With winter approaching and the news that hundreds of thousands of Sofia residents will enjoy the launch of central heating starting next week, the topic of energy efficiency and reducing bills is on the agenda. We all love to be warm, but do we know how to properly prepare heating appliances to keep the heat at home and save money? Bogomil Nikolov, executive director of the "Active Consumers" association, gave some valuable advice on preparing heating systems.
Preparation of radiators
The first and most important step for central heating subscribers is the preparation of radiators. Before turning on the heating, it is advisable to turn the thermostatic valves to the maximum setting to facilitate the passage of hot water.
"The problem, especially on the higher floors, is that air must be bled, because sometimes on the last floors the radiators remain quite cold because there is air, Nikolov explained. He specified that this procedure should not be carried out by everyone independently, but should be coordinated with the house manager or the person responsible for the installation in the building.
Another simple but effective trick is regular cleaning of the radiators. Even a thin layer of dust can trap heat and reduce the efficiency of the appliance.
Small tricks for big savings
One of the easiest ways to increase energy efficiency is to place heat-reflecting foil behind radiators, especially if they are mounted on external walls. "It is inexpensive, it is available at any hardware store, but it does a great job. The one-time effort to install it will bring savings over the years. You will not heat the wall outside as much", advises the expert.
The correct use of curtains also matters. In the evening, they should be pulled to serve as additional insulation. During the day, however, it is important that they do not cover the radiator, as this will direct the heat towards the window, not the room.
How to ventilate properly?
An energy-inefficient habit is leaving the window slightly open "scissors" throughout the day." "This is the most energy-inefficient way of ventilating, which people love very much. In fact, this way you neither ventilate well nor retain heat in the home," Nikolov emphasized. The correct approach is to open the window wide for a short time, 3-4 times a day.