Every day, it seems like there is more terrible news concerning our heating expenditure.
Forecasters warned this week that the average home might spend more than £4,400 a year on energy by January, with costs rising to £5,000 by April. What?! This is insane, I told my heating engineer buddy Harland. However, he informed me that there are some easy changes you can make to your heating system that may save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every year.
Naturally, I requested him to give me these hints so that I might share them with you. In fact, I videotaped our conversation so you could see how to make these little improvements. (See moneymagpie.com for further information.)
When Harland from Guscott Heating Services (guscottheating.co.uk) arrived to my apartment, the first thing he asked was what the ‘flow rate’ of my boiler was. I didn’t, of course. I had no idea such a thing existed!
In reality, the flow rate is the temperature at which water exits a boiler to circulate throughout the heating system.
Harland discovered that mine was set to the maximum heat of 75 degrees, whereas it should go no more than 55 degrees.
‘You need to locate your boiler’s radiator sign and turn it down,’ he stated. ‘The best place to look is in your operating handbook, since it will inform you. Alternatively, if you are having difficulty, you may contact the manufacturer or a heating specialist who can walk you through the process.’
It only took Harland 10 seconds, and this alone will save me roughly 16% on my gas expenses. ‘Every 10 degrees you lower the flow rate, you save 6 to 8% on your expenses,’ he says.
Smart controls and weather compensators may also assist in adjusting the flow rates of the boiler based on the outside temperature. They are likely to cost between £100 and £200 to install but will boost your home’s heat efficiency by 3 to 5%. He then checked the temperature of my hot water. ‘On the boiler, look for the hot water sign (typically a tap) and check the temperature,’ added Harland.
‘Most people add cold water to the hot tap, which is a huge waste.’
‘Why heat water that you’re going to cool?’ Reduce the hot water temperature to the point where you don’t need to add cold water if you’re doing this. If it isn’t warm enough the next time you use it, boost the temperature again. You will save 3 to 5% on your costs for every 10 degrees you reduce the water temperature.’
With mine, we reduced the temperature by roughly 6 degrees, saving me another 4% on my annual expenditures.
With only those two little changes, I quickly saved 15 to 20% on my gas costs.
Harland also astonished me by noting that replacing a boiler, even if it’s 10 to 15 years old, is typically a waste of money. ‘The industry is deceiving us,’ he claimed.
‘A well-installed boiler with the proper filters and a clean system, maintained on a regular basis, may last up to 20 years.’ People believe that they must replace their boiler every ten years, but this is not the case. Simply get it serviced by a qualified heating professional who will fine-tune it to your specifications.’
The majority of inefficiencies are caused by inadequate installation. ‘Make sure your boiler isn’t overworking for the size of your home,’ Harland said. ‘In many homes, you could dramatically cut production, which would result in lower expenses.’
‘Most boilers are built to operate at 24kw, but most homes only need them to run at 6 to 10kw. You must have the controls set to their most efficient settings. When you hire someone to install a boiler, they should consider how many rooms you have and adjust the controls to the most efficient settings.
‘Ask them to include in their price that they will fine-tune your boiler and properly set it up with the proper flow rates.’ Get them to teach you how to modify the flow rates and the output of the boiler, and you’ll be able to save money on your own in the future.’
Then we looked at my radiators. Fortunately, mine turned out to be relatively clean, but Harland warned that if they became clogged with muck, the gas cost would rise and your boiler will break down more often.
Installing a central-heating filter on your boiler might save you up to 8% on your gas expenses. Flushing the system completely, if the insides require cleaning, will improve efficiency as well.
People like myself are always advising folks to lower their thermostats in order to save money. Harland went on to say that it’s better to locate a good, consistent temperature and maintain it there rather than adjusting the thermostat.
‘About 19 degrees is typically a nice temperature for most houses,’ he adds, ‘but everyone is different and you have to figure out what you’re comfortable with.’ But don’t keep turning it on and off. Turning down the thermostat by one degree used to save you £80 a year, but with the price hikes, it’s now more like a £400-per-degree savings!’
Stay away from automobile rental scams.
Hiring a vehicle is my least favorite vacation activity. But there are occasions when you need wheels!
The problem is that renting a vehicle puts you at odds with the rental company from the start. That’s what my buddy Adam’s father discovered recently when he leased a vehicle via Ryanair after booking tickets to Germany.
When he arrived in Bremen to pick up the vehicle, the salesperson began a new booking and included items that he had previously denied when he registered online. He only got a refund after persistent bugging.
If you need to rent a vehicle while overseas, make arrangements ahead of time. Comparison websites like holidayextras.com and travelsupermarket.com are worth investigating. Also, organise vehicle rental insurance before you travel, using a comparison site like which.co.uk, gocompare.com, or confused.com to find the best deal. If you opt with the hiring company’s insurance, you’re going to overpay.
Read the contract that the firm wants you to sign when you pick up the automobile. Check that it is not attempting to bill you for insurance again. If you notice it, cross it out and demand a new bill.
Rental businesses sometimes attempt to frighten you into purchasing excess waiver coverage on top of your existing insurance, but it’s really for their benefit.
Check the car for damage and take photographs of it in case you need to substantiate it when you return.
According to iCarhire insurance.com, almost one-fifth of automobile hirers discovered existing damage that was not noted on the paperwork at the time of pick-up.
Do you want to get paid to drink wine in the sun?
Majestic is seeking for a ‘Vintern’ who will be paid £600 to spend a few days sipping wine in the Portuguese heat.
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Majestic is seeking for a ‘Vintern’ who will be paid £600 to spend a few days sipping wine in the Portuguese heat.
It’s a difficult job, but someone has to do it: Majestic Wines is recruiting for a ‘Vintern’ who will be paid £600 to spend a few days sipping wine in the Portuguese heat. That sounds like hell!
The selected individual will fly to a Portuguese vineyard to drink wines and then return to the UK to determine once and for all whether wine tastes better overseas than at home.
No prior wine-tasting experience is required, but candidates must be enthusiastic wine enthusiasts with a valid passport. They may even bring a pal on the ‘work.’
To apply for this difficult position, go to the Majestic.co.uk website (majestic.co.uk/information/majestic-vinternship) and fill out the application form before August 22.
Iceland is providing 40,000 pensioners with a £30 voucher to assist with groceries and other necessities as the cost of living rises. To qualify, you must be of pensionable age, living alone or with a caretaker, and reliant only on state pension and benefits.
To obtain a coupon, call the Summer Cheer hotline at 0800 098 7877 (9am-5pm, Monday through Friday). The campaign will begin on September 16.
Every week, I’ll post recommendations to help you save money when new energy tariffs go into effect. To begin, you may be eligible for financial assistance from your energy provider. Scottish Power, for example, is giving energy bill reduction subsidies of up to £750. Best of all, none of these donations must be repaid. So, contact any business you work for and find out what its criteria for awarding this money are and how you should apply