My simple £20 ‘insulation jacket’ trick for your water cylinder can cut £200 from energy bills – and will last for years

AS the weather gets colder and wetter, there’s no escaping the fact that winter is well on its way.

While you may be tempted to ramp up the heating, this could be a costly move right now given Ofgem’s recent announcement of a 10% increase in the energy price cap.

With bills jumping to £1,717 this month, up from £1,568 in the last three months, households could find themselves having to fork out even more money to heat their homes this winter.

So, they will be looking for all the measures they can take to keep a lid on costs.

One clever little trick to save cash involves buying a simple covering for your hot water cylinder, according to Andy Simms, a renovation specialist from MyBuilder.com.

Mr Simms told The Sun: “Water cylinder jackets trap the heat inside and prevent wastage. Without insulation your cylinder is effectively a huge radiator, dispersing the heat from within.”

This means you end up using more energy to keep reheating it.

He added: “You should be able to buy a jacket from just £20, so it won’t break the bank. It’s a relatively cheap product which can make a big difference.”

At B&Q and Homebase, you can find jackets on sale from £22 – but make sure you look for one that displays the British Standard Kitemark. Prices may vary depending on the thickness of the material used.

The good news is that you can install one of these jackets yourself. It’s simply a case of wrapping the material around your cylinder and then securing it with string – or the ties that come with it.

“By adding this covering, you can reduce heat loss by over 75%” said Mr Simms.

“Based on recent energy prices, this can save you up to £200 per year. If you don’t want to spend all your hard earned money on energy bills, a jacket is a worthwhile investment.”

Once you’ve taken this step, you don’t need to think about it again for a good while, he added.

“Having made the investment, this jacket should last for years. You should be able to sit back and see the savings mount up before a new one is needed.”

Just take care to keep the area around the cylinder clean and dry, as the insulating material may not work as effectively as it should if it gets dirty or wet.

Another option you might want to think about is creating your own jacket from a roll of insulation. All you need to do is measure your cylinder and cut it to the correct size.

“This may be the best option if your cylinder is not a ‘standard’ fit,” said Mr Simms.

“In this case, you can wrap it around and use straps to secure it. A bespoke jacket fitted to your exact tank and pipes will be the most effective in keeping it warm, therefore saving you more money.”

Equally, if you already have a jacket on your cylinder, it’s important to check it’s still in tip-top condition.

“You need to ensure it is still in good working order and the correct thickness,” he added.

“If it’s less than 75mm thick or doesn’t completely cover the tank all the way around, you should think about replacing it.”

You could even consider boosting the insulation even further.

Mr Simms added: “While 75mm is adequate to make a difference, upgrading to 100mm is even better. In fact, to see the biggest cost saving, you could even look at bumping up the thickness to 200mm.”

If your cylinder is hard to access, or if you’re unsure how to check the existing jacket – or how to fit a new one – get help from a professional. Use a comparison site like Checkatrade to compare quotes.

Other energy-saving measures to take

For those looking to make even greater savings on their bills, there’s more you can do, according to the energy-saving aficionado.

Mr Simms explained: “If you wanted to go one step further, you could also insulate any external pipes leading to and from the boiler – saving you even more money.”

At Dunelm, you can pick up a roll of superfoil pipe insulation for £5.

And Mr Simms has a few more simple tips to help you keep energy bills under control.

“Make sure you get your boiler serviced,” he said. “While you may be tempted to skip this due to financial reasons, this is a false economy. Boilers work at their most efficient when they are running smoothly.”

An annual boiler service will ensure any potential issues are nipped in the bud.

After all, you don’t want to risk your unit breaking down during freezing weather, as this could lead to burst pipes should the water inside them freeze.

Aim to get this done annually, and always get a service carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Remember to bleed your radiators to get rid of any trapped air. Ensure they are not blocked by large pieces of furniture, as items such as sofas and armchairs can soak up heat.

If there are radiators in rooms you aren’t using, don’t forget to turn them down.

Also check around and add draught excluders to any doors and windows which are letting the cold in. 

See if you can seal gaps with brushes, strips or caulk. Just take care not to block air bricks or trickle vents which are there for ventilation.

And try lowering your thermostat by one degree. Experts say 18°C is fine for healthy adults – and could save a typical home £90 a year.