UK homeowners turn to Google for money-saving home solutions

UK homeowners have been turning to Google to find money-saving products and techniques to cope with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The rising cost of fuel and other expenses is causing significant concern and stress for homeowners, who are also dealing with increased mortgage costs and rising household bills.

With so much to contend with, many are searching for new ways to reduce their expenses. But what solutions are people turning to the most? We analysed Google search trends for several household cost-saving options to reveal how homeowners are tackling the issue.

Electric heater

With the rising prices of gas and electricity, central heating has become a luxury that many households can't afford. It's no surprise then that 'electric heaters' have become one of the hottest search trends since the start of 2023.

Despite the fact that electric heaters are far more expensive to operate on an hourly basis than central heating, searches for them have increased by a staggering 76.2% since the start of the year.

The appeal of electric heaters lies in their ability to provide targeted heating for a specific room, rather than the entire house, which improves their efficiency and affordability. While an electric heater costs around £1.02 per hour, central heating via a gas boiler costs just 12p per hour.

Log burner

Another popular search term among UK homeowners since the start of the year is 'log burner,' with search frequency increasing by 34.8%. Log burners are estimated to be 71.4% cheaper to run than electric heating and 12.5% cheaper than gas, potentially reducing heating bills by around 10%, or £250 per year.

However, it's important to consider the installation costs and to use only dry logs to ensure that the burner is as efficient as possible. Wet logs release more harmful emissions and reduce the burner's efficiency, which can end up costing more in the long run.

Radiator thermostat

Since the start of 2023, the number of searches for 'radiator thermostat' by UK homeowners has increased by 18.4%. By investing in a thermostat for your home's radiators, you can achieve significant cost savings on your heating bills.

With a thermostat, you have greater control over which radiators are in use and for how long, allowing you to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. This can potentially lead to a reduction of up to 30% on your heating bills.

Smart thermostat

Since the start of 2023, the frequency of searches for 'solar panels' by UK homeowners has increased by 15.6%. Despite the fact that winter months offer less sunlight, homeowners may be looking for long-term cost-saving solutions rather than temporary relief. This suggests that people are preparing for the possibility that the cost of living crisis may persist for a while.

Solar panels provide clean and affordable energy for the home, and any excess energy can be sold back to the grid. With solar panels, it's estimated that heating bills can be reduced by 15%-25%, which translates to approximately £300-£500 per year. This could be a wise investment for the upcoming warmer months.

Air fryer

Air fryers have become incredibly popular due to their money-saving and health benefits. Since the start of 2023, Google searches from homeowners have fallen by -25.8%, likely due to a pre-Christmas boost, but in the past 12 months searches have increased by 331.3%.

There's no doubt that air fryers help save money, especially when compared to a conventional oven. They use very little energy and reduce overall cooking times. For example, to cook two portions of chips in an air fryer, costs around 10p, whereas in a conventional oven, it costs 29p.

All in all, the estimated savings from using an air fryer is around £280 when compared to using a conventional oven, due to the air fryer's energy efficiency and reduced cooking times.

‘Homeowners are looking at inventive ways to save money at home’- GetAgent CEO Colby Short

“We’re a resilient bunch and in times of hardship the UK public tends to march on as best we can to overcome the obstacles that face us.

In the current landscape, that means looking at increasingly inventive ways to save money at home, whether it be through cost saving measures when heating our properties, growing our own food, or recycling and upcycling household items to give them a new lease of life.

Unfortunately, things look set to get worse before they get any better and so it’s likely that these cost saving trends are set to remain a part of our daily lives for some time to come.”

Data and methodology

Table shows the increased search frequency for a selection of words and phrases related to cost cutting in the home, carried out by UK homeowners.