How to Cut UK Home Energy Bills Without Switching Supplier

In the UK, wholesale energy prices and Ofgem's price cap mean that tariffs across suppliers are often very similar. Switching can help, but it isn't always the biggest saving. The most reliable way to lower your bills is to cut the amount of energy your home uses day in, day out.

This guide focuses entirely on home energy savings for households, not businesses. Every tip here is designed to work even if you never change supplier. Many of them are either free or very low cost, and some could qualify for government or local authority funding.

Set the right room temperature

• Aim for 18–21°C in living areas if you're healthy and active.
• Bedrooms can often be 16–18°C for comfortable sleep.
• If your thermostat is currently at 23°C or higher, try reducing it by 1–2°C and see how you feel.

Use a central room thermostat in a commonly used room, away from draughts and direct sunlight, so it measures temperature accurately.

Use timers and smart controls

• Program the heating to come on 30 minutes before you wake up or get home, and off 30 minutes before you leave or sleep.
• Avoid leaving heating on constantly – short, well-timed heating periods are usually cheaper and more comfortable.
• Consider a smart thermostat or smart TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) to control different rooms separately.

If you already have a programmer, check that your schedule still matches your lifestyle – many people set it once and forget it for years.

Bleed radiators and balance your system

Radiators that are cold at the top or patchy across the surface may be full of air or sludge, meaning your boiler has to work harder for less heat.

• Bleed radiators to remove trapped air (you'll need a radiator key).
• Keep furniture and curtains away from radiators so heat can circulate.
• If some rooms are much colder than others, ask a heating engineer to balance the system so hot water is distributed evenly.

Turn down your boiler flow temperature

If you have a modern condensing boiler, running it at a high flow temperature (e.g. 75–80°C) can waste energy. Lowering the flow temperature to around 60°C on gas boilers can help the boiler run more efficiently while still keeping the home warm.

• Only adjust the central heating temperature, not the hot water cylinder temperature.
• After changing the setting, monitor your comfort level and re-adjust if necessary.
• Always follow the boiler manufacturer's guidance or speak to a qualified engineer.

Quick draught-proofing fixes

Target windows, doors and other gaps where cold air gets in and warm air escapes:

• Fit draught excluder strips around external doors and letterboxes.
• Use adhesive foam strips around older window frames that are prone to gaps.
• Seal gaps around skirting boards and floorboards with flexible filler.
• Use keyhole covers and brush strips on particularly draughty doors.

These low-cost products are widely available in DIY stores and can often pay back in under a year through lower bills.

Check your home's insulation levels

Insulation acts like a blanket for your home. Many UK properties still have either no insulation or less than current recommendations.

• Loft insulation: aim for around 270mm depth of insulation. Topping up a thin layer to the recommended level is one of the most cost-effective upgrades.
• Cavity wall insulation: most homes built between 1920s and 1990s with cavity walls can be filled, significantly reducing heat loss.
• Solid wall insulation: older homes may benefit from internal or external wall insulation, often available with support from grants.

If you're unsure what insulation your home has, a professional energy survey or EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) can provide guidance.

Control your hot water schedule

• If you have a hot water cylinder, set the timer so it only heats when you need hot water, rather than 24/7.
• Make sure your cylinder thermostat is set to around 60°C for safety and efficiency.
• Insulate your hot water cylinder with a well-fitted jacket and lag any exposed hot water pipes.

Combi boiler? You don't store hot water, but you can still save by using less and setting an appropriate water temperature at the boiler.

Everyday hot water habits

• Swap one bath a week for a shorter shower – this can significantly cut water and gas usage.
• Fit aerating showerheads or flow restrictors to reduce hot water use while maintaining good pressure.
• Always use a bowl for washing up rather than running the tap continuously.
• Fix dripping hot taps – a single drip can waste litres of hot water over a day.

Washing machines and dishwashers

• Wash clothes at 30°C where possible – modern detergents work well at lower temperatures.
• Always aim for full loads rather than lots of half loads.
• Use eco modes on dishwashers and washing machines – they take longer but use less energy overall.
• Avoid overfilling; machines work most efficiently when they have room to move items around.

Fridges, freezers and cooking

• Keep fridge temperature around 3–5°C and freezers at -18°C – lower than this wastes energy.
• Defrost freezers regularly to keep them running efficiently.
• Use lids on pans, and match pan size to hob plate size to reduce cooking times.
• Consider using a microwave, air fryer or slow cooker for smaller meals instead of the main oven.

Lighting and electronics

• Replace any remaining halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs – they use up to 80% less electricity and last much longer.
• Turn off appliances at the socket when not in use, especially TVs, consoles and older electronics prone to standby consumption.
• Use power strips with switches to easily cut power to multiple devices at once.
• Avoid leaving devices on charge overnight once the battery is full.

Understand your daily and seasonal patterns

• Check your IHD to see real-time usage when you turn appliances on and off.
• Compare weekdays and weekends to understand your typical profile.
• Look back over old bills or smart meter data to see how your usage changes between winter and summer.

Spotting spikes in usage can help you identify waste – an immersion heater left on, for example, or electric heating running longer than needed.

Track your savings over time

• When you make a change – like lowering the thermostat or adding draught-proofing – note the date and track your usage over the next few weeks.
• Try changing one thing at a time so you can clearly see its impact.
• If usage doesn't drop as expected, you may need to adjust further or look for other sources of waste.

Tariff type and payment method

• Check if your current tariff is the standard variable or a fixed deal; with recent market changes, standard tariffs capped by Ofgem are often competitive.
• Many suppliers offer lower rates for direct debit payments compared with quarterly bills.
• Make sure your account is based on actual meter readings, not estimates – submit regular readings if you don't have a smart meter.

Grants, rebates and priority support

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for additional support:

• Warm Home Discount for certain low-income or vulnerable customers.
• Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments for eligible pensioners and benefits claimants.
• Energy debt repayment plans and hardship funds from some suppliers.

Contact your current supplier or local advice services to check what's available where you live.