See what actually drives your bill, and how to compare plans using your own annual usage.
Explore Electricity
Household Services
Home Services in Ireland
Independent help comparing and switching the everyday services that run alongside your home: electricity, gas, broadband, waste collection and home insurance. These are ongoing household services you review and switch between providers, not physical work on your home.
Independent information, not tied to one provider
Free checks to help you compare on your own numbers
Choose a service
The household services covered on this site
Each guide explains how the service works, what actually affects the price, and what to check before you compare or switch.
Compare gas prices, suppliers and plans, and understand what affects your household's annual gas bill.
Explore GasCheck the speed your household actually needs before you compare packages and providers.
Explore BroadbandSee how charging structures differ between collectors before you compare or switch.
Explore WasteUnderstand rebuild cost, buildings versus contents cover, and what to prepare before you request quotes.
Explore Home Insurance
How switching works
What actually happens when you switch a household service
The detail differs by service, but the broad shape of switching is similar across electricity, broadband and waste collection.
1
Check your current usage or bill
Your actual electricity usage, broadband needs or bin usage pattern is the starting point for a fair comparison, not the headline offer alone.
2
Compare on the figures that matter
Unit rates, standing charges and discount periods for electricity; speed and contract length for broadband; charging structure for waste, covered in full on each service's page.
3
Confirm availability at your address
Not every provider or plan is available everywhere, so confirm what you can actually get before comparing further.
4
Switch or renew with your chosen provider
Contact your chosen provider directly to switch, or in some cases through a linked comparison service noted on the relevant page.
What to compare
What to check before you switch
A cheaper looking headline price is not always the better deal once the detail is accounted for. Before switching any household service, it is worth checking the following.
- Your own usage. Electricity unit rates and standing charges, broadband speed needs, and bin collection frequency and weight all vary by household, so a plan that suits your neighbour may not suit you.
- Discount periods. An introductory discount that ends after a fixed term can mean the price you pay later is higher than it first appears.
- Contract terms. Minimum contract length, exit fees and what happens automatically at renewal all affect the real cost of switching later.
- What is actually included. Standing charges, delivery or connection fees, and cover exclusions on an insurance policy are all easy to miss when comparing headline prices alone.
- Availability at your address. Broadband connection type and some waste collectors vary by area, so confirm what you can actually get before you commit.
Choose your journey
Find the right starting point for your household
Each service page includes a free, independent check to help you compare using your own figures.
Review my electricity plan
Use the Electricity guide and its Electricity Plan Check to compare using your own annual usage.
Review my gas plan
Use the Gas guide and its Gas Plan Check to compare using your own annual gas usage.
Check my broadband speed needs
Use the Broadband guide and its Broadband Needs Check before comparing packages.
Compare bin collection costs
Use the Waste guide and its Waste Collection Check to compare charging plans for your usage.
Prepare to compare home insurance
Use the Home Insurance guide and its Home Insurance Check before you request quotes.
Go deeper
Household services guides
Practical help with comparing costs, plans and the cover your household needs.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a home upgrade and a household service?
A home upgrade, such as solar PV, a heat pump, insulation or new windows and doors, is physical work carried out on your home, usually with an installer and often supported by a grant. A household service, such as electricity, broadband, waste collection or home insurance, is an ongoing household service you compare and switch between providers, without construction work involved. See our Home Upgrades hub if that is what you are looking for.
Does Upgrader.ie switch my household services for me?
No. Upgrader.ie is an independent information resource. We explain how each service works and what to compare, but you compare and switch directly with providers, or in some cases through a linked comparison service noted on the relevant page.
How often should I compare my household services?
It varies by service. Electricity and broadband plans often include a discount period that ends after a set time, after which reviewing your plan can be worthwhile. Home insurance is typically reviewed at each annual renewal. See the relevant service page for what specifically to check before comparing.
Which household service should I check first?
There is no fixed order. A practical approach is to start with whichever bill or service you have not reviewed in the longest time, or the one you suspect is not offering good value, and use the free check on that service's page as a starting point.
Need Help?
Can't find what you're looking for?
If you have a question about a household service that isn't answered on the relevant page, get in touch and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Need Help?