AS SPRING arrives, householders could be missing out on "significant" fuel bill savings, says the trade body for the oil-fired heating and cooking industry.

OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, says now is the time to check your boiler and heating system are working efficiently to make the most of fuel savings during the warmer months. The industry body has compiled this checklist to help cut energy costs:

1. Adjust your heating timers, especially if you changed the ‘On/Off’ times to heat your home for longer during the cold weather.

2. Turn off individual radiators in rooms you aren’t using, and check the radiator temperatures if these were set higher during the cold snap.

3. Check how much heating oil you have left, and top up early to avoid emergency deliveries.

4. Have your boiler serviced and your heating system checked over by a GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil) registered technician who will ensure it is working at maximum efficiency.

Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC said: "During the unusually cold weather many households will have ramped up the use of their heating systems and made significant adjustments to the controls to keep warm, especially if they spent more time at home due to the snow.

“It’s easy to forget about these changes and you might not even notice issues such as your heating coming on while you are asleep or out of the house. However, this oversight could be costing you quite a bit of money which is why we are reminding households of the benefits of making a few quick checks as part of a usual spring clean.

For more, visit www.oilsave.org.uk