Top 10 Tips For Staying Warm Without Using Your Boiler

As we enter the colder autumn and winter months, many of us are reaching to turn the heating on for the first time this year. But this could be costly, especially with energy bills set to rise next month. That’s why we’re sharing our top 10 tips to help you stay warm in the colder weather, without having to turn your boiler on.

Our Top 10 Tips To Avoid Turning On Your Boiler

1. Layer Up Your Clothing

Wearing multiple layers, such as thermals, sweaters, and socks, traps body heat better than a single thick garment. Use materials like wool, fleece, or thermal fabrics to stay warm.

2. Use Draught Excluders

Draughts from doors and windows can significantly cool a home. Use draught excluders and seal to block cold air from coming in. Moreover, draught excluders help trap in the heat from your home, acting as a cheap and effective form of insulation.

3. Use Thermal Curtains or Blinds

Keep curtains or blinds closed in the evening to retain heat. Thermal curtains help prevent heat loss through windows, particularly in older homes.  Drawing the blinds at dusk can reduce heat loss by 13-14% and curtains from 15-17%.

5. Insulate Your Home

Add insulation to your loft, walls, and floors to prevent heat from escaping. Proper insulation can reduce the need for your boiler and keep your home warmer for longer. It also helps to keep your home cool throughout the summer months, meaning your insulation works year-round to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

You can get your home insulated for free with government-backed grants and schemes, such as the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 scheme.

6. Use Hot Water Bottles

Use hot water bottles to keep warm in bed or on the couch. They provide direct warmth without the need to turn on the boiler to heat the whole house. A hot water bottle should stay warm for approximately three hours, especially if it has a cover. Filling a hot water bottle three times a day costs only roughly 20.4p a day, half of what it would cost you to run an electric blanket.

7. Close Off Unused Rooms

Keep doors to unused rooms closed to prevent heat from escaping into them, so that you can trap the heat into one area and maintain a comfortable temperature.

8. Switch To A Heat Pump

Consider upgrading to a heat pump instead of relying on a traditional boiler. Heat pumps are highly energy-efficient, as they extract heat from the air or ground to warm your home, even in cold weather. They use significantly less energy compared to boilers, reducing your carbon footprint and heating costs over time. Heat pumps are 4x more efficient than a traditional gas boiler, making it cheaper and easier to heat you home. Additionally, heat pumps can provide cooling in the summer, ensuring your home is comfortable throughout all seasons. Plus, heat pumps don’t contribute to the burning of fossil fuels, making them a sustainable alternative to boilers.

You can get an air source heat pump completely free of charge with the UK government ECO4 scheme. Under the scheme, qualifying households get a package of energy-saving home upgrades completely free of charge. This includes free solar panels, a free air source heat pump, and free insulation.

9. Use Rugs And Carpets On Floors

Hardwood and laminate flooring is not effective at retaining heat. However, laying down rugs and carpets adds an extra layer of insulation to your home. Any type of rug that adds an extra layer helps to keep your feet warm, and can be especially effective when combined with our other top tips!

10. Switch To A Heavier Duvet

Overnight, temperatures drop even lower. To stay warm overnight, using blankets and a thicker tog duvet are effective ways to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. This works out far cheaper than turning on your boiler – with the cost of keeping your heating on overnight amounting to over £20 per night!

Save Hundreds Off Your Energy Bill This Winter

Using these tips, you can help avoid turning your boiler on and reduce your energy bill throughout the harsh winter months. With the price cap increase, many households across the UK are worried about how to affordably heat their homes. That’s why at Energy Advice Helpline, we’re here to provide support however we can. One of the ways we provide support is by helping households access government-backed grants and schemes designed to make homes more energy efficient.

These schemes cover the cost and installation of measures that save the average household £400 per year. To see if you qualify, click the button below.