A CHEAP gadget you’ve probably never heard of can shave up to £40 a year off a crucial household bill.
Millions of households could slash their energy bills by switching to a little-known type of showerhead.
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Aerated or regulated shower heads use water more efficiently than conventional types.
They work by reducing the amount of water pumped out to seven or eight litres per minute, whereas a normal shower head has a 15 litres per minute flow rate.
So switching to an aerated showerhead will reduce your hot water consumption and could save you up to £40 annually.
The advice comes as consumer champion Dom Littlewood supports the government’s 2024 ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign.
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The campaign is part of an ongoing initiative to help Brits save money on their energy bills and features a video which explains how people can make their homes more efficient through small changes.
In the video, Mr Littewood and a B&Q energy expert visit Energy Street (a real street in the UK) as they speak to its residents about their lifestyles and biggest concerns regarding energy usage.
The film highlights practical, cost-effective solutions for each household
Haz, B&Q’s energy expert, said: “You can do something really simple and install an energy-efficient shower head.
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Dom said in response to this tip: “Installing an energy-efficient shower head is actually a really neat way of improving efficiency as it reduces the amount of water used in the shower by aerating it.”
You can find aerated shower heads at most hardware stores, and prices start at around £15.
However, thousands of households might be able to get one completely free.
There’s a website called savemoneysavewater.co.uk, which collates all the freebies available from water companies around the country, including aerated shower heads, which you can get for free.
Once you visit the website, you’ll need to complete a short survey about your water usage.
It will ask how many people live in your home, how many showers you take a week as a household and if you water your garden.
After completing the survey, you will be redirected to your water supplier’s website to claim the freebie.
One key thing to note is that you might not be able to get a free showerhead if you live in a certain area as not all water companies offer them.
Anglian, Essex & Suffolk, Northumbrian or Thames Water aren’t part of savewatersavemoney.com’s promotion.
That said, you can sometimes get the freebies if you go directly to your water firm’s websites.
You can also get other water-saving devices for free, like buffalo bags, which save around one to two litres of water with every flush.
How else can I cut my energy bills?
If you don’t have a smart meter and haven’t sent your supplier recent meter readings – it’s worth submitting one now.
An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage to bill you accurately.
Several cheap and easy ways to heat your home and reduce electricity costs exist.
Every degree you increase the temperature of your thermostat is estimated to hike your heating bill by about 10% – so get the balance right.
The Energy Saving Trust recommends that your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C.
You can also turn your boiler’s flow temperature down as well as any thermostatic radiator valves in some rooms – you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.
A couple managed to cut £400 off their EDF Energy bill by turning off their immersion heater.
Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can bring a household a further £230 worth of annual savings, according to Nesta.
It is also important to ensure that when your boiler’s running, there’s no draught.
Ventilation is good for health and air quality but is the first place heat will escape.
If there’s a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.
You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.
Consider what rooms in your home need heating.
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You won’t be using each one 24/7, so make sure the heating is off in any rooms that aren’t occupied.
The best part about all these changes is that they won’t cost you a penny as they are free.
