How to save on heating: 12 proven tips that lower your bills

Heating costs make up as much as 60-70% of total household energy expenses. If every winter your gas or electricity bill comes as a shock, you are not alone. The good news is that there are many ways to reduce these costs by up to 30% without having to sit in a cold room.

In this article, we will look at 12 proven tips that really work. These are not miracle solutions, but practical steps that many of our clients have already applied successfully.

1. Lower the temperature by 1-2°C (save up to 10%)

This is the simplest and most effective way to reduce costs immediately. Every additional degree Celsius means 6-8% higher heating costs.

• Living room: Lower from 22°C to 20-21°C – you will hardly notice the difference
• Bedroom: 16-18°C is the ideal temperature for quality sleep
• Bathroom: 20-22°C (only when you use it)
• Hallway, storage room: 15-17°C is completely sufficient

2. Bleed your radiators (save 5-10%)

Air in radiators causes the upper part of the radiator to stay cold, and the heating has to run longer to warm up the room. Bleeding is simple and takes 5 minutes. However, if radiators have been heating unevenly for a long time or the problem affects the whole system, it is worth ordering heating services in Bratislava.

1. Turn off the heating and wait until the radiators cool down
2. Place a cloth and a bowl under the bleed valve
3. Open the valve with a radiator key until it stops hissing
4. When water starts dripping, close it immediately
5. Repeat on all radiators
6. Check the boiler pressure and top up water if needed

3. Keep radiators unobstructed (save 10-15%)

A common mistake: Furniture, curtains, or drying laundry cover radiators. Heat then builds up behind the radiator instead of spreading through the room.

• Move furniture away at least 30 cm from the radiator
• Shorten curtains – they should not hang in front of the radiator
• Do not dry laundry directly on radiators (use a drying rack beside them)
• Clear the area – no boxes, bags, or toys

4. Seal windows and doors (save 15-20%)

Leaky windows are the number one energy killer. Heat escapes through every 1 mm gap as if you had a window open by a few centimetres.

Leak test:

• Light a candle and move it along the windows/doors
• If the flame flickers – you have an air leak
• Focus on places where the window frame meets the wall

Solution:

• Self-adhesive sealing strip – €2-5 per window, installed in 10 minutes
• Silicone sealant – for larger gaps between the frame and the wall
• Door seals – especially entrance doors and balcony doors
• Door draft stoppers – prevent drafts under doors

5. Use thermostatic radiator valves (save 10-20%)

Thermostatic valves automatically regulate the temperature in each room separately. This means energy is not wasted by overheating spaces.

Price: €15-30 each. Installation: Easy, anyone can do it (just unscrew the old valve head and screw on the new one).

6. Insulate pipes (save 5-8%)

Pipes carrying hot water and heating through cold spaces (basement, garage, hallway) lose a huge amount of heat.

• Buy PE foam insulation – €2-5 per metre
• Slide it onto the pipes – as easy as putting a sleeve on a hose
• Seal the joints – with insulating tape or adhesive
• Priority: Pipes in the basement and unheated areas

Savings: By insulating 10 metres of pipes in the basement, you save €30-60 per year. The material costs €20-50.

7. Proper ventilation = less heat loss (save 5-10%)

Golden rule: Short, intensive airing is more energy-efficient than leaving a window slightly open for a long time.

8. Use curtains and blinds (save 5-10%)

Windows are the weakest point in a home's insulation. Through 1 m² of window area, 5-10 times more heat escapes than through 1 m² of wall.

• During the day: Open curtains and blinds – the sun warms the room for free
• In the evening and at night: Close thick curtains/blinds – they reduce heat loss by 20-40%
• External shutters: Most effective (reduce losses by up to 50%)
• Fabric blinds: A cheaper alternative (reduce losses by 15-25%)

9. Boiler servicing = lower consumption (save 5-15%)

A neglected boiler uses 10-20% more gas for the same output. Why? Deposits on the heat exchanger, dirty burner nozzles, and non-optimal settings.

• Annual boiler service – an obligation, not a recommendation (€80-120)
• Heat exchanger cleaning – removes soot and increases efficiency
• Combustion adjustment – the technician optimises the gas/air ratio
• Pump check – a slow pump = inefficient heating

10. Lower the domestic hot water temperature (save 5-10%)

Many people have their water heater set to 60-70°C, even though 50-55°C is enough. Every extra 5°C increases costs by 3-5%.

• Optimal DHW temperature: 50-55°C (safe and energy-efficient)
• Why not lower? Below 50°C there is a risk of bacteria growth (legionella)
• Why not higher? Wasted energy and risk of scalding
• Setting: Usually a rotary knob on the water heater or in the boiler menu

11. Smart heating time schedules (save 15-25%)

Why heat at full power when no one is at home? A programmable thermostat is one of the best investments in energy savings.

Example of an optimal schedule:

Price: Programmable thermostat €50-150. Savings: €150-300 per year. Payback: Within 1 year.

12. Long-term investments: Insulation and windows (save 30-50%)

The previous tips are cheap and quick. If you want a dramatic reduction in costs, invest in insulation and window replacement.

Subsidies: Slovakia and the EU provide subsidies of up to 50% of insulation costs. Ask SIEA or Zelená domácnostiam for information.

Summary: How much can you save?

Let's calculate together how much you can save if you apply at least some of these tips:

Real example: A family with annual heating costs of €1000 can save €300-500 per year after applying these tips. An investment of €250-520 pays back within 1-2 years.

Conclusion: Every euro counts

Saving on heating is not about sitting in a cold apartment wrapped in blankets. It is about smart energy management – heating only when and where necessary, eliminating unnecessary losses, and investing in efficiency.

Most of these tips require minimal costs and a few hours of work, but you will see the result immediately on your next bill. And when you look at the savings over 5-10 years, we are talking about thousands of euros.