HEATING

Take these as a reference point and avoid the raging debate about where to set the thermostat. If someone is cold, they can put another layer on (better to throw on a jumper than throw money down the drain on wasted energy). If someone is hot, they can always take layers off.

One of the recommendations frequently issued by the IDAE is that the thermostat should be around 20-21ºC, but only when the property is occupied. At night, and when the house is empty, it is best to turn the temperature down.

Only if the bedroom is especially cold or poorly insulated should the heating be turned on at night. Even then, before making the decision, it is crucial to check we have adequate nightwear, so are covered up, lower the blinds, and draw the curtains.

We don’t all feel temperature the same way.

When it comes to the sensation of warmth or cold, we are not all created equal. Some are particularly «cold blooded” and are advised to wrap up warm but not adjust the thermostat; some are particularly “warm blooded”, and simply need to take layers off and drink more water to keep their temperature down.

Then there are babies. What is the ideal temperature for them?

Pediatricians recommend that the temperature of a baby’s home range between 22º and 24ºC in the daytime, and between 18º and 20ºC at night.

There are other factors which can influence the way we feel heat. Though there are many exceptions, people with a higher volume of body fat feel the cold less strongly.

Temperature isn’t everything; humidity is an important factor too.

As you surely know, temperature is one thing an objective measurement that your thermostat will apply precisely. The temperature sensation is quite another. How can it be that, even when you wear the same clothes, you sometimes feel cold at 19ºC and sometimes feel hot at the same temperature?

Quite apart from personal factors such as weight or age (children and elderly people are less able to regulate their body temperature), the key thing is the percentage of relative humidity. To establish a marker, homes typically have over around 50%, which increases the feeling of heat.

The IDAE recommends maintain a relative humidity level of 40-50% in your home.

Furthermore, relative humidity can have a real impact on your health. Below 20%, the excessive dryness contributes to respiratory infections. Above 80%, the environment becomes an ideal breeding ground for mites and various types of fungi.

“The ideal relative humidity in a home is 50%. Less than 20% or more than 80%, your health will start to suffer.”

But then, the debate continues: what is the best temperature?

Inevitably, disagreements and arguments will continue over the best temperature to have in your home. Science will never stop, and research continues tirelessly. There are a multitude of studies that have attempted, or are attempting, to shed light on the matter.

70 years ago, the Olgyay brothers published «The Bioclimatic Chart»: a pioneering chart that defines the concept of thermal comfort, taking account of temperature, humidity, wind, evaporation, and solar radiation; since then, there have been all sorts of studies and schools of thought, pointing in one direction or another.

Comfort and health surf from home range between 22º and 24ºC in the daytime, and between 18º and 20ºC at night.

But surely, for Feeling at ease, being comfortable and with less humidity at home, fireplaces are our best ally in the winter.

ELECTRIC FIREPLACES: DESIGN FIRE

We at Sototechnic take comfort very seriously, summer or winter, Aircon cooling and heating systems will help, but to create a cozy home in winter, nothing like a good fireplace…so, why not combine them?

Clean and Green Heat

Unlike traditional wood and gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces are vent-free and smoke free, and offer a zero-emissions heat source. Not only is this healthy for your home, but it also prevents the release of carcinogens into the air by fossil fuels and charred wood. At Sototechnic all our fireplaces are vent-free, require no chimney, and produce no smoke. In addition to the air quality benefits, the reduced use and costs of energy is an overall benefit to the environment and to your wallet!

The electric fireplace heater dissipates warmth directly into the room and is not lost through the chimney or special venting, since they do not require any. … While electric fireplaces are not designed to be the central heating source in a home, they can heat a small room much more efficiently than a real fireplace.

One of the great things about our wall mounted and linear electric fireplaces, fireplace tv stands, stoves, is the ability to locate or relocate the fireplace anywhere in your home. Chimney free zone heating provided by the ambiance of our electric fireplaces creates immediate and efficient supplemental heat where you need it when you need it.

We offer beautiful electric fireplaces in all shapes and sizes, so we are confident you will find the ideal electric fireplace that fits perfectly within your space.

Just come visit us and take a look to our range of fireplaces, we will advise you which fits you best.