5 tips for throwing money away by heating your home inefficiently

The heating season is approaching—the time when heating costs will move to the top of the list of utility expenses. Enerģija-G specialists claim that an inefficient heating system can literally throw up to 100–200% of your monthly heating expenses into the air. 

1. Not using automatic controls and temperature regulators 

Modern heating boilers are equipped with temperature regulators that switch the boiler off and on as necessary, reducing heat loss by up to 40%. With properly set automatic controls and regulators, the heating system is not overheated unnecessarily. 

If the automatic controls are not set and there are no regulators, you will spend at least 40–50% more. 

2. Heating in the same way as usual during holidays, at night and during working hours 

Our comfort period accounts for approximately 30% of the day, or 8 out of 24 hours—and it is only during this time that it is worth maintaining the usual warmth. During the remaining time—when we are sleeping, travelling or at work—the temperature should be set 2–3 degrees lower, thereby avoiding additional heating of the system. 

If you heat your home at the same temperature around the clock, you may throw another 20–40% of your monthly heating costs into the air. 

3. “Not bothering” and using the same temperature in every room 

Each room has an optimal recommended temperature depending on its purpose, for example: 21–25°C in the living room, 18–22°C in the bedroom, 21–25°C in the children's room, 18°C in the kitchen, 23°C in the bathroom, 16°C in the hall, etc. 

By ignoring the temperature recommendations, you may spend at least 5–12% more each month, because every 1°C can save an average of 4–5% of total heating costs.

4. Forgetting to regulate the hot-water temperature 

Preparing hot water requires a significant amount of energy, so its temperature should be set as low as possible, but not below 45°C. When using a boiler, it is also recommended to take advantage of automatic controls by regulating the water temperature according to the time of day, as well as determining the most efficient recirculation period with digital timers. 

If you do not want to regulate the hot-water temperature, you can safely spend 50% more on preparing hot water in the heating system. 

5. Never carrying out maintenance and never asking specialists for advice 

Technical inspections of heating systems are carried out because even a few millimetres of soot or an incorrectly adjusted burner can consume 5–10% more energy. Additional system components—expansion vessels, pumps, filters and valves—are subject to a high risk of failure, have a shorter service life than the heating boiler itself, and are integral parts of the heating system that require regular maintenance. 

If you do not maintain the heating system's heat exchanger, replacing it will cost up to two-thirds of the price of a new heating system. Circulation pumps cost approximately EUR 200–300 per unit. Replacing a new flue-gas fan costs one-third of the equipment price. 

ENERĢIJA-G specialists sincerely hope that these tips will help you optimise your heating costs in the winter of 2016! More information: www.energija-g.lv 

Information prepared by: Advanced Learning & Communications agency www.alc.lv