How to Save Money on Heating Bills: 15 Practical Tips
If you’re looking for ways to save money on heating bills, you’re definitely not alone.
Heating is one of the biggest household expenses in the UK. Even with the current energy price cap sitting around £1,641 per year for a typical household, keeping a home warm still eats up a large chunk of most budgets.
The good news is that reducing heating costs doesn’t always mean spending thousands on home improvements. In fact, many of the best ways to save money on heating bills cost nothing at all.
In our house, some of the biggest savings have come from the simplest changes — things like lowering boiler settings, shutting doors and fixing draughts. None of them are glamorous, but they genuinely work.
Below you’ll find 15 ways to reduce heating costs, starting with free quick wins and moving up to larger improvements if you want to invest long term.
Quick Ways to Save Money on Heating
Tip | Estimated Cost | Potential Saving |
|---|---|---|
Free | £50–£100/year | |
Free | £20–£50/year | |
£5–£10 | £20–£60/year | |
Free | £15–£30/year | |
£10–£20 | £25–£50/year | |
Free | £50–£200/year | |
Free | £50–£100/year | |
Free | £20–£50/year | |
£20–£150 | £50–£75/year | |
~£200 | £100–£200/year | |
Free | Depends on usage | |
£2,000+ | £100–£300/year | |
£300–£500 | £150–£250/year | |
£700+ | £150–£275/year | |
£3,000+ | £50–£150/year |
Cheap Wins: Quick Ways to Reduce Heating Bills
1. Wear Extra Layers
This is probably the most obvious way to save money on heating, but it genuinely works.
Putting on a hoodie, thick socks or using a blanket means you can keep the thermostat slightly lower without feeling uncomfortable.
It might sound like advice from your parents, but it can easily shave money off your heating bill over winter.
💷 Cost: £0 if you already own them. Potential saving: £50–£100/year.
2. Close Curtains When It Gets Dark
Windows are one of the biggest areas of heat loss in most homes.
Closing curtains as soon as it gets dark helps trap warm air inside and stop heat escaping through the glass.
During the day, open them to let sunlight warm the room naturally.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £20–£50/year.
Also worth reading
If it’s not a whole home you need to keep warm, find out the cheapest way to heat a room.
3. Use Bubble Wrap on Windows
If you have older windows or single glazing, bubble wrap can act as a cheap form of insulation.
Spray a light mist of water onto the window and press the bubble wrap against the glass. It sticks surprisingly well and creates an extra insulating layer.
It’s not the prettiest solution, but it works well in spare rooms or less visible windows.
💷 Cost: £5–£10. Saving: £20–£60/year.
4. Close Doors to Keep Heat In
Warm air naturally moves around the house.
If internal doors are open, heat will drift into hallways and rooms that don’t need heating.
Closing doors helps keep warmth in the rooms you’re actually using.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £15–£30/year.
5. Fit Draught Excluders
Even small gaps around doors and windows can let a surprising amount of warm air escape.
Draught excluders are cheap, easy to install and can make rooms feel noticeably warmer.
They’re one of the quickest ways to reduce heating bills without changing your routine.
💷 Cost: £10–£20. Saving: £25–£50/year.
6. Switch Energy Provider
Switching supplier won’t reduce how much heat you use, but it can reduce how much you pay for it.
Many households remain on standard tariffs that are more expensive than available deals.
Spending ten minutes checking tariffs could save a decent amount over the year.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £50–£200/year (in stable markets).
7. Lower Your Boiler Flow Temperature
Many boilers are set higher than necessary.
Lowering the boiler flow temperature means your heating system runs more efficiently and wastes less energy.
If your home still heats comfortably after turning it down slightly, you could reduce heating costs without sacrificing warmth.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £50–£100/year.
8. Turn Off Radiators in Unused Rooms
If nobody is using the spare room or box room regularly, there’s little reason to keep it as warm as the main living areas.
Reducing the radiator setting in those rooms focuses heat where it’s actually needed.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £20–£50/year.
9. Bleed Radiators and Keep Them Clear
If radiators feel cold at the top but hot at the bottom, they may contain trapped air.
Bleeding them helps restore proper heat circulation.
It’s also important not to block radiators with furniture or long curtains, as this stops heat spreading into the room.
💷 Cost: Free. Saving: £10–£30/year.
Medium Investments: Smarter Heating Control
10. Install Thermostatic Radiator Valves
Thermostatic radiator valves allow you to control the temperature of individual rooms.
This means you can keep living areas warmer while letting bedrooms or hallways stay cooler.
💷 Cost: ~£20 for 3 valves (DIY) or £100–£150 fitted. Saving: £50–£75/year.
11. Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats help automate heating schedules and adjust temperatures based on your daily routine.
They are particularly useful if you often forget to turn heating off when leaving the house.
