated and show no sign of abating.
51% Amount by which gas and electricity bills have risen over the past five years (Ofgem)
47% Proportion of households that have never switched their energy supplier (University of East Anglia)
How to save money
1. Switch Supplier. Try: www.theenergyshop.com, www.uswitch.com, www.moneysupermarket.com, www.energyhelpline.com, www.moneysavingexpert.com
2. If you have a thermostat in a room, turning it down by just 1 degree could save you around £40 per year. If you do not have a room thermostat, installing one will save you even more money because when your room is warm enough it will turn the boiler off until the room temperature falls below the desired level. Some documentation says that the difference between running a boiler with or without a thermostat is the equivalent annual saving of running 3000 light bulbs.
3. Close your curtains in the evening This will stop heat escaping through the windows and keep furniture away from radiators if possible - an upholstered sofa will block the heat, stopping it from getting into the room. Also, don't forget to open internal doors to rooms that get the most sun - after all, the sun is the cheapest form of energy. Opening doors to sunny rooms mean that the warm air circulates throughout the house rather than remaining trapped in one room.
4. Turn your hot water temperature down, just like turning your room thermostat down, this will save you money.
5. Draft proof your house and insulate your walls and loft for great savings.
6. Insulate your pipes and your hot water cylinder. There is no point in losing some of the heat that your boiler creates before it even gets to your radiators, it may not seem much however it just means that your boiler has to work harder and for longer. Also an 80mm thick lagging jacket for your cylinder will cost in the region of £12 but could save you £20 per year.
7. Getting your boiler fixed in an emergency can be expensive, with call-out charges plus VAT and parts. Get it serviced regularly instead and catch problems before they become crises.
8. Having thermostatic radiator valves fitted to all radiators (sometimes with the exception of one) is good practice, it lets you have easy control over the rooms and will stop circulation to any particular radiator when the room temperature has been satisfied.
9. Ensure that your central heating system has got the correct amount of inhibitor installed, this will prevent corrosion and the build up of magnetite which lowers the efficiency of your system (see below)
10. Have a magnetic filter installed for to help your boiler remain clean and reduce the chances of part failure (see below)
11. Power flush your existing system if you have problematic radiators and or a noisy boiler (see below)
12. Change your existing boiler for an A rated appliance. Adding weather compensation controls can save you up to an additional 20% on your savings over and above the savings you will already get by having an A rated condensing boiler.
MagnaClean Magnetic filters
PR Plumbing and Heating install MagnaClean magnetic filters on all our installations. I also recommend Magnetic filters are placed on existing systems. They are positioned close to your boiler to prevent magnetic particles and non magnetic particles from your pipework entering your boiler and causing parts to potentially fail. They also aid efficiency as whatever is removed cannot recirculate and clog up your system.
I can install Magnetic filters on your existing system and re-dose your system with correct levels of inhibitor.
This MacgnaClean magnetic filters flyer provides a lot more information.
Powerflushing
Powerflushing can save you money on your heating bills. Not every system needs a powerflush, however if you have any of the following scenarios, then it may be worth considering.
Are the bottom of your radiators cold, or do you have cold spots on your radiators? Loud bangs and clunks coming from your boiler? Radiator valves ceased? Radiators frequently need bleeding? (Caused by gases created by corrosion and rust)
PR Plumbing and Heating can powerflush your central heating system and save you money of your fuel bills, help make your house warmer and help extend the lifespan of your central heating system.
Test Your inhibitor levels
Inhibitor is an important chemical that should be in your central heating system to prevent corrosion.
If you have no inhibitor in your system, over time your system will corrode and cost you money to rectify, parts may fail in your boiler and valves may cease.
On top of this, your boiler will be having to work harder to heat your home costing you more in your monthly gas bills.
PR Plumbing & Heating will check your inhibitor levels of your central heating system for £25 plus vat.
To book please e-mail info@prplumbingandheating.com