Saving energy and reducing your energy bills

Bleeding your radiators can make your home warmer and reduce the cost of your energy bills by removing air pockets.

• Get a radiator key, insert it into the groove in the valve, usually located at the top of your radiator.
• Using a tissue / cloth to protect your hand, slowly turn the key in an anti-clockwise direction, and listen for a hiss (this is the air escaping).
• When the hissing stops, turn the key clockwise again.
  After this you will need to check the boiler pressure, and if you need to increase the pressure you can do this by filling valve / loop (to about 1 - 1.5 bar).

Please note: This should only be done if you feel confident and competent to do so. If you are unsure or in doubt please contact us

Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways that you can take to stop the heat escaping and reduce your energy bills by approximately £70 per year:

• By blocking unwanted gaps around windows, doors and the floor that let the cold air in and warm air out, you’ll use less energy to heat your home. Energy Saving Trust provide advice on how to draught proof your property
• Window film is a form of temporary secondary glazing. By installing window film on your windows, you can help stop heat escaping through the glass. You can buy window film at most hardware shops and online and install it yourself or with the help of a professional.

Did you know that if you sign up with the Priority Services Register with your energy suppliers (gas and electricity) you could get extra help. For example, if there is a power cut, someone can check up on you and provide hot meals. You may also want someone to check your meter regularly or move your prepayment meter.

To get this extra help, you can apply to be added to your electricity network priority services register. Find out more here: Priority Services Register

Checking your boiler before the cold weather sets in can help us get it fixed in time for when you really need it.

• Turn on the heating via the room thermostat and the time clock.  In normal conditions, the room thermostat should be set between 18 to 21 degrees.
• Check that all your radiators get hot to the top (if not, it might mean that they need bleeding with a radiator key). 
• Check the pressure gauge on the boiler is above 1 and not above 2.

Prepaid Gas and Electricity Meters - MSE

Prepayment meters consumer guidance | Ofgem

We understand you may be avoiding putting your heating on, but a cold house can affect your mental health. 

It is important for older people or those with health conditions, such as asthma, to stay warm.

Try to keep at least one room, such as your living room or bedroom, warm.

Tips to stay warm

• Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts. Tuck your curtains behind the radiators to help keep heat inside
• Food helps to keep your body warm, so have regular hot food and drinks
• Wear several layers of warm clothes to trap heat between the layers (instead of just one chunky layer)
• Wearing a hat as well as a scarf around your neck and mouth can help protect you this winter. Breathing in cold air could increase your chance of chest infection and increase your blood pressure
• Keep moving if you can, as this will help keep you warm. Try not to sit for more than an hour, get up and walk around, make a hot drink and spread housework throughout the day
• If you’re sitting down, a shawl or blanket will provide a lot of warmth. Try to keep your feet propped up, as the air is cooler at ground level. Hot water bottles are also very good at keeping you warm, but please use a cover and place over a blanket on your knees
• Make sure your radiators are not obstructed by furniture or curtains
• Use a timer and heat your main living room to around 18 to 21ºC (64 to 70ºF) and the rest of the house to 16ºC (61ºF).

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible.

If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back.

If you are eligible, you will get a letter in October or November saying how much you will get.
Most eligible people will be paid in November or December 2025.

South Ribble Winter Fuel Fund

From November 2025 to February 2026 there will be support available to support residents who are struggling with pressures from the colder weather such as energy costs.

If you wish to access this support please view more information on Social Prescribing or email the team social.prescribingSR@southribble.gov.uk with the subject line "Household Support Fund", or you can call the team Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm on 01772 625286.

South Ribble Household Support Fund: Household Support Fund Schemes | South Ribble

Fylde Council has received £30,000 from the Household Support Fund to launch a new Affordable Warmth Grant. This grant aims to help the most vulnerable, low-income households by improving home energy efficiency and reducing fuel bills. The scheme has a fixed amount of funding and will continue until the funds are exhausted. Find out more here: Grants & Home Energy Efficiency – Fylde Council

Turn down the thermostat to 18 - 21°C and set the timer so it comes on no more than 30 minutes before you get up and switches off half an hour before you get up and leave in the morning. Some thermostats also have a small battery to run the clock; if yours is not working, check the battery first, as this is a consumable and will be your responsibility to replace.

Move furniture away from radiators or heaters to let the heat into the room.

• turn down the temperature of your hot water at the central heating boiler. A maximum of 60°C is normally sufficient

• if an electric immersion heats the water, turn it on half an hour before you need it and turn it off once finished

• do not leave hot taps running - always use a plug. If you have a leaking hot tap, now is the time to fix it!

• the bath temperature is restricted to 48°C to meet building regulations

• Switch the lights off if the room is bright or no one is in it

• Use natural light where possible – e.g. remove books/ornaments from windowsills

• Check spotlights - these can use a lot of electricity - check to see if you have any high-wattage bulbs of 300w or greater. Perhaps assess the difference if energy-efficient spotlights were used instead

• Make sure that all your light fittings have energy-efficient bulbs. Your home is fitted with a number of 3-prong fittings, which will only accept special energy-efficient bulbs.

• Turn off the chargers for mobile phones and laptops. Turn off TVs, radios (DABs are particularly energy-hungry) and computers!

If photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on your property and you want to make the most of the free electricity your panels are generating:

Stagger the use of large, more energy-consuming appliances (e.g. washing machines, tumble dryers, etc.), so you reduce the amount of electricity you need from the grid.

If you are eligible for a feed in tariff associated with the PV panels on your roof, the Housing Team will talk you through the process of how to apply for it (not all new properties have the ability to claim a tariff).