💷 Cost: ~£200. Saving: £100–£200/year.
12. Install a Smart Meter
A smart meter shows your energy usage in real time.
Seeing exactly how much energy different habits use can make it easier to identify where you’re wasting heat.
💷 Cost: Included in bills. Saving: Depends on your habits.
Also worth reading
If you’re really keen to cut the bills around your home, have a look at simple ways to reduce your water usage
Bigger Investments: Long-Term Ways to Cut Heating Costs
13. Upgrade an Old Boiler
Older boilers can be much less efficient than modern A-rated condensing models.
If your boiler is more than 10–15 years old, upgrading could significantly reduce heating costs.
💷 Cost: £2,000+. Saving: £100–£300/year.
Old boiler rating | Semi-detached house | Detached house | Detached bungalow | Mid-terrace house | Mid-floor flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G ( < 70%) | £200 | £305 | £155 | £175 | £95 |
F (70-74%) | £140 | £210 | £105 | £120 | £65 |
E (74-78%) | £120 | £180 | £90 | £105 | £55 |
D (78-82%) | £105 | £165 | £85 | £95 | £50 |
14. Improve Loft Insulation
Heat rises, which means a poorly insulated loft allows a large amount of warmth to escape.
Topping up loft insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency.
💷 Cost: £300–£500. Saving: £150–£250/year.
Amazon has plenty to choose from or pop down to your local B&Q or Homebase for advice.
15. Install Cavity Wall Insulation or Better Windows
Walls and windows are another major source of heat loss.
Cavity wall insulation can help trap heat inside your home, while modern double glazing reduces heat escaping through glass.
Cost: £700+ for wall insulation, £3,000+ for full window replacement
Is It Cheaper to Leave the Heating On All Day?
A common myth is that it’s cheaper to keep heating on constantly.
In most cases this isn’t true.
The warmer your home stays, the faster heat escapes through walls, windows and the roof. That means your boiler has to keep running to replace that lost heat.
It is usually cheaper to heat your home only when you need it rather than leaving heating on all day.
👉 Find out in more detail about leaving your heating on constantly.
Common Heating Myths That Cost Money
Turning the thermostat up heats the house faster
It doesn’t. The thermostat simply tells the boiler what temperature to reach. Turning it higher only makes the heating stay on longer.
Electric heaters are always expensive
They can actually be cheaper when heating a single room rather than the whole house.
The energy price cap guarantees the cheapest tariff
It doesn’t. The cap simply limits what suppliers can charge on certain tariffs.
Before Spending Money on Upgrades
Before investing in expensive improvements, check whether your energy supplier or local council offers any support schemes.
Some households can receive help with insulation, heating upgrades or energy efficiency improvements.
If you’re eligible, this can significantly reduce the cost of improving your home.
Final Thoughts
If you want to save money on heating bills, start with the free changes first.
Closing doors, adjusting your boiler settings and fixing draughts might seem small, but they can make a real difference over the course of winter.
Once those are sorted, then it may be worth looking at heating controls or insulation upgrades for bigger long-term savings.
In my experience, the boring little fixes are usually the ones that work best.
Further reading
Discover how to save on your electricity bills with LED bulbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I save money on heating bills?
The best way to save money on heating bills is to start with simple changes like lowering your thermostat slightly, closing curtains at night, fixing draughts and heating only the rooms you use. Small adjustments to your boiler settings and insulation can also make a big difference over winter.
What is the cheapest way to reduce heating costs?
The cheapest way to reduce heating costs is by improving heat retention in your home. Closing doors, using draught excluders, adding extra clothing and keeping curtains closed after dark can all reduce heat loss without costing anything.
How can I lower my heating bill in winter?
To lower your heating bill in winter, focus on preventing heat loss. Insulating lofts, sealing draughts, lowering your boiler flow temperature and installing thermostatic radiator valves can all help reduce heating bills.
Does turning the thermostat down save money?
Yes. Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can reduce heating costs by around 10% depending on your home and heating system. Even small changes can lead to noticeable savings across the winter months.
Is it cheaper to leave heating on all day?
In most cases, it is cheaper to turn heating on only when you need it. Keeping heating running all day means heat constantly escapes through walls, windows and the roof, forcing your boiler to keep working.
What temperature should I set my heating to save money?
Many UK households find that 18–21°C is a comfortable temperature. Setting your thermostat slightly lower while wearing warmer clothing can help save money on heating without making your home feel cold.
What is the biggest cause of heat loss in a house?
Heat can escape through several areas, but roofs, walls and windows are the biggest sources of heat loss in most homes. Improving insulation in these areas can significantly reduce heating costs.
Do smart thermostats actually save money?
Smart thermostats can help reduce heating bills by automatically adjusting temperatures and preventing heating from running when nobody is home. The biggest savings usually come from improved control rather than the device itself.
