As technology continues to advance, new home heating gadgets are emerging in the market, offering innovative ways to keep your home warm while also saving you money on your energy. And with the recent cost-of living crisis, we’re all looking to make our pounds go as far as they can. Let's delve into some of the available home heating gadgets in the UK and explore how they can help you save money when using alternative fuels like domestic heating oil or LPG.
More interested in exploring heating oil prices? Check out our blog about if it is a good time to buy your heating oil.
Smart Thermostats
One of the most significant advancements in home heating technology is the introduction of smart thermostats. These devices are designed to learn your heating preferences and automatically adjust the temperature in your home accordingly. By optimising your heating schedule, smart thermostats can help reduce energy consumption when you have no need to heat your home and lower the overall monthly cost.
Smart thermostats also allow you to control your heating remotely through smartphone apps, providing convenience and flexibility in managing your home's temperature, wherever you are. Smart thermostats are usable with most fuel types, although if you are unsure, contact your energy provider or a gas safe engineer and double check with them.
Heat Recovery Ventilation
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems are designed to improve indoor air quality while also capturing and reusing heat that would otherwise be lost. These systems extract stale air from your home and replace it with fresh, filtered air. In the process, they recover the heat from the outgoing air and transfer it to the incoming air, minimising heat loss and reducing the need for any additional heating. These are more common in new build homes, but with some initial upfront costs, you can install one in your home and see long-term savings.
Smart Radiator Valves
Smart radiator valves allow you to control the temperature of individual radiators in your home, providing zoned heating capabilities. By adjusting the temperature in specific rooms or areas, you can avoid overheating unused spaces and focus on heating the areas you occupy the most. Smart radiator valves also enable you to set schedules, control temperatures remotely, and integrate with other smart home systems, offering convenient and efficient heating management. Who doesn’t want to be able to shout; “Alexa, turn the heating to 20 in the bedroom” and have their room warm up without having to get out of bed?
Radiator Reflective Panels
Radiator reflective panels are a more simple and cost-effective solution for improving the efficiency of your heating system compared to the previous options. They are made from a special material that reflects heat efficiently, allowing you to make the most of your heating system. These panels are placed behind radiators and help reflect the heat back into the room, preventing it from being absorbed by the walls. By maximising heat distribution, radiator reflective panels can make your home feel warmer and reduce the amount of time your heating system needs to run.
OilFox - The easy and reliable way to monitor your oil level and much, much more.
For homes using oil heating systems, smart oil monitor apps like OilFox offer an innovative solution to monitor oil levels and optimise your fuel consumption. By connecting a smart oil monitor device to your heating oil tank, the app provides real-time information about your oil levels, ensuring you never run out unexpectedly. This helps you plan your fuel orders more efficiently, avoid emergency deliveries, and potentially save money by purchasing domestic heating oil when prices are favourable. It all links to a handy app so all your oil data is ready when you need it.
At Northern Energy, we also provide a ‘My Account’ area on our website so you can keep track of your deliveries and quickly and easily request a top up – available to LPG package customers or Premium Package heating oil customers.
Traditional and Cost-Effective Energy Saving Gadgets and Accessories
While high-tech gadgets offer innovative solutions with big savings, there are also a few cost-effective options to supplement your heating systems and save a few pennies. These tried-and-tested methods provide warmth and comfort without the need for extensive installations or significant investments.
- Hot Water Bottles: Simple, cost-effective and sometimes a cheerful way to keep warm during chilly nights. By filling it with hot water and placing it in your bed or holding it close, you can enjoy cosy warmth without relying heavily on heating systems. And these days they come with covers in all sorts of shapes, colours, and designs, so find one to suit you.
- Electric Blankets: Electric blankets provide targeted warmth and can be a cost-effective alternative to heating an entire room, especially if it’s for one person. These blankets are designed to be energy-efficient, allowing you to stay warm while minimising energy usage. And they can even be used overnight if you’re a cold sleeper.
- Portable Heaters: Portable heaters offer a versatile heating option, allowing you to focus warmth where you need it the most. Electric space heaters, oil-filled radiators, or fan heaters can be used to provide supplemental heat in specific areas of your home. While they are great for providing targeted heat, they are not an efficient choice for heating your whole home, so they should only be used as a supplement.
- Blanket with a Hood: Perfect for relaxing on the sofa or in bed, these affordable and practical accessories can keep you warm and cosy during any cold evenings. They combine the warmth of a blanket with the added benefit of a hood to keep your head and neck cosy. We like to think of them as a cosy poncho.
Whether you opt for a cost-effective solution, or go for a full home installation, there are plenty of options when trying to reduce energy costs in your home. The important thing to consider when deciding on any gadgets for your home is what will make the most impact with your fuel type. And be sure to check reviews for any products. If they work, there will be plenty of users willing to share their experiences.
Did we miss one of your favourite heating gadgets? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram and we’ll share them in a future blog piece (with credit if you want it!).
Any other advice for keeping your home warm and energy bills down?
Firstly, try to reduce the heat loss in your home. If you require tailored suggestions for your specific property, refer to your EPC rating, which should have been provided when you rented or purchased your home. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that your property has an ample energy supply to avoid running out of heating oil or LPG. Check our blog to discover how much heating oil you'll need to order to heat your home.
You can reach out to Northern Energy for a quick and easy off-grid energy quote or to explore options like our Premium Heating Oil package or Flexi Saver Plan.