Not all rooms need to be heated to 22-23°C. In fact, in many cases this is a distinctly unnecessary cost. For a garage, cellar, workshop or a holiday home that is rarely used, it is often enough to ensure that the space does not cool down completely, i.e. that there is no frost and no moisture problems. Temperature control heating offers a solution to this problem, allowing you to consciously reduce heating costs while preserving the condition of the property.
In this article, we will explain in detail what exactly tempering heating is, when it is worth using it, what systems can be used and how much you can save.
What is tempering heating?
Temperature control heating is a low temperature heating solution that is not designed to the comfort of warmth but also to keep the room frost-free and preserve the building's condition, typically at temperatures between 5 and 12 °C.
In practice, this means not treating the room as a „living space”, but keeping it at a minimum heat level. From an energy point of view, this is of huge importance.
How is it different from conventional heating?
Classic heating systems are designed to provide comfort. This usually means temperatures between 20-23 °C with continuous heat maintenance. Temperature control heating, on the other hand, is based on a completely different logic.
- Comfort heating: 20-23 °C, optimised for continuous presence
- Tempering: 5-12 °C, for preservation and defrosting
Goal: protection and cost-effectiveness instead of comfort
When do you need a temperature control heater?
Temperature control heating typically comes into play in situations where a room is not in constant use, but you don't want to let it cool down completely. For example:
- garages
- workshops
- warehouses
- cellars
- holiday homes, holiday houses
- vacant properties
Comfort heating is not usually needed in these spaces, but total cooling can cause serious problems.
What problems does it prevent?
One of the biggest benefits of a temperature control heater is that it prevents damage that could lead to significant costs later on. The most common problems are:
- pipe freezing: especially critical for water pipes
- mould growth: at low temperatures and at high vapour develops quickly
- structural damage: damage to plaster, cladding, wooden elements
- high humidity: which will affect the whole building in the long term
A well-adjusted temperature control heater simply prevents most of these.
How many degrees should I set the heater at?
This is one of the most common questions, and for good reason. Setting the right temperature is key: too low and it won't protect properly, too high and it will add unnecessary costs.
Recommended temperature ranges
In practice, the following values should be expected:
- 5-8 °C: antifreeze (minimum protection)
- 8-12 °C: general tempering
- 12-15 °C: premises used temporarily
What happens if you set it too low?
In the case of tempering heating, it is also important to ensure that the air in the room is not allowed to cool below the minimum temperature. Temperatures below 5°C can lead to increased humidity, mould and damp walls. In this case, the heating-up time will also be much longer, so if you are only heating a room when it is not in use and otherwise you want to heat it to a comfortable temperature, it is still worth planning for a higher base temperature.
What happens if you set it too high?
The other extreme is when we get too close to comfort heating, which results in unnecessary energy consumption.
What systems can be used to implement temperature control heating?
Temperature control heating is not a technology, but a principle of operation. It can be implemented with different systems, the choice depending on the building and the intended use.
Temperature control heating with air conditioning
The modern inverter air conditioners one of the big advantages is that they are stable even at low power. Many appliances have a so-called defrosting (8°C) mode, which is specifically designed for temperature control.
Benefits:
- precise controllability
- low consumption
- easy installation
This is particularly good for smaller spaces such as garages or workshops.
Temperature control heating with heat pump
If you already have an established heat pump system, the tempering heating almost gives itself. The system is able to operate at low temperatures, extremely efficiently.
Benefits:
- excellent efficiency
- automated operation
- can be optimised for the whole building
This is ideal for larger properties or complex systems.
Temperature control heating with electric heating
Electric panels or radiators offer a simple solution, especially for smaller rooms.
Benefits:
- quick installation
- low investment cost
On the downside, it can be more expensive to run in the long run.
Gas heating
Less frequently, but sometimes, an existing gas system is used for tempering. This is usually not the most efficient solution as the system is not optimised for low temperatures.
How much can you save with a temperature control heater?
One of the biggest advantages of a temperature control heating system is cost reduction. But what does this mean in practice?
The basic principle: heat loss in a building depends largely on the difference between the internal and external temperatures. The smaller this difference, the less energy is needed.
Simple example
- 22 °C indoor vs. 0 °C outdoor → high heat loss
- 10 °C indoor vs. 0 °C outdoor → significantly lower heat loss
This difference can mean energy savings of up to 30-50%, depending on the condition of the building.
When is it not worth tempering?
It's important to see that tempering heating is not ideal in all situations. It is not recommended in poorly insulated buildings or where rapid heating is required on a daily basis.
SMARTAIR expert proposal
Our experience shows that a heating system works really well if the intended use is taken into account at the design stage.
What we typically propose:
- for smaller spaces: inverter air conditioning
- for complex systems: heat pump
- always pay attention humidity and insulation
The most common error we see is that the system is oversized or not adapted to real-world use. In this case, savings are lost.
Summary
Temperature control heating is all about using energy consciously. It is a solution that helps prevent damage while significantly reducing heating costs. It is a good choice for garages, holiday homes and other infrequently used rooms. With the right system and setup, it provides a stable and economical solution over the long term.
Not sure if you have enough heating in your property?
The choice of the right system will always depend on the building and its use.
We can help you find the optimal solution - whether you're considering an air-conditioning or heat pump system.
Get a quote from the experts at SMARTAIR!