Energy-efficient heating
Avoid overheating: Do not put the heating on full. Every additional degree in room temperature results in 6% more energy costs. Optimal room temperature varies depending on the room, but the following table serves as a guideline.
| Room | Recommended room temperature |
| Living room | 20 – 22 °C |
| Children’s room | 20 °C |
| Kitchen | 16 – 18 °C |
| Hall | 15 °C |
| Bedroom | 15 – 18 °C |
| Bathroom | 23 °C |
| Storage room | 16 °C |
| Cellar, loft | 12 – 15 °C |
Avoid excessive cooling: The daytime temperature should not fall below 15 degrees, even in unused rooms, otherwise heat will be transferred from neighboring rooms. Cooling of the wall surfaces to below 16° C should be avoided to prevent damage such as mold.
Cooler at night and when away: Allow the room temperature to fall at night and when you are not staying in the apartment or house, such as during holidays. Programmable thermostatic valves adjust room temperature to individual requirements and automatically reduce temperature at night. In order for them to measure accurately, they should not be covered.
Frost protection: When turning off the heating, never choose the “zero” setting but instead switch to “frost protection” to prevent any damage.
Keep radiators free: The space around radiators must be kept clear to enable room air to be heated efficiently. Therefore avoid putting clothing, long curtains or furniture in front of radiators. These will absorb up to 20% of the heat given out.
No additional heaters: Additional electrical heaters or radiators are real power guzzlers and should be avoided as far as possible.
Regular maintenance: Keep to the maintenance schedule and have your heating system serviced regularly by a professional. The system will last longer and use less fuel. Bleed the heating system if you hear gurgling noises or if radiators become hot irregularly. Energy is lost if water does not circulate properly.
Ventilate regularly: Ventilate thoroughly three to four times a day. Keep all windows open for five to ten minutes a time with a through draught if possible. During the winter you should ventilate for shorter periods (two to five minutes) but more frequently and switch off the heating when doing so. Do not leave the window permanently tilted open in cold weather.
The more airtight your windows and doors, the more often you have to ventilate. Large pieces of furniture should be at least 10 cm away from cold outside walls and well ventilated at the back.
Roller blinds and curtains: You should close roller blinds and curtains at night without covering the radiators. This keeps the cold out and the heat in the room.
