Rising fuel costs mean that each Briton is thinking about their home energy consumption. With the longer nights and colder temperatures, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up on the sofa with a hot cup of tea and the heating on.
However rising energy costs, despite the price cap implemented by the UK government, have meant people are looking to turn up their central heating or even switch on their heating much later in the year with some vowing not to turn it on at all.
Energy Needs and How Your Home is Affected
Keeping your home warm isn’t just about personal comfort. The right kind of heating stops dampness and mould in their tracks by keeping your home dry. It’s also important to make sure that your home is well-ventilated as well as heated to prevent condensation forming which can be just as destructive as damp and mould.
In a typical household, over half of fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water. An efficient heating system can help reduce your fuel bills and consumption.
Top Tips to Cut Down Costs
- Have your boiler serviced regularly. This will make sure it is running at peak efficiency and help to prevent potential breakdowns.
- Use draught excluders around doors. Draughts are a major source of heat loss so even at the bottom of the door this could help.
- Only heat rooms you are using. Sounds simple enough, if rooms aren’t in use there is no need to heat them. This will save you both energy and money as well as heat as the heat isn’t being wasted
- Consider alternative sources of heating such as wood-burning stoves or solar panels. These can be expensive to install but can save you money in the long run.
- Look to install new double-glazed windows and any extra form of insulation. Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation has improved in its energy efficiency over the years. By installing these features you may also bring up the EPC of your home which if you are looking to remortgage may actually help you secure a better deal on your mortgage rate.
A New Energy Efficient Mortgage Rate.
There are many lenders out there who are offering incentivised lower fixed mortgage rates for energy-efficient homes. This is likely to continue in the future with more and more lenders offering this to homes that have an EPC of between A-C. There are often other incentives included within these products such as cashback upon completion, free legal services, and free valuations on the property.
If you are looking to secure a new mortgage deal on your home give us a call to see how we can help!
