With the cold steps of winter approaching the doors of millions of homes on our planet, many families are increasingly concerned about the increasing cost of home heating this year, with the cost of living in general continuing to rise, and energy costs in particular.

We review the top tips from experts on everything related to home heating and their answers to common questions that are repeated every winter.

Is continuous heating more efficient?

Or does it work when needed?

Some believe that turning off the heating for some time consumes additional energy to bring the house temperature back to normal, which makes them prefer to turn on the heating constantly, for fear that the house will cool down again.

For these, experts advise the need to rationalize consumption, if you leave the heating running all the time, you will end up wasting more energy.

Make sure to open the blinds during the day to allow the sun's rays to naturally warm the house (Getty Images)

 What time should the heating be turned on during the day?

Experts recommend turning off the heating at night, or when you are outside the house to save energy, but if you are at home and awake, the Energy website of the US Department of Energy advises you to adjust the thermostat as low as possible, to save up to 10% annually of energy bills.

It is also recommended to use a smart or programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature, as the most energy-efficient way to heat your home is to program a smart heating system so that it runs either during the day or when it is needed.

Is lower heating all the time better?

The Ideal Home website mentioned that many experts advise leaving the heating on low throughout the day, as it is usually not necessary, and so as not to cause high bills.

As for those who are at home most of the time, experts suggest turning on the heating only when it is needed;

When you feel cool as the sun goes down, or in the morning, for example.

But if you're a hard worker at home, the advice is to turn on the heating every day for about an hour, to ensure that pipes don't freeze in very cold countries if the temperatures drop further.

  • What are the risks of delaying the operation of heating?

With energy costs rising, many may want to wait until the last minute to turn on the heating, but experts, including heating expert Jess Steele, "warn that waiting too long and leaving the house too cold can be dangerous for those with health conditions such as asthma, or for elderly people who They may develop hypothermia, because they remain in a very cold place.”

Steele explains that "the body weakens, and the chances of it developing blood pressure, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases increase, if the house temperature is less than 13 degrees Celsius."

It also stresses the importance of "running the heating regularly, especially for those who stay outside the house for a long time, so as not to cause serious problems to their properties."

Make sure to heat only occupied rooms and turn off the heating in empty rooms (Pixabe)

How do we keep heating for as long as possible?

These are 6 practical steps presented by the American "Energy" website and experts to achieve this:

  • Take advantage of the sun's heat,

    by making sure to open the curtains during the day to allow the sun's rays to naturally warm the house, and close them by evening, to reduce the chill from cold windows.

    Closing the blinds saves about 10% of energy costs, so it is recommended to install heavy curtains to conserve heat.

  • Close sources of air leaks,

    by tracing gaps around doors, windows, and any openings or connections;

    And close it with adhesive tapes, or plastic sheets that preserve the heat available in the market.

  • Not blocking or covering heating sources.

    According to heating expert, John Lawless, “Placing objects over a heating source reduces heat and damages appliances, thus a waste of money.”

As the real estate expert, Holly Herbert, explains, "The pieces of furniture absorb heat, reduce the spread of warmth, and recommend keeping them away from appliances, so that heat flows around the room, and to save about 10% of bills."

  • No heating for empty rooms,

    as Steele stresses to "heat only occupied rooms, and turn off the heating in empty rooms."

  • Roof insulation

    , as it prevents the loss of about a quarter of the heat leaked by poorly insulated roofs.

  • Commitment to maintenance,

    bills can be reduced by about 30% through routine maintenance of heating appliances, cleaning and regular replacement of filters.