10 Ways to Heat Your Home More Efficiently This Winter

Winter heating accounts for over half of the average UK household's energy bill. Here are 10 proven ways to stay warm without watching your costs spiral.

1. Turn Down by 1°C

Every degree you lower your thermostat saves around 10% on heating costs. Most people can't tell the difference between 21°C and 20°C.

Temperature	Annual Cost*	Comfort Level
22°C	£1,400	Too warm for most
21°C	£1,260	Recommended max
20°C	£1,135	Ideal for most
19°C	£1,020	Comfortable with layers

*Based on average 3-bed house with gas heating

Tip

Use OhmMy's temperature tracking to find your comfortable minimum. Many people find 19-20°C works well with appropriate clothing.

2. Heat Only Occupied Rooms

If you have thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs):

Living areas: Full heat when in use
Bedrooms: Lower temperature (16-18°C)
Unused rooms: Frost protection only (12°C)

Closing doors between zones helps maintain temperature differences.

3. Time Your Heating Right

Don't heat an empty house. Program your heating to:

Morning: Warm up 30 mins before you wake
Daytime: Off or reduced if everyone's out
Evening: On when people return
Night: Off or reduced for sleeping

Info

Smart thermostats learn your patterns. OhmMy integrates with Hive, Nest, and Tado to show heating alongside your other energy data.

4. Use Curtains Strategically

Free heating from the sun:

Daytime: Open curtains on south-facing windows
Evening: Close all curtains as soon as it gets dark
Thick curtains can reduce heat loss through windows by 25%

5. Bleed Your Radiators

Air trapped in radiators reduces efficiency significantly:

Turn off heating and let radiators cool
Use a radiator key to open the bleed valve
Close when water (not air) comes out
Check pressure and top up if needed

Signs you need to bleed: cold spots at the top, gurgling noises.

6. Don't Block Radiators

Heat gets trapped behind:

Furniture pushed against radiators
Long curtains covering radiators
Clothes drying on radiators

Leave at least 10cm gap for air circulation.

7. Draught-Proof Everything

Common heat escape routes:

Letterboxes: Fit a brush or flap
Keyholes: Use covers
Door gaps: Install draught excluders
Floorboard gaps: Fill with sealant
Loft hatch: Add insulation strips

Success

DIY draught-proofing typically costs under £50 and saves £30-50 per year. Payback in one winter!

8. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate

If you haven't already:

Insulation Type	Cost	Annual Saving	Payback
Loft (270mm)	£300-400	£180	2 years
Cavity wall	£400-600	£160	3 years
Hot water tank	£20	£35	7 months
Pipe lagging	£10	£10	1 year

Check for grants—many homes qualify for free insulation.

9. Service Your Boiler

An annual service ensures:

Maximum efficiency
Safe operation
Valid warranty
Longer lifespan

A well-maintained boiler can be 10-15% more efficient than a neglected one.

10. Consider a Heat Pump

For the long term, air source heat pumps offer:

300-400% efficiency (vs. ~90% for gas)
Lower running costs with cheap electricity
Zero direct emissions
Government grants up to £7,500

Warning

Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes with underfloor heating or oversized radiators. Get a proper assessment before switching.

Track Your Progress

Use OhmMy to monitor:

Gas consumption trends over winter
Cost per degree-day for fair comparison
Room temperatures if you have smart sensors
Heating schedules across all your devices

Set a weekly reminder to check your stats and adjust.

Quick Wins Summary

Do today:

Turn thermostat down 1°C
Close curtains at dusk
Check for obvious draughts

Do this week:

Bleed radiators
Check TRV settings
Clear space around radiators

Do this month:

Draught-proof doors
Insulate hot water tank
Book boiler service

Stay warm, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint—it's possible to do all three!