Known to be the largest item of expenditure for a household (66% of household energy consumption according to ADEME), the heating must be optimized at the risk of seeing the energy bill soar.
At first glance, it would seem wise to turn off the heating when you are away in order to limit its use as much as possible. What about the facts?
A false good idea
Turning off your heating during a one-time absence (work, weekend, etc.) is not necessarily a good idea. Heaters tend to overheat when re-ignited to make up for lost time. They will then generate significant energy which will weigh on the energy bill. In the event of prolonged absence, you must turn off your heating.
The Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) recommends lower the heating when you are away during the day, rather than turning it off completely. Among the options available to reduce her energy bills, she recommends dynamic temperature management according to the hours of presence.
In a guide, she advises setting “the temperature between 19 and 21°C in occupied rooms during the day, and at 17°C at night and during the day in rooms with little occupation”. She suggests using thermostatic valves and timers to regulate the heat emitted by radiators.
Another alternative available: use a connected thermostat like that of the French Netatmo (provided it is compatible with your boiler).
Beware of thermal colanders
However, this finding is not not valid in the case of a thermal sieve with poor insulation. It is for this reason that ADEME recommends “above all, insulate your home”. In France, 7 million homes are still poorly insulated and consume a lot (too much) energy for heating.
If you are in such a situation, you can contact the advisers of the Espaces Info Énergie to find out about the techniques and financial assistance available. Once you have carried out your energy balance, you will be able to know the most economical solution to choose.
Energy losses on a non-insulated dwelling © ADEME
Indeed, a well-insulated home retains heat better. It uses less energy for heating and allows you to reduce your bill at the end of the month. If you are in a thermal sieve, it will be better to cut the heating to the maximum so as not to heat unnecessarily in your absence.
In any case, before planning the renovation of the heating system, it is essential to improve the insulation of your home. If you start by renovating your heating in a poorly insulated home, you will need powerful (and therefore more expensive) equipment for heating.
