10 tips to reduce your heating bills

As winter approaches, the prospect of skyrocketing heating bills is not far off.
In this article, discover our 10 essential tips to reduce your heating bills and stay warm this winter without breaking the bank.

1. Insulate your home

This is the key to energy savings: a poorly insulated house can lose up to 30% of its heat through the roof, walls and floors.
Attics and roofs are the areas through which heat escapes most easily.
Insulating these areas is fairly straightforward, and the results can be achieved quickly.
Next come the walls, which are responsible for around 25% of heat loss.
Walls can be insulated from the outside or the inside.
By limiting heat loss, you use less energy to heat your home.

2. Maintain your heating appliances

Annual maintenance by a professional can detect and correct minor problems before they become more serious.
For example, you should bleed your radiators at least once a year to remove any air that may have accumulated.
A well-maintained appliance consumes less energy to produce the same amount of heat.
And perhaps most importantly, it ensures that your system is running safely!

3. Change your heating system

If your boiler is over 15 years old, consider replacing it with a more efficient, environmentally-friendly model, such as a condensing boiler or heat pump.
The coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump is generally between 2 and 4. This means that for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed, a heat pump can produce between 2 and 4 kWh of heat.
The efficiency of a gas-fired boiler, on the other hand, is around 0.9, meaning that it produces 0.9 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of gas consumed.

4. Install a wood-fired auxiliary heater

Wood is a renewable and economical energy source, provided you use it in an efficient appliance.
A pellet stove, for example, uses a fuel made from wood residues that is cheaper than gas, oil or electricity.
They have a high energy efficiency, often over 85%, which means they convert a large proportion of the energy contained in the pellets into heat.

5. Clear the space in front of your radiators

Don’t place furniture or curtains in front of your radiators, as this prevents heat from circulating freely in the room.

6. Heat to the right temperature

19°C in living rooms and 16°C in bedrooms are enough to ensure pleasant thermal comfort.
By lowering the temperature by 1°C, you can reduce your heating bill by 6 to 7%.

7. Use a programmable thermostat

It automatically lowers the temperature at night and when you’re away, so you can save on heating costs.

8. Close the shutters at night

Glass is a conductive material, which means it lets heat through easily.
Shutters reduce heat loss through windows by 30-50%.
And of course, close doors and windows to avoid draughts.

9. Air your home regularly

Even in winter, remember to renew the air in your home to avoid damp and mold.
Good air circulation also helps regulate the temperature in your home and avoid the feeling of “stuffy air”.
We recommend opening windows wide for at least 10 minutes every day.

10. Dress warmly

Layering is the secret to staying comfortable. By layering several thin layers, you can adjust your temperature according to the weather and how you feel.
It’s more effective than going straight for the big fleece!

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