Q How to reduce your usage

An easy fix is to turn down the temperature. If you’re finding that your tap water is too hot, you’re likely to be wasting gas and money, so try turning it down a few degrees until you reach the optimum temperature. The same goes for your heating – you probably won’t notice if you turn it down by one or two degrees, but doing so will save you money in the long run. Investing in a smart thermostat is also advisable.

Smart thermostats allow you to operate your heating system remotely via an app on your mobile phone or tablet. Some will save your daily routine and work out the best usage for you, others will alter your settings depending on the weather. It’s also worth getting your boiler serviced once a year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. This will ensure it is working efficiently and at maximum capacity. If, however, your boiler is more than 12 years old, is expensive to run and is breaking down regularly, it might be time to consider a replacement. Finally, installing roof insulation is the cheapest and quickest way to stop heat escaping and is a job even keen Diyers can tackle. Do it in early autumn, in plenty of time before you need your central heating.