10 Energy Saving Tips to Cut Your Heating Bills in Manchester

1. Turn Your Thermostat Down by 1°C

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can save around £80–£100 per year for an average home. Most people can barely notice the difference — particularly if you have good insulation or draughtproofing. Try 19°C rather than 20°C and see how you get on.

2. Use a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat (Nest, Hive, Tado or similar) learns your schedule and adjusts heating automatically, so you're not heating an empty house. Studies suggest smart thermostats save the average household 10–15% on heating bills. All Next Gen Boilers installations include a free wireless thermostat — ask us about upgrading to a smart model.

3. Bleed Your Radiators

If your radiators are warm at the bottom but cold at the top, there's trapped air in the system. Bleeding radiators (releasing trapped air with a bleed key) is a five-minute job that significantly improves circulation and heating efficiency. Do this once a year, ideally at the start of the heating season.

4. Service Your Boiler Annually

A boiler operating with a dirty heat exchanger, worn igniter or incorrect gas-air mixture burns significantly more fuel than a serviced unit. An annual boiler service from Next Gen Boilers costs just £80 and ensures your boiler is running at peak efficiency. The gas you save often exceeds the cost of the service within a single winter.

5. Check and Adjust Radiator Balancing

If some rooms heat up much faster than others, your radiators may need balancing — adjusting the lockshield valves so that all radiators receive an even flow of hot water. This is especially common in older properties across Salford, Eccles and Irlam where systems have never been properly set up.

6. Insulate Your Hot Water Cylinder

If you have a hot water cylinder (system boiler setup), a proper insulating jacket reduces heat loss significantly. Modern pre-insulated cylinders lose very little heat, but older unlagged cylinders can lose the equivalent of £100 of energy per year.

7. Fit a Magnetic Filter to Your Boiler

Sludge and scale circulating in your heating system forces the boiler to work harder, reducing efficiency and causing premature wear. A MagnaClean magnetic filter (included free with all Next Gen Boilers installations) captures these particles and keeps your system clean. Adding one to an existing system typically costs around £100 fitted and pays for itself in improved efficiency.

8. Set Heating Zones if You Have Them

If your home has zone valves or multiple thermostats, use them. There is little point in heating bedrooms during the day or heating the lounge at night when everyone is in bed. Zone control can save 10–20% depending on your property layout.

9. Draught-Proof Your Home

Gaps around windows, doors and floorboards allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter — forcing your boiler to work harder to maintain temperature. Draught-proofing strips are inexpensive and available at any DIY store. This is one of the highest-return investments in home energy efficiency.

10. Consider a New A-Rated Boiler

If your boiler is more than 10–12 years old, it is almost certainly running at 70–80% efficiency at best. A new A-rated condensing boiler operates at 90%+. The difference in gas consumption for a typical Manchester semi-detached is £200–£400 per year. With installations from £1,699 and 0% finance available, the long-term savings make a compelling case.

Frequently Asked Questions