Energy saving is a phrase that is often used, but now more than ever does it need to be implemented. The public need to be made aware of the global and environmental implications using too much energy has. Although, you may think people just need a good telling off, that’s not what benefits you as a person. The big win comes when you see how much money you can save!

Lights

Changing your light bulbs is one of the least expensive methods of saving energy in your home. Research has shown that £1 out of every £3 spent on lighting and heating your home is wasted. So switching to energy saving light bulbs should be first on the agenda.

Although energy saving light bulbs cost around £3-£4 compared to 50p for a traditional bulb, energy saving light bulbs will save you around £9 a year on your electricity bill and up to £100 over its lifetime. Not only does energy saving bulbs save you money on your energy bills but they last much longer than the traditional bulbs.

You may be thinking what’s the catch? There really is only one minor catch and that is that the energy efficient bulbs take longer to turn on (only a few seconds) and some cannot be used with dimmer switches.

Heating

British people take their heating very seriously and with the cold winter we don’t blame them. Therefore saving energy in this area of the home can be very worthwhile.

Heating the house all day while you are out for example can be very wasteful, and programing your heating to suit your lifestyle is really simple. There is no need for the heating to be on all the time, and programing it to come on twice a day, once before you wake up and again just before you get home is ideal.

Controlling your heating from the boiler is one option, but there are others. Say your plans are different on a weekend, by simply setting your boiler accordingly can save you even more energy and money.

If your boiler is 15 years old or more it won’t be as energy efficient as a new one, and it will be costing you more to run. However, if your boiler is newer then there is no need to worry as there is no need for it to be replaced. When the time comes to replace your boiler, choose a condensing boiler (advised) as it could dramatically reduce your heating bill. A condensing boiler works on the principle of recovering as much as possible of the waste heat which is normally rejected to the atmosphere from the flue of a conventional (non-condensing) boiler.

The thermostat is another key factor in saving energy, did you know that turning your thermostat down by 1 degree, could reduce your heating bills by 10%, which works out at around £55 a year and you won’t even notice the difference.

Moving on to thermostatic radiator valves, these are located at the ends of a radiator and can be very beneficial to saving energy. If they are set to full (usually number 5) then this temperature can be too warm for the room, try turning them down to about half and see if it’s still comfortable. If you have a guest room that is rarely used then thermostatic radiator valves are great for isolating the room when not in use and when it doesn’t need heating.

Air leaks

Air leaks are a big problem in any home. If your home is less than ten years old then it should be of a higher insulation quality than that of older house. Checking that your insulation is up to scratch is easier than you think, if you feel like you always have to have the heating on or your home has a constant draft coming through it then now is the time to act. Check your loft to see if there is insulation up there. If not then invest in some, as having adequate insulation can save you hundreds of pounds a year.

If you have gaps and holes around doors and windows then this can be the cause of drafts. Simply fill the holes with decorating caulk and smooth over.

Insulation

Insulation is a great way to improve the amount of energy needed to heat your home, and you will find insulation in the loft, walls, floors and windows. Make sure your loft is well insulated as this is the easiest place to save money. Heat rises so pack your loft with insulation and wreak the rewards; a home which is not adequately insulated loses a quarter of its heat through the roof.

Exterior walls are another area where a home can lose heat. If your home was built after the 1920s the chances are that external walls are made up of two layers with a gap or cavity between them, cavity wall insulation fills this gap; keeping the warmth in the house. Make sure your home has cavity wall insulation, or something similar. Cavity wall insulation can save you up to £135 a year.

All properties loose heat through their windows, but the newer the windows the more likely they are going to be better insulators. If your windows are double glazing then they are likely to be good insulators, however if you want to further insulate your home then you may consider energy-efficient glazing that will keep your home warmer, quieter and reduce energy bills.

Water

By saving water in your home you are helping to reduce the likelihood of hosepipe bans and will save yourself money. Using water, especially hot water, uses energy and increases emissions of greenhouse gases which contributes to climate change. During a drought it’s even more important to make sure water is not wasted.

The average bathroom accounts for around 60% of the water we use in our everyday lives. Saving this water can help both the environment and your pocket. Simple things such as turning the tap off when brushing your teeth can make a huge difference and save up to 6 litres of water a minute. When in the shower, use an optimised shower head which uses technology to enable you to use the water you need without compromise. In addition, if you shower for a minuet less than usual then you could save yourself a small fortune in the long term.

