Allowing rooms to cool down too much is still not a good idea, as mold can develop. An energy expert from the Lower Saxony Consumer Center gives tips on what to pay attention to when heating less.
“In order to save energy and costs, it is important to reduce unnecessarily high room temperatures,” explains Andreas Holtgrave, energy expert at the Lower Saxony Consumer Center. However, if you don't heat rooms at all or let them cool down too much, you risk condensation and mold formation. And this can not only cause additional costs, but also have health effects. “Especially in older and poorly insulated buildings, correct heating and ventilation is important,” says Holtgrave. External corners and walls, window reveals or areas behind furniture are particularly critical.”
To avoid mold, the expert gives the following tips:
1. Heat correctly: set at least 16 degrees
“During the heating season, heat all living and sleeping rooms to at least 16 degrees during the day, even if they are only rarely used,” advises the expert. If the building is in poor condition, even higher temperatures may be required.
In addition, an apartment should not only be heated with individual radiators. Temperature differences of more than five degrees between rooms can quickly lead to a mold problem if warm, moist air moves from a living space into cooler rooms. The doors should therefore be closed between rooms that are heated to different levels. Another tip: Do not place furniture in front of cold outside walls or only place it at a distance of at least 20 cm and do not cover radiators. This is the only way the warm heating air can warm up cold walls and corners of the room unhindered.
2. Ventilate properly: regular shock or cross ventilation
The more people there are in the apartment and the more active they are, the more often it needs to be ventilated every day: briefly through one or more wide-open windows (shock ventilation) or, even better, across the apartment (cross-ventilation). This quickly provides fresh air. If the outside temperature is low or it is windy, three to five minutes are enough. In spring or autumn, the complete air exchange can take ten to 20 minutes. For hygiene reasons, the air should be completely changed at least three to four times a day. Always replace moist air after bathing, showering and cooking. Ventilate the bedroom well as soon as you get up and then heat it to at least 16 degrees Celsius during the day. Important: turn off the radiators on the windows when ventilating.
3. Keep an eye on temperature and humidity
“Heating and ventilation as well as temperature and humidity must always be considered together,” says Holtgrave. How low the humidity should be depends on the condition of the building and the outside temperature. In a well-insulated building, a value of around 60 percent probably won't cause any problems in the apartment for some time. If the building insulation is poor, even much less humidity can be too much on cold days. If the humidity is above 50 percent for a long time, it should be ventilated. But at the latest when the window panes fog up from the inside.
The best way to check the humidity in the rooms is with a thermo-hygrometer. Commercially available measuring devices for around 20 euros are completely sufficient here.
Consumer advice center supported

If you have any questions about mold, the consumer advice center's energy advice service can help you online, by telephone or in a personal conversation. The energy experts provide individual, provider-independent advice. More information is available at www.verbraucherzentrale-energieberatung.de or nationwide free of charge on 0800 – 809 802 400. Further information on the topic of energy is also available at free online lectures . The consumer advice center's energy advice is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
Source:
Press release from the Lower Saxony Consumer Center
Also read: Heating season: Heating economically, avoiding mold
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