Should we heat rooms that we don’t use or use little at home ?

© Robin Sabbadini for Lemon Squeezer

Winter is setting in and heating bills are rising. Faced with this situation, many owners and tenants are wondering about the relevance of heating the little-used spaces in their homes. Guest rooms, occasional offices, storage rooms, etc. These areas often represent a significant surface area of ​​the home. However, the decision to completely turn off the heating in these rooms could prove more costly than it seems.

Minimum heating: a necessity to preserve your home

The temptation to turn off the radiators in rooms that are rarely used is great, especially when energy prices are soaring. But this apparent saving hides real risks for the home. An unheated room quickly becomes a breeding ground for humidity. Cold air, which is naturally more humid, causes condensation on walls and windows. This excessive humidity encourages the appearance of mould, which not only degrades building materials but also threatens the health of the occupants.

Experts recommend maintaining a minimum temperature of around 14 to 16 °C in these spaces. This solution helps avoid humidity problems while limiting energy consumption. Moderate heating also ensures better air circulation throughout the home, preventing the formation of cold areas that disrupt the overall thermal balance of the home.

Insulation and type of heating: determining factors

The energy performance of the home plays a crucial role in this equation. A well-insulated house retains heat more efficiently, naturally reducing the need to heat rooms that are not used much. Conversely, a poorly insulated building suffers more from temperature differences between the different zones. These significant thermal variations increase the risk of condensation and multiply heat loss.

The heating system also influences the strategy to adopt. Centralized hot water systems work best when they heat the entire home evenly. Turning off certain radiators completely can unbalance the system and reduce its overall efficiency. Individual electric heaters offer more flexibility, allowing precise control room by room.

Intelligent management to reconcile savings and comfort

The most effective approach is to adapt the heating according to the use of each space. New technologies, such as connected thermostats, facilitate this fine temperature management. These devices make it possible to program heating time slots and automatically adjust the temperature according to the occupancy of the rooms.

For a guest room, for example, it is wise to maintain a low base temperature most of the time, then increase the heating a few hours before guests arrive. This method avoids waste while ensuring the comfort of occasional occupants.

Older houses deserve special attention. Their high thermal inertia means that they take longer to warm up after a cold spell. In this case, maintaining a constant minimum temperature is often more economical than having to completely reheat a cold room.

Investing in insulation is the most sustainable solution. An energy audit can identify weak points in the building and target priority improvements. Good insulation of walls, attics and windows significantly reduces the heating needs of the entire home.

• Maintain a minimum temperature of 14-16 °C in rooms that are rarely used to prevent humidity
• Invest in insulation rather than turning off the heating completely
• Opt for programmable thermostats for intelligent heating management

📍 To not miss any Presse-citron news, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.

[ ]