Insulate your hot water cylinder
An uninsulated cylinder loses heat all day. A fitted jacket keeps stored water hot for longer.
device: Hot water cylinder
problem: High heating bills
topic: Hot water
topic: Insulation & draught-proofing
What to do
- Check whether your cylinder has a foam coating or a jacket.
- If not, buy a jacket that meets the British Standard (80mm thick).
- Fit it snugly and leave the thermostat accessible.
- Insulate any exposed hot water pipes nearby too.
Useful tools and guides
Related tips
Set your hot water cylinder thermostat to 60°C
Water stored hotter than 60°C wastes energy and raises the risk of scalding, while 60°C is hot enough to control bacteria.
Reduce your combi boiler's flow temperature
Combi boilers run in their more efficient condensing mode when the water they send to radiators is cooler.
Top up loft insulation to 270mm
If your loft has little insulation, topping it up to the recommended 270mm cuts the heat escaping through your roof.
Check for cavity wall insulation
Uninsulated cavity walls let a large share of a home's heat escape.
