COMAP - News

In these cost conscious times, any money saving tips you can pass onto customers will be greatly appreciated. We know the phrase ‘teaching grandmother to suck eggs’, but browse our top energy saving tips and you might come across a little nugget that will make your customers smile.

Make the most of what nature provides When the sun decides to make an appearance over winter, make the most of its natural warmth by leaving curtains open on the south side of your home, drawing them snugly at night to keep heat in.
Beware the heat leeches! Stop heat escaping by replacing any old or faulty weather stripping around doors and windows, draught proofing your letterbox and adding a threshold strip with brush to the bottom of the door. If there’s an unused fireplace in your home, check that the flue is closed.
Maintain your heating system for maximum efficiency A professional review of electric and oil heaters on an annual basis, and gas heaters every other year, will snag any issues and ensure that filters are clean and clear to help the heating system run at maximum efficiency.
Don’t get yourself into hot water! If water flowing from the hot tap is an uncomfortable heat, or burns your hand, it is far hotter than is needed for most domestic tasks. Lower your water temperature and you’ll save £££s! Also, reduce the amount of hot water you use – Comap’s next issue of Newsflow will give you the low-down on our latest product: flow restrictors.
Make sure your radiators are working hard Keep curtains clear from radiators, and make sure that furniture doesn’t block convection: cold air should be able to enter the bottom of the radiator and warm air should exit freely at the top. Equally, ensure that programmable thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves have a clear flow of unobstructed air around them.
Lower your thermostat and reduce your annual bill by 5-10% You probably won’t notice the difference in temperature if you lower your thermostat by just 1 degree. But your wallet will! And, if you invest in a programmer so that heating and hot water only comes on when required rather than all time, you’ll be quids in!
Do you really need your bathroom and kitchen vents open? Check that your home isn’t prone to condensation before closing the vents permanently though. If it is, open them on an ‘as needed’ basis only.
Treat your water heater to a blanket Older water heaters may need a little help, as they don’t have enough insulation. But be sure to heed instructions by the manufacturer when installing and don’t cover the thermostat.
Insulate and reflect on your actions Insulation is key, so spot any draughty gaps, such as around the loft hatch, or between the skirting boards and the floor and be sure to insulate them well. Fit heat reflective foil with the shiny side facing the room behind radiators that are on an outside wall, to reflect heat inwards.
And finally….slip on some socks! This will warm your whole body. And why not cook a warming meal? The oven will heat the kitchen too!