Energy bills can come as an unwelcome surprise after a long winter, as can invoices from plumbers if you have to call them out to an emergency in your home. Prevention is always better than cure; so if you’re looking for hints and tips on keeping Somerset plumbing and heating bills down this season, you’ve come to the right place!
First, let’s look at your plumbing. The reason that you often experience difficulties at the most inconvenient times of year is that these are the times when your pipes experience the most stress! But if you plan ahead, it is possible to minimise the chances of having to pay unexpected call-out fees and repair bills to an emergency plumber Bristol or beyond. One important item on your to-do list should be to go around your home checking taps and internal pipework for drips and leaks. Leaky hot water taps especially can add pounds to your bill. Also check drains – is water draining out of the sink more slowly than usual? Are there unpleasant smells coming from plugholes? These can be indicators of wider problems. If left untouched, the problem could quickly escalate at the least convenient time. If you can’t sort the issue yourself, now’s the time to call a trusted plumber to address it. Additionally, protect your pipes against freezing. Sudden cold spells can cause water inside pipes to freeze quickly and may result in a burst pipe. This can cause flooding and damage to the fabric, fixtures and fittings of your home. You can lag your pipes yourself with foam tubes and duct tape, or for a more professional job, ask a Somerset plumbing and heating specialist about insulation.
Your next step should be to consider your heating. When was your boiler last serviced? This should be carried out routinely once a year, not only for safety reasons but also because an inefficient boiler can use more energy and therefore cost more to run. Take advice from Bristol plumbing services about the age of your boiler too. Older models can become less efficient over time; newer models take advantage of new technology to heat more quickly and so cut the costs of your heating bills. While a new boiler is obviously a significant expense, it’s estimated that as much as 55% of the cost of your annual energy bills is down to heating water and radiators alone. So upgrading your central heating system will save money over the longer term. If you currently rely on storage heaters to keep your home warm, bear in mind that these have a reputation for using significantly more energy than is desirable. Ask your plumber Bristol based about the cost of installing a central heating system instead and how much money that could save you. If this is not possible, consider alternatives such as storage heaters with thermostats to give you the option of controlling the amount of energy they are using.
It’s well worth planning ahead for the forthcoming winter if you want to avoid unexpected and unwelcome damage and expenditure. Expert Somerset plumbing and heating companies are always willing to offer advice to householders on how to cut the costs of gas and electric bills, and how to protect your home from emergency situations in cold weather.