Energy expert urges Brits to do 1 thing before winter to save money on bills

As Autumn looms, an energy expert is recommending that Brits get ahead of the high heating bills by completing these simple tasks. By starting to make some smart choices now, you can significantly cut back the cost of your electricity usage. Energy expert William Hobbs at MyJobQuote has revealed one key tip that will not only help to keep bills down this winter, but to extend the lifespan of your radiators too.

Bleeding and flushing radiators can help you save on energy costs by increasing their overall efficiency. Bleeding a radiator will remove trapped air from inside the system and allow hot water to circulate more effectively, therefore increasing efficiency. "Flushing will remove any sludge and debris that is preventing your radiator from performing properly, which means it will take less time to heat up," Mr Hobs says.

He adds: "By doing these checks on your radiators each year, you can also extend their lifespan, ensure that they are warming your home throughout without leaving cold spots, and reduce strain on your boiler."

Adjusting your thermostat to the correct temperature ahead of the winter months will also help to keep high energy costs at bay.

The expert says: "You may think that this means setting it lower in the summer and higher in the winter, but actually, the opposite can be true!

"During winter, the lower the temperature is inside your home, the slower it will lose heat. So effectively, the longer your house remains at a lower temperature, the less heat it will lose and the more you will save on energy costs."

Mr Hobbs says unplug devices when they're not in use too, such as certain televisions and microwaves which run on 'standby power' when they are not actively in use. This means that, although they may appear to be switched off and dormant, they are still consuming electricity, and this can add a surprisingly large amount to your electricity bill compared to if they were unplugged.

Kettles can be one of the most expensive household appliances to run, therefore the expert says to only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need for that one use, as boiling more water will use more energy.

Tumble dryers also consume a huge amount of electricity each time they run, the expert says, so they shouldn't be something that we rely on for frequent use.

For indoor drying methods in the winter, Mr Hobss says to use a drying rack or utilise appliances such as heated airers and dehumidifiers, which will consume far less energy than a tumble dryer.