Martin Lewis has shared a boiler tip that can instantly knock £100 off an energy bill.
The founder of Money Saving Expert (MSE), urged people in Northern Ireland to follow his advice during the latest episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
As the cost of living crisis worsens, many of us are looking to cut down soaring energy bills as much as possible and this latest advice has proven valuable to many people trying to do so.
Read more: NI Cost of Living payments to hit bank accounts from today
His latest advice was aimed at people with boilers. He said it can cut £100 off your yearly bill.
Speaking during the latest episode on ITV on Tuesday evening, Martin Lewis explained that many boilers come with it automatically set to heat the water to 60 degrees before it goes off through the radiator system. But he believes this is too high and has advised NI householders to turn it down.
“You normally want it to be around 60 degrees but most people's boilers are set higher - that’s really inefficient,” said Martin. “You can turn this down, it won’t affect the heat in your house, it’ll still be the same temperature.
“It won’t affect your hot water temperature - it might take slightly longer to get up to the maximum temperature. But it can cut £100 a year off your bill and is well worth everyone doing.
"This is an absolute no-brainer. Everyone with a combi boiler should be trying this.”
Angellica Bell, who co-presents the Martin Lewis Money Show Live, also shared a success story from one viewer who tweaked his boiler setting.
“His boiler had a high temp of 85° - he now has a boiler flow temperature of 60° which works just as well and saves money,” she explained.
The Energy Saving Trust says minor adjustments to your home room thermostat can make a big difference too - these work by turning the heating on once the temperature gets to a certain level.
The Trust said: “The thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, typically between 18 and 21 degrees. You don’t need to turn your room thermostat up when it is colder outside; the house will heat up to the set temperature whatever the weather, however it may take a little longer on colder days. Turning up your room thermostat won’t make your home heat any faster.
“Also, bear in mind that room thermostats need a free flow of air to sense the temperature, so make sure they’re not blocked by curtains or furniture, and keep them away from heat sources.”
If you’re unsure how to lower your boiler flow rate, Martin recommended using the free MoneySavingBoilerChallenge.com website.
He also explained other ways to get your home ready for the winter.
Get free water-saving devices
There are 900,000 freebies on the Save Water Save Money website up for grabs from different water companies. This can include things like aerated shower heads, where some air is pumped through instead of water so you’re losing less water.
"I always talk about this when I talk about water saving, but actually the water you used is heated. We pay for it to be heated - use less water, use less heat," explained Martin. "Could save you £50 a year on your heating bill if you’re having lots of showers."
Turn down the thermostat one degree
Martin urged views to take the thermostat challenge, when you turn your heating down by 1° if you're able to. This could save you roughly 10% on your heating bill.
“The World Health Organisation says 18° is fine for healthy adults. Younger, older or ill, you might need more," said Martin.
He continued: “It’s not for me to tell you what to do but I’d like you to try reducing one degree. So say you’re at 21°, try reducing to 20°.“
Use your curtains tactfully
Put simply - this tip simply means thinking more carefully about when you open and close your curtains, to maximise the heat that stays in your home.
"When the sun is shining, it’s letting light and heat into the house, so you want the curtains open," said Martin.
"When it gets dark, it’s not, you want to keep the heat in, so close the curtains. I know we all know that but doing it rigorously can help insulate especially if you line it with a fleece and there are lots of tips online on how to do that cheaply."
Check your fridge temperature
Martin warned how many households have their fridge freezers set at the wrong temperature.
If this is you, you could be throwing away money. "5° degrees is what your fridge needs to be set to, -18° for your freezer. If its colder, you’re wasting too much money," he said.
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