​In winter, turning off the heating completely is probably a normal solution when we leave the house for a few days or in the case of a vacation, in order to reduce the electricity bill. But this can cause a number of unwanted problems, cold temperatures can freeze and burst water pipes, it can also cause boilers or boilers to burst and even flood.

There are some variations on the recommended temperature when we are away, but in general we can’t go too far if we set the thermostat to turn on the heating when the temperature drops below 16 degrees Celsius, representatives of the energy company E showed HotNews.ro .ON Romania.

And, if we are away for a long time, we have to set the thermostat to 8 degrees, let’s say, in turn, those from Engie Romania.

In the case of thermal power plants, in most cases, there is an antifreeze function that is recommended to be activated.

It turns on the heating when it detects that the water in the system has dropped below a certain temperature, usually about five degrees, and heats it up to about ten degrees, after which it stops working.

What are the risks if we completely turn off the heat in the house

George S. was born in Širnea, a mountain village in Brasov County, and inherited the house in which he grew up from his parents. No one lives there permanently anymore, he moved to the city, but on weekends he goes with his family and friends for peace and fresh air.

“Once in winter, the road was impassable, and we didn’t make it at all, and in the spring we discovered frozen and broken water pipes. Back in the winter after installing double-glazed windows, I discovered dampness and mold. We had to replace all the furniture,” he says.

A complete shutdown of heating in a building in winter can pose various risks and negative consequences for its structure and the goods inside.

Let’s mention some of them:

• increased energy consumption when heating is restarted – when heating is restarted in a cold building, the heating system must make additional efforts to return the temperature to a comfortable level. This can lead to a significant increase in power consumption.

• thermal insulation problems: a building that is constantly cooled may have thermal insulation problems, meaning it will be more difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature inside when the heating is turned back on.

• freezing of water in installations or other circuits – when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, the water in the pipes can turn to ice, causing cracks and fissures in the pipes. This may cause water to leak when the heating is restarted.

• development of mold and fungus – lack of proper heating and ventilation can create an environment conducive to the development of mold and fungus. These organisms can affect indoor air quality and damage building surfaces.

• damage to building materials and, implicitly, the building – extreme temperature fluctuations can affect building materials, causing them to expand and contract. This phenomenon can lead to cracking or degradation of the building structure.