C & S Plumbing

Plumbing Service in Brighton

Top 10 Tips for saving Energy & Money

1 - Install a High Efficiency Boiler

Since 2005 Heating Engineers have been instructed that all new boilers installed must be high efficiency (Condensing or Combination boilers), Which are up to 35% more efficient than traditional boilers.

2 - Insulate Wall Cavities

Close to 1/3 of the heat lost from an uninsulated house is through the walls. By insulating your walls you could save on an average of £90 per year on your heating bills.

3 - Insulate your Loft

It is estimated that around 15% of the loss of your heating escapes through an uninsulated roof. It is recommended to install insulation of no less than 270mm in depth and such insulation will save around £110 per year on your domestic heating bills.

4 - Reduce Draughts and Wasted Heat

Draughts are the cause of 20% of heat loss in a typical home and by filling gaps and reducing the amount of cold air penetrating into the home, you can reduce the heat loss, reduce your heating bills and increase the life expectancy of your boiler.

5 - Install Energy Saving Light Bulbs

These bulbs are an excellent way of reducing your energy bill and helping the enviroment. They use up to 80% less electricity than traditional bulbs yet manage to generate the amount of light. In the last few years the design has caught up with the traditional light bulbs and now it is possible to get the energy saving bulbs in various shapes and designs to suit your requirement. More recent designs have solved the problem of "cold" light normally associated with these bulbs. new bulbs utilise "soft tone" technology to emmit a warm glow that is much more pleasant than the old cold light.

6 - Insulate Hot Water Tanks and Pipes

Many hot water cylinders in the UK are poorly insulated which can be good for dry and warm towels in the airing cupboard but is very bad for your water heating bills and your overworked boiler. It is very easy and simple to insulate your hot water cylinder and can save you around £20 per year. By fitting a jacket that is approved by British Standard around your hot water cylinder you will reduce heat loss from your cylinder by over 75%. If you already have a jacket around your cylinder, check that it is at least 75mm thick and if not it would be worth getting a new thicker jacket. Call Plumbing Service in Brighton for a free quote.

7 - Install Double Glazing

Double Glazing is a tried and tested solution for reducing heat loss, with millions of households already benefiting from it. It is estimated that double glazing will cut your heating bill by around £90 per year. Analysis of heat loss shows that around 20% of the heat lost is through single glazed windows and poorly insulated window frames. Double glazing reduces this substantially aswell as reducing the noise from outside and condensation problems. By creating an insulation barrier by trapping the air between two panes of glass, double glazing retains the heat inside the house and diminished the the volume of noise. An additional level of heat retention can be achieved by drawing the curtains to ensure that the heating energy does not escape through the windows at night.

8 - Reduce The Temperature

Most houses in the uk are using a central heating system powered by a boiler. For most houses the temperature setting is controlled by a room thermostat which determines how much to run the boiler to reach the right ambient temperature. By reducing the preset on your room thermostat by 1c degree, which would make a barely noticeable difference to the ambient temperature you could save approximately 10% of your heating bills and reduce the wear and tear on your boiler. Similarly you should ask yourself whether the hot water coming out of your hot water cylinder is at the right temperature or maybe it is too hot. you could save energy by ensuring that the temperature inside the hot water cylinder is set to be no more than 60c.

9 - Energy Saving Recommendations Endorsement

When planning to purchase a new appliance, whether it is a new boiler or fridge freezer or a new light bulb always ensure that you check you check it is approved and endorsed by the Energy Savings Logo. Energy savings recommended appliances are the most efficient in their category and could save you a substancial amount of money in energy related costs.

10 - Use your comon sense

By applying some common sense you can make a major improvement to your heating output and reduce the energy costs and CO2 emmisions. Here are some straight forward steps which should become second nature to ensure you save energy and reduce the risk of climate change. Turn off lights when leaving a room, Dont leave appliances on stand by if they are not in use, Boil only the amount of water you need when making tea etc, Use half load function on washing machine if needed, Fix dripping taps as the boiler tries to replace the leaking water thus working harder.

If you need anymore information or you need a Plumbing Service in Brighton just contact us at C&S Plumbing and we will be only too happy to help.