When the summer months roll up, it is obvious to put the heating on “summer operation”. In summer operations, the heating usually only produces hot water, heating heat is only produced if a certain limit is below. At first glance, this seems to be an obvious strategy to save energy. However, this is not always the most efficient way.
Smart systems not so smart?
One of the main reasons for the recommendation not to put the heating on “summer operation” in summer is the advanced technology of modern heating systems. Many of these “smart” systems are equipped with outdoor sensors that react to changes in the outside temperature. These sensors continuously measure the temperature and control the heating accordingly. This means that if the temperatures are falling outside – for example at night or during an unexpected summer thunderstorm – the heating automatically starts to increase the internal temperature and ensure the comfort of the residents.
While this automatic adaptation to weather changes ensures that the house always stays pleasantly warm, it can also cause the heating to use more energy than actually necessary. In the summer months, in which heating heat is usually not required, this can lead to unnecessary energy consumption and drive up the energy costs.
Interface recommended
An additional problem is that many residents do not always notice when their heating systems become active. This is particularly the case with smart heating systems that regulate their activity based on the measured outside temperatures themselves. By consuming energy unnoticed, the heating systems can lead to an unnecessary increase in energy costs.
For this reason, it is recommended to actively intervene and change the settings themselves for heating systems with a smart control that automatically switch to summer operation. In particular, the heating in the warm season should only produce hot water for the kitchen and bathroom and not actively regulate the interior temperature. This makes it possible to lower energy consumption and at the same time to meet the need for hot water.
Turn the thermostats completely?
Another important tip for increasing energy efficiency and avoiding problems is the full turn of the thermostats on the radiators. Even though it may seem contrainting with warm outside temperatures, this actually has several advantages. First, the mechanism that regulates the water inflow into the radiators relaxes by completely opening the thermostats. This helps to ensure the smooth functioning of the system. This can also prevent the valves from blocking in summer and stuck at the beginning of the next heating season. If these jammed valves have to be renewed, additional costs can arise. It is therefore better to take preventive measures to avoid such problems.
D. Maier/Redaktion Finanzen.net