| As the cost of gas and water keeps going up, | | | | 5. Once your gas boiler is over 15 years old, |
| it is a good idea to see what you can do to | | | | it is best to upgrade it to a new one and the |
| help reduce your gas and water bills. First | | | | best to go for is an A rated gas condensing |
| of all here some ways of reducing your gas | | | | boiler as this will deliver the maximum |
| bill each year: | | | | energy efficiency and the lowest gas bills |
| | | | for you. |
| 1. If you turn down your thermostat setting | | | | |
| by 1 degree you can save up to 10 % off your | | | | 6. You can save up to 25% off your heating |
| gas bill. | | | | costs every year by getting your loft |
| | | | insulated. |
| 2. If you pay your gas bill by direct debit | | | | |
| instead of paying cash or cheque at your | | | | Ok well that is about it for the gas bill, |
| bank, you can save up to 10% off your bill. | | | | but what about your water bill? Well there is |
| | | | no open market for water supply so you cannot |
| 3. Go buy and fit a standard jacket around | | | | switch to a different supplier to get your |
| your hot water tank which will only cost | | | | water bill down, but you can change from an |
| about 10 pounds and will save you around 15 | | | | unmetered water supply to a metered water |
| to 20 pounds off your gas bill every year. | | | | supply. This may save you some money, |
| | | | depending on your circumstances, generally |
| 4. Do some shopping around for a cheaper gas | | | | speaking if you have more bedrooms in your |
| supplier, you can save up to 25% if you have | | | | house than you do people living in your house |
| never switched supplier before and even if | | | | then you will most likely save money by |
| you have switched supplier before, you could | | | | switching to a metered water supply. Getting |
| still save up to 15% by shopping around and | | | | a metered water supply fitted is free and you |
| switching again. It is not difficult to | | | | will have the option of going back to an |
| switch your gas supplier, all you have to do | | | | unmetered water supply within 12 months of |
| is sign some forms and have a current meter | | | | switching should you wish to do so. If you |
| reading taken. The gas is supplied through | | | | want to work out for definite whether you |
| the same pipes, all that changes is who bills | | | | would save money doing this or not, you can |
| you and who provides the customer service. | | | | contact your local water company who will |
| | | | send you a table so that you can work it out. |