El buen tiempo dijo adiós y toca sacar las prendas más cálidas del armario para combatir el frío, además de proteger la casa de las temperaturas más crudas de la temporada.

Boilers are starting to come on, and heating systems are beginning to give off heat to keep homes at a comfortable temperature. This will have a significant impact on your bank account at the end of the month.

When it comes to what temperature to maintain in the home, most experts agree that the recommended range is between 21º and 23º. In addition, the insulation and natural light in our homes play a key role in keeping the house warm.

So, here are some tips to help you protect your home from the winter cold while spending as little as possible.

Make the most of the natural light

As we mentioned, we should take advantage of the natural light entering our homes during the middle of the day. So, open the windows and let in as much warmth as possible. This will result in lower humidity levels inside the house, so we’ll feel less cold.

Continuing on this point, other key elements for keeping heat inside the home are blinds and curtains. During the brightest hours of the day, we should open them to let in as much sunlight as possible. As the day goes on, we should gradually close them to protect ourselves from the cold.

Check the insulation in the house

Another key step in protecting our home from the cold is to thoroughly inspect our insulation—whether it’s in windows, balconies, or doors. We need to make sure they close properly and function perfectly.

If you notice any kind of draft, the first thing to do is take action and seal that heat leak. One trick that works quite well is to cover that cold draft with electrical tape. In any case, depending on the type of draft, it’s a good idea to contact a professional to help you with this problem.

Use of Rugs

Rugs are another element that greatly helps maintain warmth in the home. Placing them on the floors throughout the house will fill our home with a feeling of warmth that we’ll appreciate.

In addition to being decorative, they’re very useful for this purpose, especially on ceramic, marble, or concrete floors. If, on the other hand, you have laminate or hardwood floors in your home, you have nothing to worry about, since wood is a highly insulating material.

Check your heating system

Before the cold weather sets in, it’s essential to make sure everything in the house is in perfect working order. Check the heating system and make sure it’s working properly. Bleed the radiators to remove any air from them and ensure proper water circulation.

In addition, to allow heat to circulate freelythroughout your home, it’s recommended that you avoid placing any large pieces of furniture in front of the radiator. However, if you have high ceilings, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use this technique to direct the heat wherever you prefer.

Install Thermostatic Valves

With regard to the heating system, according to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Conservation, installing thermostatic valves results in a 40% savings compared to a home without any controls.

This system automatically regulates the flow of hot water through the radiator, increasing or decreasing it based on the thermostat’s temperature. This provides greater thermal comfort and, above all, greater safety, since these valves prevent the radiator from overheating.

Clean and inspect the boiler

When inspecting heating systems, it is vitally important to check the boiler, not just the radiators. Timely cleaning could lead to fuel savings and produce less waste.

According to Royal Decree 1027/2007, dated July 20, which approves the Regulations on Heating Systems in Buildings, boilers must be inspected every two years and gas installations must be inspected every five years. However, depending on the energy company with which you have a gas service contract, it is possible to have your boiler inspected annually, regardless of the mandatory periodic inspections.

Turn off the heat when it’s not in use

There is a common misconception that if you keep the heat on all day, you’ll save more money because you avoid the cost of turning the system on and off. False. In fact, according to experts, keeping the heat on all day requires a continuous supply of energy due to potential heat loss through windows, walls, or doors.

It is recommended to turn off the system while you are sleeping or when you are not at home, and to improve insulation to prevent this type of energy loss.

A Sustainable Energy Future

And what does the future hold? Little by little, cities are being called upon to adopt more sustainable policies and address energy efficiency. For this reason, and with an eye toward new technologies, home automation and digitalization will be the cornerstones of a sustainable future.

There’s certainly a lot to be said about this, but little by little, buildings will become prosumers—that is, they’ll be able to produce, consume, and store energy all at the same time.

It is well known that the challenge lies in the large number of older buildings found in major cities. In this case, experts believe these buildings offer the greatest potential for energy savings. And this will not be possible without the support of digital tools, which will make it possible to optimize and analyze potential energy consumption.

We recommend:

• How to Save on Heating: More Efficient Alternatives!
• How to Insulate a House from Heat: Recommendations and Types