When the summer months roll around, it makes sense to set the heating to “summer mode”. In summer mode, the heating usually only produces hot water; heating is only produced when the temperature falls below a certain limit. At first glance, this seems like an obvious strategy to save energy. However, this is not always the most efficient way.
Smart systems not so smart after all?
One of the main reasons for recommending not to set the heating to “summer mode” 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 when temperatures outside drop – for example at night or during an unexpected summer thunderstorm – the heating kicks in automatically to increase the inside temperature and ensure the comfort of the occupants.
While this automatic adjustment to changes in the weather ensures the house stays comfortably warm, it can also result in the heating using more energy than is actually necessary. In the summer months, when the heating is usually not needed, this can lead to unnecessary energy consumption and drive up energy costs.
Intervention 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. The fact that the heating systems consume energy unnoticed can lead to an unnecessary increase in energy costs.
For this reason, we recommend actively intervening in heating systems with smart controls that automatically switch to summer mode and changing the settings yourself. In particular, the heating should only produce hot water for the kitchen and bathroom during the warm season and not actively regulate the inside temperature. This makes it possible to reduce energy consumption while meeting the need for hot water.
Turn the thermostat all the way up?
Another important tip to increase energy efficiency and avoid problems is to turn the thermostats on the radiators all the way up. Although it may seem counterintuitive at first when the outside temperature is warm, this actually has several advantages. First, by fully opening the thermostats, the mechanism that regulates the flow of water into the radiators relaxes. This helps ensure the smooth functioning of the system. It can also prevent the valves from blocking in summer and getting stuck at the beginning of the next heating season. If these stuck valves need to be replaced, there may be additional costs. Therefore, it is better to take preventive measures to avoid such troubles.
D. Maier/Redaktion finanzen.net