House heating
Icelandic homes use annually on average 4-5 tons of hot water per m2. About 90% of its use are due to central heating and we use the rest for other things, such as taking a bath or shower, clean the home and do the dishes.
Is my hot water consumption normal?
On Veitur Utilities’ My Account customers can access an overview of their hot water and electricity consumption. You’ll also find a calculator, which compares your consumption to the average consumption of a similarly sized home.
Making better use of hot water
To reduce hot water and energy use, the focus should be on looking at ways we use hot water for heating in the best possible way.
- Have professionals adjust the heating system.
- Use thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) to level the heat.
- Check the density and insulation of windows and doors.
- Close the windows when it is cold outside.
Have you checked your pipes recently?
Damage due to water leaks are far too common in households and it is therefore important to check your pipes and piping configurations on a regular basis.
- Do you know where the intake for the hot water is in your house? Look into it and see if other members of the household know it too. It needs to be well marked and accessible. Labels can, for example, be found in stores that sell plumbing material.
- Ensure you have easy access to the water intake tap so that you can shut it off.
- It is also important to have a drain on the floor where the intake is. It’s vital to clean drains on a regular basis so that the water can flow down them if pipes start to leak.
Cold weather
When it starts to get cold, it is necessary to review the heating system of the house and balance it so that it meets its primary function i.e. to create a comfortable indoor temperature, keep costs to a minimum and that the utilization of hot water is at its peak. Balancing involves that the maximum flow to each radiator is set. Flow to the radiators is configured with internal adjustment of the valve. Older systems may need to be updated with this equipment to be able to configure the system successfully.
