Lower heating costs: Tenants save money with this window trick

Created: 09/28/2022, 11:17 am

By: Natalie Margaux Rahimi

Hardly anyone knows this energy-saving trick.

With a simple wheel you can set the windows to winter mode and save on heating costs. 

Hamburg – The Ukraine war has thrown Germany into an energy crisis.

Gas is becoming scarce, electricity is becoming more expensive and now, of all times, autumn and winter are bringing low temperatures and frost.

High time to turn on the heating.

But that is exactly what is causing many consumers a stomach ache at the moment.

Because the heating costs could get many people in Germany into financial difficulties.

Winter mode on windows?

What is behind the insider tip for saving on heating costs

This is one of the reasons why interest in ingenious energy-saving tricks is currently increasing enormously.

And hardly anyone knows this one: put the windows into winter mode and save on heating costs.

24hamburg.de reports how this works.

Never heard of winter mode for windows?

Most consumers are certainly not alone in this.

But actually it's very simple:

When you talk about the so-called winter mode for windows, you actually mean the adjustment of the contact pressure on windows.

This can be readjusted using a small wheel on the window sash.

An incorrect setting on the wheel will result in the windows not sealing properly (more life hacks at RUHR24).

Save heating costs and adjust windows correctly: Unknown trick brings a lot of money

So too much noise from outside penetrates into the living space, too much warm air finds its way into the living space in summer, or too much cold draws into the home in winter.

The name winter mode is probably more common because you notice the cold air or "that it's drafty" more in winter than in summer.

Actually, it's all about adjusting the windows correctly.

also read

Aldi, Edeka, Lidl affected: Seven types of cheese recalled across Germany – recall extended

Nationwide warning day: All mobile phones will soon ring at the same time

Should you heat at night?

If the windows are adjusted properly, you cannot save yourself the heating.

Even at night you should not do without heating.

Because: The apartment then cools down so much that it takes a lot of energy to heat it up again.

It is therefore better to turn down the heating at night, but to leave it running at a low level or in night mode (night setback).

Switch windows to winter mode: trick saves a lot on heating costs

But how is the wheel for adjusting the contact pressure supposed to help with heating cost savings?

The weaker the contact pressure, the more air can get in from the outside.

And the more cold air gets into the living quarters, the more we have to heat.

So if you feel like the windows aren't sealing properly enough, it might be worth adjusting the windows or just putting them into so-called winter mode.

That means nothing other than increasing the contact pressure so that less air can get through.

Alternatively, you can also use film on the window to reduce heating costs.

Bring windows into winter mode: How to set the windows correctly for winter

Unfortunately, the mechanisms for adjusting the contact pressure are not uniform.

There are many different models.

Usually there are different settings on the wheels.

How does the setting of the contact pressure work in principle?

Do windows have a winter mode?

Strictly speaking, windows don't have winter mode.

But windows have a contact pressure that can be adjusted with a wheel on the window.

Depending on how strong the contact pressure of the window is set, the less air penetrates from the outside in.

Because we notice particularly quickly in winter when there is a draft, setting the contact pressure more strongly is also called winter mode for windows.

First you need the right tool.

Depending on the model, this can be a screwdriver (slotted or Phillips), an Allen key or a torx.

Now all you have to do is find and adjust all the wheels on the window.

Please note: Some windows have not just one adjustment wheel, but several distributed over the window.

In this case, all wheels must be adjusted.

Otherwise the pressure only changes at the point of the individual wheel, but not at the entire window.

When adjusting the contact pressure of the window, the following applies: If you turn the wheel in, the contact pressure increases - if you turn the wheel out, the contact pressure decreases.

If you have changed the contact pressure, you should close the window and check whether less air is coming through than before.

An expert can also be commissioned to adjust the contact pressure.

The specialist only needs a few minutes for the work.

Saving energy in the home: Everyone should know these tricks

But winter mode on windows isn't the only trick consumers should know in the fall and winter of 2022 if they're looking to save energy.

Everyone should also know and switch off the undiscovered power guzzlers in the household.

And speaking of switching off: There are household appliances that should definitely be switched off at night - such as the microwave.

And if the next service charge statement contains unpleasant surprises, it's worth taking a closer look.

Because there are errors in billing where you don't have to pay.