About a third of all the clean and drinkable water we use in your homes is flushed down the toilet; however, there is a very easy way to address this. You can save lots of water by using something called a cistern displacement device, or in other words something you put in your cistern to take up some of the space that fills with water when you flush. You will probably only need one of these if your toilet was fitted before 2001, as cisterns fitted later were smaller and more efficient. If your toilet has a duel flush system then you don’t need to worry.

The world of plumbing is a large one, and keeping on top of it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Learning best practice tips from professionals may be easier than you think. Follow this simple guide to keep on top of your plumbing and heating system, making them last for many years to come without the need of expensive emergencies and big problems.

Caring for Your Stopcock

The standard British home has two stopcocks; one located outside the property boundary and the other usually located under the kitchen sink or wherever the mains water enters a property. These valves are put in place to prevent the property from flooding.

You need to take care of the one located within your home as in the case of a flood, this tap can prevent further damage. Give your stopcock a spray of WD40 every now and again and keep checking it. If you don’t give your stopcock some general TLC then it may become brittle over time and may be quite hard to turn off, this is not great when you need to isolate your water in the event of an emergency.

If you can’t find the stopcock within your home then it is advised to locate the one outside the property. Go outside and check the pavement for a small manhole, the cover should have ‘Water metre‘ or the name of your provider written on it. The cover may not have been opened for many years and may be difficult to open, so use an old flathead screwdriver and prise it open. Once you enter the manhole you should see a small dial that in some cases may be enclosed in polystyrene or a plastic case.

In some cases there could be more than one tap (if you live in a block of flats or converted home). If you are not sure which is yours then don’t just go and try all of them. Go inside your home and turn a sink tap on as far as it will go, then come back outside and check which dial is jittering. If they all are then repeat the process later on in the day.

How to stop a dripping tap

If your tap has an irritating drip and you have ensured it is turned off tightly then there is most likely something wrong with the rubber inside the tap. Most common in taps of the older variety this problem has an easily fixable solution. Firstly look at the tap, if it is dripping from the spout, then it is likely to be the rubber washer, if the tap is dripping from the top, then the O-ring needs replacing.

Step by step guide to changing the washer:

Tip:

Keep all the separate parts in the correct order as you dissemble the tap, this will make it easier to put together.

1. Turn the main water supply off at the stopcock.
2. Put the plug in the sink so small screws will not fall down the drain.
3. Take the lid off the tap (commonly the part that says H & C for hot and cold)
4. Inside you will find a screw, which you need to unscrew.
5. Next you need to expose the cartridge; this can sometimes be difficult as the effects of hard water can cause a build-up of limescale on the inside of the tap. In this case you may need to use an adjustable spanner and some force to get it out.
6. You then need to take the cartridge down to your local plumbing centre, and ask them for a washer to fit. This will save you time and money in the long run as the people in the plumbing centre will know what type of washer is needed and the correct size.
7. Unscrew the old washer and put the new on in its place.
8. Put the tap back together and you should have a non-dripping tap.

Removing Limescale

Limescale is a common problem in many places all over the UK and can be a nightmare to get rid of. But it is simpler than you think to get rid of, all you need is some vinegar. If your shower head is clogged up then leave to soak in some vinegar and water overnight and the problem should be sorted.

If your taps are suffering from limescale then the best way to solve the problem is to soak some kitchen towels in the vinegar and wrap it round the tap overnight. You can also wrap some cling film round the tap to make sure it attacks the affected area. Leave it overnight and the following day the results should be amazing.

Blocked and smelly drains

Smelly drains and blocked drains can be a big problem to many people all over the world. Nearly all drains have a ‘U’ bend in them to prevent smells from sewers from coming back up the drains. If the ‘U’ bend becomes empty, the solution could just be to run the tap to fill the bend back up with water.

Blocked drains can also be easily fixed, wait until the excess water has drained away and take some bicarbonate of soda and some vinegar and place them down the drain. Two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and a good bit of vinegar should do the job. Once these have been poured down the drain, put the plug in and the reaction starts forcing the blockage to break up and move out of the drain. Once left for around 30 minutes boil the kettle and pour the hot water down the drain.

Patchy heat coming from radiators

If you find that your radiators are giving off heat in patches (different to the top being cold and the bottom being warm) then you may find that there is sludge in your radiators and pipes. This is not as easy to get out of your heating system and should not be attempted by yourself. If this is the case then you need to call a plumber to fix the problem.

If you find your radiators are warm at the bottom and cold at the top then you need to bleed your radiators. Follow the How to Bleed a Radiator guide to make sure you are bleeding them in the correct way.