12
Dec, 2022
heat

Top 4 Tips For Saving On Heating

Discover 4 simple and effective tips to save on heating (temperature control, radiator cleaning, ventilation…). To keep the whole house warm, even on the coldest winter days, it must be heated continuously. But many mistakes are made when it comes to heating, which can lead to unnecessarily high energy consumption. With our “smart” tips, you will not only save on energy and heating costs, but you will also protect the environment.

There is no shortage of heating tips. But most of them are so complex that they’re hardly worth mentioning. Our 4 tips, on the other hand, are very simple to implement and extremely effective. Once you’ve learned them, these tips will provide you with many benefits (comfort, energy savings).

1. Heat the rooms differently according to your needs

heat

One of the first pieces of advice regarding heating is to heat the rooms “at the right temperature”, sometimes with some differences. The recommended comfort temperature in the living room or dining room is between 20 and 22°C. At this temperature, heating costs remain under control, and the room does not cool down too quickly.

It’s a little different for the kitchen. In this room, the optimal room temperature is between 18 and 19°C. The reason for this is that there are other heat sources, such as the oven or stove, which also emit heat. Therefore, this room should be less heated. The recommended room temperature is also between 18 and 19°C in the bedroom. It is true that there are no additional sources of heat in this room, but you usually get under a blanket.

The children’s room and the bathroom, on the other hand, should be heated a little more. The following advice applies to the children’s room: when the children are still small, their room should be a little warmer. Whether the kitchen or the bedroom, these rooms do not need to be heated much all the time. Lowering the temperatures by just one degree Celsius can save up to 7% in heating costs!

2. Clean and clear the radiators

Now to the second part of our heating tips: people often place their furniture in front of the heater, either because of lack of space or because they prefer to sit near the windows. This is inefficient, as it leads to heat build-up, and the air cannot be distributed optimally in the room. If it is not possible to place the furniture elsewhere, you should maintain a distance of at least 20 centimeters between them and the heater. Even curtains that partially or completely cover the radiators cause unnecessary energy consumption and hinder the proper distribution of heat in the room.

The third tip is often overlooked. Over time, dust accumulates on the chest of drawers and the television, but also on the radiators. This is not only unsightly but also has a negative impact on heating performance. The dust has an insulating effect and reduces heating efficiency. In addition, airborne dust has a negative impact on the atmosphere of the room, which can be uncomfortable for people with allergies. Generally, a damp cloth is all that is needed to remove the dust from the radiators. To clean the interstices of finned radiators, it is advisable to use a slatted brush.

3. Heating properly when you are away

heat

One of the most frequently mentioned heating tips is to heat the rooms when you are away. Most consumers turn off their heating when they are away. They want to save energy and money, but the opposite is true. When a heater is turned off for an extended period of time, the house cools down, and it takes a lot of energy to heat it back up. In the worst cases, there is a risk of mold. It is, therefore, advisable to leave the heating on continuously at a low setting. If you are away for a long time, a temperature of 12°C is sufficient to prevent the house from cooling down completely. If you are away for the weekend, the radiators can be set to about 15°C.

4. Ventilate well

Good ventilation is a prerequisite for efficient heating. And this does not only apply to the kitchen, where a lot of food is cooked, and there is a lot of humidity. An adult produces several liters of water per day through evaporation. For a family of four, this is a significant amount. To avoid mold, it is, therefore, advisable to ventilate three times a day. A common mistake in thinking about ventilation is to think that by tilting the windows, less heat will be lost to the outside. Repeated ventilation is much more effective. Windows should be left fully open for 4 to 6 minutes to allow moisture to escape.

In the fall, when temperatures have not yet dropped below zero, windows can be left open for 10 to 15 minutes without any problem. Of course, the warm air also escapes. The floor, furniture, and walls do not cool down completely during this short time. It is, therefore, not necessary to heat them again.

It is advisable to open two windows facing each other to create a draft where possible. During ventilation, the radiators should be turned down. Proper ventilation is one of the most important heating tips. It prevents the formation of mold and also ensures better air quality in the house.

Looking for help?

With over 25 years of experience in the HVAC industry, Coretemp Heating And Air Inc. is a well-established family-owned company specializing in installing and maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions for residential applications. They offer their services in Mississauga, Toronto, Burlington, and the surrounding areas.

They promise that once you’ve experienced our 24-hour service and the associated quality, you simply won’t turn to anyone else to keep your house comfortable! So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call today or visit their website for more information about their services!

15
Apr, 2022
waste

Optimize Your Thermal Comfort While Reducing Your Energy Consumption

Regulating the ambient temperature in a home requires various means. The most common are ventilation and heating, both of which require the use of electrical energy. However, it is possible to achieve this thermal comfort without using an exorbitant amount of energy. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this article and learn more about thermal comfort and energy consumption.

1. Insulate the different rooms efficiently

sustain2

Insulation is the most common method nowadays to obtain outstanding thermal comfort. This technique allows to regulate the heat inside a room during cold weather and keep it. This is also true in the summer, when insulation is more effective in keeping cool. Even if many people prefer to use air conditioning or heating systems, it must be said that thermal insulation is more advantageous.

The first advantage is that it is a technique that uses very ecological materials to reinforce the impermeability of the walls. It does not require any electrical energy to operate. By preferring sophisticated insulation to ensure thermal comfort, you reduce your energy consumption and save money. Your comfort is even more increased when you use an ecological material for your insulation. You will then be free of any pollutants.

2. Use a combined solar system

If you still prefer to stick with heating to optimize your home’s temperature, there are still ways to reduce energy consumption. Among the many techniques available, there is the combined solar system. It is a technique with multiple advantages that are based on renewable energy. The combined solar system consists in connecting the heating of the house to solar panels that convert solar energy into electric current.

All you have to do is connect the generator of the solar panels to the heating circuit of your house. Once the electrical current from the solar energy arrives at the heating system, it starts up, and the results are just as satisfying. It is important to note that this will not be totally exempt you from using electrical energy, but it will help you consume as little as possible.

3. Use double glazed windows

reduction.

A thermal insulation or a heating system will not be successful without windows adapted to play the game. This is why optimization of thermal comfort should not miss this detail. A double glazing system should be installed to prevent heat loss.

Double glazing consists in paralleling two panes of glass to make them more impermeable to air and heat. The result is made possible thanks to a layer of air or gas in the middle of the two panes. As these elements are known to be less heat-conductive, this improves the thermal insulation of the house.

It is also necessary to seal the edges of the window, which could serve as a thermal bridge. Usually, an aluminum spacer is placed on the window frame precisely in the middle of the two panes. You are thus sure that your insulation is perfect and protected from probable heat leaks. The result is also valid for houses that use a heating system.

4. Carry out an energy performance diagnosis

The energy performance diagnostic is a series of tests that are performed in your home to evaluate the energy consumption of all your installations. It allows you to determine which of your appliances consumes more energy than it needs.

By performing this diagnostic, you can determine the state of your heating system with respect to energy consumption. This gives you the opportunity to carry out repairs and thus regulate the energy consumption in your home.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about energy consumption and reduction.