There are many measures you can take in heating and hot water preparation to reduce your costs. Here are the most promising points, starting with the least expensive interventions:

Assess and rethink your habits and needs

A reduction in room temperature of 1°C can result in energy savings of 6 %. Airing: yes, but without leaving the windows open all day, it is better to air a few times a day by creating a draught. If you have a centralized mechanical ventilation (CMV) then try to reduce its flow.

Have the installation checked and maintained regularly

In this case a possible problem can be identified before the heating period.

Bleed radiators regularly

Heat transfer efficiency is improved and corrosion is reduced.

Insulate heating and hot water pipes

An insulation thickness comparable to the internal diameter of the pipe is sufficient.

- Improve the regulation (exchange or installation of thermostatic valves, automatic thermostat, night setback, outdoor sensor)

Manual valves and thermostatic valves >20 years old should be replaced immediately. The flow temperature of the boiler can be controlled by an outdoor sensor depending on the outdoor temperature.

- Insulate radiator niches and remove obstructions

Radiator niches are weak points in the external wall.

- Add a timer for the hot water circulation pump

In addition to electricity savings, energy losses in the pipes are reduced.

- Replace circulators and pumps with high efficiency units (Class A or B)

A standard circulation pump consumes between 40W and 100W continuously, while a high-efficiency pump consumes only the electrical energy needed to meet the demand, the power consumption is variable.

– De-silting the entire heating system

In addition to energy savings, the entire system has a long service life.

- Think about hydraulic balancing

Thanks to this intervention, each radiator can be supplied with the same amount of energy.

- Consider a wood-fired backup system

There are wood or pellet boiler stoves that can supply the domestic hot water tank.
- Consider a solar thermal system for domestic hot water preparation and possibly also for heating

Solar supplementation of heating is only economically justifiable if the building has sufficient thermal insulation and floor/wall heating.

– Complete exchange with a new heating system

A condensing boiler (preferably gas) in combination with solar thermal collectors, a mini CHP plant, heat pumps and many other solutions are possible.

If you want to know everything about the renovation of old buildings, go to

www.1nergie.lu