Cold today, warm tomorrow: proper heating is not so easy in spring due to the frequently fluctuating temperatures. We explain how you can heat properly now and reduce your heating costs.
The weather changes quickly in spring: on some days and especially at night, it is still wintry cold – shortly afterward, spring makes an appearance, and temperatures rise into the double digits. The end of the heating season is a bit of a challenge. How should we heat now? Turn the heating on all the way – and then turn it off again? Does that make sense?
The same rules and tips apply at the peak of the heating period. The ultimate goal is to eat less to save more energy – whether it’s fall, winter, or spring. So you have more energy to play online casino in NZ.
These tips will help you avoid mold and save energy and money:
Mistake 1: Turning the heating up and down
When temperatures fluctuate, we quickly follow the temperature curve and constantly turn the heating up and down. However, this back and forth-consumes an unnecessary amount of energy: if the rooms then cool down considerably, you need more energy to bring your home back to the desired temperature than if you maintain the temperature. That’s why you should leave the heating on a low setting during the day, especially if the house is poorly insulated. The magic word is consistency.
Mistake 2: Airing too rarely
Proper ventilation was a big issue in winter. Many people aimed to save as much energy as possible – but at the same time prevent the formation of mold. In spring, ventilation is almost even more important. The risk of mold is particularly high now. Not because of the temperature, but because of the humidity that condenses on cold surfaces.
The reason for the high risk of mold in spring: is that warm spring air contains more moisture than crisp, cold air in winter. This means that airing out the room is less effective at first, or it takes longer for the outside air to absorb additional moisture from the bathroom or kitchen, for example.
In winter, the window had to be closed again quickly due to the cold, in spring you can ventilate for longer without worrying and leave the window open for 15 minutes in mild temperatures.
A hygrometer is an extremely helpful tool here: the small device, which is available for just a few euros, shows you the humidity – and therefore when you should ventilate.
You should also turn off the heating when airing your home in spring.
Is there an ideal ventilation time? To lose as little room heat as possible, you should air the room for the last time in the afternoon to let in warm spring air. This prevents the room temperature from dropping sharply when only colder air from outside flows in after sunset.
A tip that also saves energy in spring: lower the blinds and shutters and draw the curtains when it gets dark – and thus keep out the cold.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the time change
When the clocks go forward one hour from March 30 to 31, you should also adjust the heating settings. Heating system timers often do not make the changeover automatically. As a result, the heating output would no longer be based on demand.
To ensure that functions such as the night setback continue to work according to demand, consumers should take action themselves and set the heating system to summertime. Otherwise, from March 31, the system will no longer heat according to demand during the period of reduced operation – at night, for example. The night setback, which is still programmed for winter time, would raise the temperature too late in the morning. In the evening, it would switch to night mode too late and heat the rooms for longer than necessary.
Therefore: To ensure that the heating profile remains in the correct daily cycle, it is best to check immediately after the time changeover whether the heating system is running in summertime. Tenants and tenants without access to the heating system can control the heating output indirectly using digital, programmable thermostats on the radiators – and thus adjust the night setback according to their individual needs.
Mistake 4: All rooms are equally warm
It doesn’t have to be the same temperature in all rooms. You must close the doors between individual rooms while you are still heating. This prevents moist air from escaping into cooler rooms.
The following room temperatures are recommended in the home:
- Living area: 20 to 22 degrees
- Kitchen: 18 degrees
- Bathroom: 22 degrees
- Bedroom: 17 to 18 degrees
It should not get colder in the bedroom, otherwise the risk of mold increases. You can generally turn the heating down at night.
Mistake 5: Skipping spring cleaning
Now is the time for a thorough spring clean! Don’t forget to remove dust and dirt from the radiators – this also saves energy. As in winter, the following also applies: heaters should not be covered by curtains or furniture. Otherwise, they will absorb the heat and energy will be lost.
Mistake 6: Switching the heating off too early
Due to high energy prices, we would rather turn the heating off completely sooner rather than later. But switching the heating off completely is not a good idea in early spring. It often gets very cold in the evenings and there is still a risk of cold damage such as mold.
ARE THERE LEGAL REGULATIONS?
In Germany, there is no specific legal regulation on the heating period. However, you can use the following period as a guide, which has also become established in case law: According to this, the heating period starts on October 1 and ends on April 30. “During this period, landlords must ensure that the heating system is working properly.
In addition to the duration of the heating period, the minimum temperatures to be maintained for living spaces also play a role. Unless special agreements have been made in the rental contract, the landlord must guarantee room temperatures of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius during the heating period. Only between midnight and 6 a.m. can this be lowered to at least 16 degrees Celsius. As a tenant, you are not obliged to provide heating as long as you ensure that no cold damage occurs in the apartment.