News JVTech Cut or lower the heating: what should you really do when you are not at home?
Published on 17/12/2022 at 10:30
This winter, it is essential to have a reasoned consumption of energy, in particular for economic reasons. But what to do when you’re away from home? Should I turn off the heating, or just turn it down? Here is the answer to this tricky question.
Not only is heating more and more expensive due to the increase in the price of gas, fuel or electricity, but in addition, for this third source of energy, excessive use could lead to load shedding. in certain regions of France. When you are at home, it is recommended not to exceed 19°C and therefore to adjust the thermostat accordingly.. But when you go away, for an hour or for two weeks, what to do?
Should I turn off the heating when I’m away?
The answer to this question tends to divide experts: some believe that an empty dwelling should not be heatedand that even if the heating can consume more for a few minutes when it is turned on again, this overconsumption is compensated by the savings made the rest of the time. For others, it is better to leave the heating on, but turn it down to continue heating, but less.
But the opinion that seems to unite the most experts today is the one that consists of adapting to the insulation of your home. If your home is well insulated, especially with double glazing, it benefits from good thermal inertia : this means that even if you turn off the heating, your home will retain the accumulated heat for a long time and it will not become freezing in a few hours. In this case, Turning the heat down a lot when you’re away is consistent.
In contrast, if your home is poorly insulated, even when you heat up, the heat tends to escape quickly : thereby, if you close the radiators completely, freezing cold can set in very quicklywhich can have adverse effects on your home, including plants, furniture, books, and some electronics.
the radiator on and the window open, that’s a big no!
Turning off the heating entirely is not a good idea
It is also necessary to make the difference between an absence of a few hours and an absence of several days. In the case of a short-term absence, to go shopping or even when you are at work, you can lower the heating to reach a temperature of around 15°C.
If you are going away for several days, you can lower the heating further, without turning it off completely. Put your radiators in frost protection mode to maintain a temperature between 8 and 12°C in the different rooms of your accommodation. This preserves your home and limits the risk of humidity setting in: this is all the more important in poorly insulated housing. Also, make sure the ventilation systems are working properly.
The connected thermostat, the ideal solution?
In these times, and if your accommodation and your budget allow it, it may be interesting to equip yourself with a connected thermostat. This type of device allows you to monitor the temperature of your home in real time, wherever you are. It also allows it to be lowered or raised on site, or remotely, or to adjust the temperature according to certain time slots.
Today there are models adapted to the various boilers on the market, and even to electric radiators. This solution generally represents a reasonable investment which allows significant savings over time. A ready-made solution to effectively manage the temperature in your home.
