The right heating
As an owner, you should have your heating system checked by a specialist in October or earlier, because air in the heating system can drastically reduce its efficiency. You should also make sure that the radiator hangs freely on the wall and is not blocked by a cupboard or sideboard. If you take these preparatory measures into account, you have taken the first step towards saving money. But there are also helpful tips for heating from the German Federal Environment Agency. The agency recommends that you lower the temperature of the heating at night or during the day when you are not at home, since heating does not bring any real added value here. In addition, the roller shutters should be closed at night, otherwise this causes up to 20 percent more heat loss through the windows. According to the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center, it is even crucial how you ventilate during the day. The most important rule is therefore that you stagger several times a day instead of leaving the windows tilted. As a result, the walls do not cool down so much, which the radiator then has to heat up again. You should also switch off the radiator before airing.
The most common heating myths
Over time, more and more myths have emerged, which have also conveyed incorrect knowledge about heating. The “wize.life” site dealt with five of these. One of the most popular myths is that the heater will heat up faster if you turn the thermostat higher. This is simply wrong, because the heating speed is always the same and the levels only indicate the room temperature up to which the heater will continue to heat up. Level 1 stands for 12C, level 2 for 16C, the next level for 20C and so on. Another common myth, according to the website, is that dry heated air is bad for people. This is correct, which is why experts recommend putting plants or humidifiers in the room to moisten the dry heating air.
One of the most financially fatal considerations is that it doesn’t matter a degree difference in heating, as this is one of the most money-saving spots. “wize.life” gives an example to illustrate this misjudgment, which shows that there is a difference of 10-15 percent in energy savings between 21C and 23C. You can also save energy by adjusting the temperatures to the room in question, so that you have, for example, 15C in the hallway but a pleasant 20C-23C in the living room or in the bathroom.
Anyone who doesn’t spend the cold winter at home but flies on vacation should never switch off their heating completely, because otherwise moisture can get into the house due to the strong cooling of the house, which can cause mold to develop. But this can also happen if the heating simply fails. If this happens, the owner has to act quickly to keep the damage as low as possible. Renters must first contact the owner before taking any action themselves to troubleshoot the problem or seek professional assistance.
Saving energy is not expensive
Measures to save energy in the field of energy are always associated with costly interventions. However, this is not the case. According to the Berliner Morgenpost, every German household spends 920 euros on heating and hot water, although this amount offers more savings potential than that of electricity. The Morgenpost states that 10-20 percent of costs could be saved with the help of several small measures. Even greater cost savings would be possible with larger investments, such as energy-efficient refurbishment of the heating system.
Editorial office finanzen.net
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