Quick Tips for Cutting Down Your Home Bills: Save Money Without Major Changes
Published 16th of April 2012·Updated 12 April 2026
Reviewed by: Reviewed for accuracy April 2026
Small changes around your home can cut your annual bills by £200-£500 without major investment. The most effective steps include fixing water leaks, insulating hot water pipes, adjusting your boiler settings, and eliminating standby energy waste. None of these require a plumber or an electrician for most households.
Short Summary
A dripping tap can waste up to 5,500 litres of water a year, according to Thames Water. For homes on a water meter, that adds a measurable cost; for all households, it is unnecessary waste that a washer replacement costing a few pence can fix.
Turning your thermostat down by just one degree Celsius can reduce your heating bill by around 3-4%, according to the Energy Saving Trust. For a typical UK household spending £1,200 a year on heating, that is a saving of up to £48 with no noticeable change in comfort.
Appliances left on standby still draw power. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average UK household spends around £30-£80 per year powering devices on standby. Switching them off at the wall costs nothing.
Switching energy suppliers using an Ofgem-approved comparison site such as Uswitch or MoneySuperMarket is still one of the largest single savings available to many households, particularly for those who have never switched or who have rolled onto a standard variable tariff.
Fix water leaks before anything else
A dripping tap is the easiest and most overlooked source of wasted money on your water bill. Check every tap in the house, including bathroom and kitchen, and replace worn washers on any that drip. A plumber typically charges £50-£100 for a call-out, but replacing a tap washer is a straightforward DIY task that costs under £1 in parts.
Toilet cisterns are a less obvious source of leaks. A continuously running toilet can waste 200-400 litres of water a day. To check for a slow leak, place a few drops of food colouring in the cistern; if the colour appears in the bowl without flushing, the valve needs replacing. Your local plumber or DIY store can supply a replacement flush valve for around £10-£15.
Insulate your hot water pipes to stop heat loss
If you wait more than 10-15 seconds for hot water to arrive at your tap, heat is escaping from uninsulated pipes. Pipe lagging (foam insulation tubes that wrap around pipes) is available from DIY stores including B&Q and Screwfix for a few pence per metre. Fitting it yourself takes an afternoon and no specialist tools.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that properly insulated hot water pipes can reduce the energy needed to maintain water temperature by a meaningful amount, particularly in older homes where pipes run through unheated spaces such as lofts or under floors. Insulating your hot water cylinder (if you have one) with a British Standard jacket can save around £30-£40 a year.
Adjust your boiler settings
Your boiler may be running hotter than it needs to. Most modern combi boilers can be set to run at a flow temperature of around 55-60 degrees Celsius (rather than the factory default of 70-80 degrees), which improves efficiency significantly. This setting is called the "flow temperature" or "radiator temperature" and is adjustable on the boiler display of most modern units.
If your boiler is more than 10-15 years old, replacing it with a modern condensing A-rated boiler can cut your heating bills by up to 30-35%, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Some energy suppliers and local councils offer boiler replacement grants; check the Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme at gov.uk for current eligibility.
Audit your plugs and eliminate standby waste
Walk around your home and note every appliance that is plugged in but not in regular use. Common culprits include DVD players, games consoles, second televisions, phone chargers, and desktop computers. Each one draws a small amount of power even on standby.
Smart plugs (available from Amazon, Argos, or electrical retailers for around £10-£15 each) let you switch appliances off completely from your phone and can be programmed to cut power overnight. Fitting them to a TV, games console, and set-top box is one of the easiest ways to reduce standby consumption without having to remember to switch things off manually.
| Habit change | Estimated annual saving |
|---|---|
| Fix a dripping tap | £10-£30 (water meter households) |
| Insulate hot water pipes | £20-£40 |
| Turn thermostat down 1 degree | £30-£50 |
| Switch off standby appliances | £30-£80 |
| Replace old boiler with A-rated condensing model | £200-£400 |
| Switch energy supplier | Varies; check current rates on Uswitch |
Switch your energy supplier
If you have been on the same energy tariff for more than 12 months, or if you are on a standard variable tariff, you may be overpaying. Use an Ofgem-approved comparison service such as Uswitch, MoneySuperMarket, or the government's own Energy Guide at simpleenergyadvice.org.uk to compare current deals. The comparison is free and switching takes minutes.
Households that have never switched supplier save the most on average. Even if the saving is modest, switching takes under 10 minutes online and your supply is never interrupted during the changeover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save by switching energy suppliers? The saving depends on your current tariff and usage. When the energy market is competitive, switching from a standard variable tariff to the best available fixed deal can save £100-£300 or more per year for a typical household. Use Uswitch or MoneySuperMarket to compare live deals based on your actual usage figures.
Does turning the heating off at night save money? Generally yes, though the best approach depends on your home's insulation. For well-insulated modern homes, setting the heating to come on for short periods rather than running it all day or all night is the most efficient approach. For older, less insulated homes, keeping a low background heat can sometimes prevent the energy cost of repeatedly reheating a cold building from scratch.
Is it worth fitting a smart thermostat? Smart thermostats such as the Nest, Hive, or Tado systems allow you to control your heating remotely and set more precise schedules. The Energy Saving Trust estimates they can save the average household around £75-£130 per year. Installation typically costs £100-£200 including the device, so the investment pays back within 1-2 years.
Can I get a grant to insulate my home? Yes. The Government's Great British Insulation Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) programme both provide free or heavily subsidised insulation for eligible households, particularly those on means-tested benefits or with low EPC ratings. Check your eligibility at gov.uk or through your local council.
How do I find out if my home is energy efficient? Your home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating tells you how energy efficient it is on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). You can check your current EPC at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. If your home is rated D or below, there are likely cost-effective improvements available that will reduce your bills.