Simple ways you can save money heating hot water

There are ways to save money on your heating bills besides just keeping the thermostat low or wearing multiple jumpers. In fact, you can quickly start reducing your heating oil usage by taking a few simple steps.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that heating water makes up around 20% of the average heating bill. And with the cost of living rising, it’s a good time to think about ways you could start cutting your heating costs.

Reducing your hot water usage is great for the planet too. In 2020, the average UK household emitted 2,690kg of CO2 by warming water and heating spaces, so the less hot water you use, the lower your carbon footprint.

If you’re looking for some simple things you can do to start saving money on your heating, here are our top tips.

Cut down on baths

A warm bath can be a nice treat from time to time. However, frequent long soaks in the tub can quickly start to be a drain on your finances. Figures show that by cutting down from three baths a week to one, households could make an annual saving of up to £361.

Take quicker showers

The quicker your showers are, the more money you’ll be saving. The average shower uses around nine litres of water every minute, costing around one penny per litre. A 10-minute shower then comes to around 60p per person, per day. Cut those 10-minute showers by just two minutes, and you’ll only be spending 48p per person – an annual saving of £43 per person.

Ditch the power shower

You might think that a more powerful shower means a more efficient shower. Unfortunately, power showers tend to mean a much more expensive shower.

Power showers use substantially more water than your standard shower head, so while your 10-minute shower typically produces around 120 litres, a power shower requires around 30 litres more water to be heated, adding a significant amount to your heating (and water!) bills.

Use a dishwasher

While dishwashers are expensive, research by Which? shows that these appliances are actually cheaper and more efficient at washing the dishes – so long as you’re washing a full load. In fact, a fully packed dishwasher on an average cycle will use around 9.5 to 14 litres per cycle which is significantly less than if you were doing the dishes by hand. So, while always making sure it’s being used efficiently, try a dishwasher to help you make a saving.

Dial down the water temperature

One of the easiest ways to start saving money is to turn down the dial on your boiler. This means the hot water coming out of the pipes will be at a lower temperature but will still be suitably warm. You’ll still be able to take showers and wash the dishes, but if you don’t need your water scalding hot, reducing the water temperature on your boiler is a quick win when it comes to cutting the costs of your hot water usage. As a guide, hot water tanks should be between 60-65 degrees Celsius.

Insulating your hot water tank can also help you make savings. By increasing the thickness of the insulation jacket around your tank from 25mm to 80mm, you can save around £70 a year.

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