Reduce Your LPG Usage and Save Money

Practical steps to lower your heating bills and improve energy efficiency

Small reductions in LPG consumption add up to substantial savings over a year. A difference of just five pence per litre can save an average household between £200 and £400 annually. The good news is that there are multiple straightforward measures you can take without requiring major renovation work or a new boiler.

Eliminate Draughts and Heat Loss

Simple, low-cost draught-proofing measures include:

• Weatherstripping around windows and doors
• Draught excluders under doors and on letterboxes
• Thick, lined curtains that trap warm air inside
• Insulation for exposed pipes, particularly in lofts and airing cupboards
• Reflective radiator panels behind external wall radiators to direct heat inward

Control Your Temperature Settings

Reducing your thermostat by just one degree Celsius can save approximately £80 to £100 per year. Most heating systems operate efficiently at between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Rather than setting your heating higher, try wearing an extra layer or using blankets. Programmable or smart thermostats allow you to schedule heating to match your daily patterns. For instance, you can set the heating to activate an hour before you typically wake up and then reduce temperature during working hours when the property is empty.

Improve Your Home's Insulation

Up to 25 per cent of household heat escapes through the roof, making loft insulation one of the most cost-effective improvements. The recommended depth is between 250 and 270 millimetres. Cavity wall insulation can reduce heat loss through walls by as much as 35 per cent. For properties with solid walls, external or internal wall insulation is available though more costly to install.

Maintain Your Boiler Efficiently

An annual boiler service by a Gas Safe registered engineer ensures your system operates at peak efficiency. A well-maintained boiler uses significantly less fuel. Additionally, if your boiler allows, lowering the flow temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees Celsius (instead of the typical 70 to 80 degrees) can save up to 9 per cent on fuel consumption whilst maintaining comfort. Modern condensing boilers achieve their highest efficiency when operating at lower temperatures.

Bleed Your Radiators

If radiators feel cold at the top or make gurgling noises, air has become trapped in the system. Bleeding radiators releases this air, allowing hot water to circulate properly and improving heating efficiency. This is a quick, straightforward task using a radiator bleed key, which costs just a few pounds.

Use Zone Heating

Only heat the rooms you actually use. Close radiator valves in unused rooms and close doors to unheated spaces to concentrate warmth where it's needed. Smart heating controls and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on individual radiators allow precise control and can help reduce consumption by 10 to 15 per cent.

Manage Humidity

High indoor humidity can make air feel colder than it actually is, prompting you to turn up the heating unnecessarily. Using extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, or briefly opening windows, even during the winter, reduces moisture as it allows it to escape your home. A dehumidifier can also help. This allows you to maintain comfort at a lower temperature setting. Your ideal humidity should be between 40% and 50% in the winter time. Maintaining this range keeps air comfortable, prevents dry skin and throat irritation, and helps avoid condensation on windows and mould growth. Some people find 40% too dry, so try to stick to around 50% if possible. If it's really cold (e.g less than 0C) then aim for a lower humidity than that if you can.