Oliver Osmore, Managing Director at family-operated Maintracts Services, has shared 13 money-saving strategies
A heating expert has shared 13 money-saving tips that could cut household energy bills by up to £2,400 this winter, even as prices are set to rise again.
With the Government announcing a two percent increase to the energy price cap from October – lifting typical household energy bills to £1,755 per year from the current £1,720 – the specialist offers practical solutions at a time when families face mounting financial pressure.
Oliver Osmore, from family-run Maintracts Services, warns many households are throwing away hundreds of pounds annually through simple heating system issues that can be easily fixed.
The expert cautions households skipping annual boiler servicing often waste around £260 each year due to decreased efficiency. Osmore explains this common oversight deals a significant blow to annual costs across homes, reports the Express.
“From our experience, households that skip boiler servicing often see their boilers running up to 15% less efficiently. On today’s bills, that’s around £260 wasted every year – money that could easily be saved with a service costing less than half that,” he said.
Many homeowners remain unaware that poor thermostat placement also costs them substantial amounts during the winter months. The badly positioned thermostat produces false readings that affect the entire heating system.
Osmore said: “We regularly see thermostats fitted in hallways next to radiators or draughty doorways. That can add 10% to a heating bill because the thermostat shuts off too early or runs too long. On a £1,755 bill, that’s about £175 wasted every year just from poor placement.”
The heating professional stresses that neglected maintenance issues cause the greatest waste across London homes.
Hidden defects in radiators can cost hundreds needlessly. Osmore explains: “In London homes with older systems, it’s not unusual to find radiators half full of sludge. That can reduce efficiency by 20-25%. For an average household, that’s nearly £400 a year lost until the system is flushed.”
Surprisingly, small issues like dripping taps can massively impact annual costs. One leaking hot water tap wastes 5,500 litres each year. This adds roughly £70 to heating costs whilst providing no benefit whatsoever.
The London expert highlights another common issue affecting many flats across the capital.
“A common issue in London flats is boilers that are too powerful for the property. They cycle on and off constantly, wasting fuel. We’ve seen households overpay by £150-£200 a year just because the boiler was mis-specified when fitted,” he said. Unbalanced heating systems force numerous homeowners to overheat their entire house just to warm up cold spots in specific rooms.
This wasteful approach dramatically increases energy consumption throughout the winter period. The heating specialist said: “In a lot of homes, some rooms roast while others stay cold. That usually means the heating system isn’t balanced. Once we rebalance, customers often report turning their thermostat down by 1-2°C – that’s £100-£200 in savings straight away.”
Incorrect timer settings have frequently been fixed in London homes by Osmore. These settings were adding £250 each year to bills by heating empty properties unnecessarily.
One of the simplest savings comes from adjusting boiler flow temperature settings. Osmore says: “We often see boilers running far hotter than they need to. Simply lowering the flow temperature from 80°C to around 60°C can cut gas use by 8-10%. On today’s bills, that’s roughly £140-£175 a year saved, with no noticeable change in comfort for most households.”
Outdated radiators represent another major source of waste across UK homes. Older single-panel versions work up to 50% less effectively than modern equivalents.
This could potentially cost families an extra £200-£300 per year on heating bills alone. Osmore suggests fitting Thermostatic Radiator Valves as one of the simplest upgrades with immediate benefits.
These typically save 5-10% on bills by only heating the rooms in use. Other simple solutions include insulating exposed pipes in lofts and under floors, which can save nearly £50-£70 annually on heating costs.
Wrapping hot water cylinders with proper insulation can save up to £70 a year while costing just £20. Installing reflective panels behind radiators on external walls prevents heat loss, saving between £40-£60 each year.
When these thirteen improvements are combined, households could potentially cut up to £2,400 from their annual energy bills, according to the heating specialist.
This advice comes at a critical time for UK households as energy prices continue to put pressure on family budgets nationwide.
The current energy price cap, which will come into effect from October, sets the average household bill at £1,755 per year. The 2% rise in October will add roughly £35 to annual costs, up from £1,720.
Osmore stresses many of these savings require minimal investment and can be implemented before winter arrives.
“Most of these fixes pay for themselves within months, not years. That’s money back in people’s pockets when they need it most,” says the heating expert.