Save Money With These 7 Simple Heating Hacks​

Heating costs can make up a large part of household spending, so a few sensible changes can make a difference.

As of September 2026, Ofgem’s price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit in England, Scotland or Wales is £1,663 a year for the period from 1 July to 30 September. From 1 October 2026, the figure will rise to £1,723.

That doesn’t mean £1,663 or £1,723 is the most any household can pay. The price cap limits the unit rates and standing charges on default tariffs. Your actual bill still depends on how much energy you use, where you live, your meter and how you pay. (Northern Ireland has a separate energy market and isn’t covered by Ofgem’s Great Britain price cap).

With that in mind, here are seven practical ways to reduce the amount of energy your home uses.

1. Check your tariff before winter

Fixed energy deals and standard variable tariffs can move in and out of favour as wholesale prices change.

Don’t assume a fixed deal will automatically be cheaper than the price cap.

Compare the unit rates, standing charges, length of the deal and any exit fees. Think about how much energy your household actually uses too.

A cheap-looking annual estimate can be misleading if it’s based on a different level of consumption from yours.

2. Turn your thermostat down if you can do so comfortably

Your room thermostat controls the temperature your heating is trying to maintain.

Energy Saving Trust recommends setting it to the lowest temperature that is comfortable for your household. For many people that will be somewhere between 18°C and 21°C.

Its current estimate suggests that reducing a thermostat from 22°C to 21°C could save around £120 a year in Great Britain and around £80 in Northern Ireland.

Comfort and health come first, particularly for older people, babies and anyone with a medical condition that makes them more vulnerable to the cold.

3. Use your heating controls properly

Timers, programmers, room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves can help you heat rooms when you need them instead of running your heating at the same level everywhere.

Turning the thermostat higher won’t make a room warm up faster. It makes the heating continue until the higher temperature is reached.

If you have thermostatic radiator valves, use them to set suitable temperatures in different rooms.

Avoid blocking thermostats or radiators with large furniture or heavy curtains, as that can interfere with how heat circulates and how accurately your controls sense the room temperature.

4. Check your hot water cylinder insulation

If your home has a hot water cylinder, check how well insulated it is.

Energy Saving Trust recommends a cylinder jacket of at least 80mm where one is needed.

Its current estimate suggests that adding an 80mm jacket to a cylinder with only 25mm of existing foam insulation could save around £45 a year in Great Britain and £35 in Northern Ireland.

This is most relevant to homes with a hot water cylinder. Combi boilers work differently and don’t have a cylinder to insulate.

5. Stop unwanted draughts

Warm air escaping through gaps around windows, doors, floors and unused chimneys means your heating has to work harder.

Energy Saving Trust estimates that draught-proofing windows, doors and floors can save around £55 a year in Great Britain and £80 in Northern Ireland.

DIY options such as door seals, keyhole covers and letterbox brushes can cost relatively little.

Be careful not to block intentional ventilation, air bricks or vents that are needed to keep your home safe and reduce condensation.

6. Check whether your insulation needs attention

Insulation can make a much bigger difference than smaller heating tricks because it reduces the amount of warmth escaping from your home.

Check what you already have before paying for more.

For example, Energy Saving Trust says topping loft insulation up from around 120mm to 270mm currently saves roughly £17 a year in Great Britain and £20 in Northern Ireland. A completely uninsulated loft can offer much larger potential savings.

The cost and benefit of loft, cavity-wall, solid-wall or floor insulation depend heavily on the type and condition of your property.

Homes with damp, unusual construction, flat roofs or converted loft spaces may need professional advice before work begins.

7. Check whether help with energy-efficiency work is available

Older energy-support information can easily become misleading.

The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026, so it should no longer be described as an open scheme people can simply apply to.

ECO4 is currently due to run until 31 December 2026. Its extension is designed partly to give energy suppliers more time to complete existing obligations and put right non-compliant installations.

Energy-efficiency support also varies by nation, household circumstances, local authority and energy supplier.

Before paying for major work, check the current government guidance and speak to your energy supplier or local authority about any help that may apply to your home.

Is the energy price cap the same as a maximum bill?

No.

The Ofgem price cap controls the maximum unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge customers on covered default tariffs.

A household that uses more energy can still pay substantially more than the headline annual figure.

That distinction is important when comparing tariffs or estimating possible savings.

Are fixed tariffs always cheaper?

No.

Some fixed tariffs can be cheaper than the current price cap, while others may be more expensive. The market changes regularly.

Compare actual unit rates, standing charges and exit fees before switching.

How accurate are heating savings figures?

Figures from organisations such as Energy Saving Trust are estimates based on modelled households.

Your savings can be higher or lower depending on your property, existing insulation, heating system, energy prices and how you use your home.