I’m a heating expert – a little known mistake to avoid in your home or it could cost you up to £300 a year

YOU could be wasting hundreds of pounds every year by making one small mistake in your home.

Up to 300 euros can be lost if you are not careful how you use your heating.

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With energy bills soaring and inflation soaring, there is no room for costly mistakes.

Luckily we’re here to help.

Nic Auckland, heating expert at Trade Radiators, says heat escaping through your chimney could waste up to £300 a year.

That’s if you don’t have something to block the opening when you turn on the heater.

He says: “Depending on the chimney and the conditions, your heating bills can increase by up to 30% per year.

“With rising bills, this could mean an increase in energy costs of over £300 in the worst case.

“You should check that your chimney has a damper and is in good condition.”

A damper is a seal for your chimney to ensure that cold air stays out and internal heat cannot escape.

You can install one yourself if you’re used to doing small DIY jobs – you shouldn’t need any tools to help.

It should fit directly into the smoke extraction system that sits above the smoke box.

Hopefully it slides in comfortably, but a few bolts could be tightened if your shock comes with them.

But that’s most of what you need to do.

We’ve seen dampers from the likes of Amazon for £22, but don’t forget the additional delivery costs.

However, keep in mind that it costs an average of £250 to have someone come along and fit it for you, which can get quite expensive.

Alternatively, there are other routes such as chimney balloons that also serve their purpose.

B&Q or Wickes sell chimney balloons that resemble dampers but inflate instead.

That means you have to inflate it yourself, but they usually come with a device to help you.

You can also reuse and inflate them for all chimney shapes and sizes.

Both DIY stores sell one for £18.50, but it’s worth checking elsewhere if there’s another cheaper.

Other ways to save on your bill

Regular annual boiler maintenance checks can actually save you up to £550 a year.

That’s because without regular checks, your radiators may need a power flush that costs hundreds of dollars to sort out.

This will remove excess air in the system which would normally cause accelerated corrosion and essentially destroy or damage your boiler, but you will need to hire a professional to do this.

It’s worth noting that many boiler coverage plans include annual checks alongside any necessary repairs, but call your provider to check if you’re unsure.

If not, you may have to pay a small fee to have these checks done – according to MoneySupermarket, a one-off boiler service costs an average of £80 in the UK.

If you have a combi boiler with Eco mode make sure it is set to do this as it can save you £225 a year.

If there is no Eco mode, you need to check the two dials on the boiler.

One controls your central heating, which you can leave, and the other sets your hot water tap temperature. Turn the second regulator down to 50°C.

Turning off the boiler’s preheat stage and turning down the temperature can also help you reduce your energy bills.