World · Europe · 1 day ago
When to turn on the heating depends on the building and indoor temperature
There is no fixed date for starting the heating season in Switzerland.
How soon a home needs heat depends partly on how well it is insulated: older, uninsulated buildings can cool faster than newer ones.
The heating threshold is the outdoor temperature at which heating is needed to keep a home at about 20 degrees Celsius.
One cold day does not necessarily mean it is time to switch the heating on, because buildings store warmth and sunlight can help.
But letting a home stay cold for too long can increase the risk of damp and mould, especially when walls are cold.
Energy Switzerland recommends about 20 degrees in living areas, 17 in bedrooms and hallways, and 23 in bathrooms.
Rental homes have no legally fixed heating season, but landlords must keep them fit for their intended use; tenants should record temperatures and contact the landlord or property manager if it stays too cold.
The guidance also recommends keeping radiators clear and airing rooms briefly with windows wide open rather than leaving them tilted.
Switzerland has no fixed date for starting the heating season, and the right time depends partly on a building’s insulation.
In rental homes, indoor temperatures are more important than the calendar.
Energy Switzerland recommends about 20 degrees Celsius in living rooms, 17 degrees in bedrooms and hallways, and 23 degrees in bathrooms.
The Federal Office of Public Health advises starting to heat earlier in poorly insulated buildings because cold walls can increase the risk of damp and mould.
Tenants who face persistently low temperatures should record the temperature, date and time and contact their landlord or property manager.
- Who
- Residents and tenants in Switzerland deciding when to heat their homes.
- What
- Guidance on when to turn on heating and suitable indoor temperatures.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Switzerland
- Why
- The needed start time varies with building insulation and indoor temperatures; cold walls can raise the risk of damp and mould.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The better insulated a house is, the later it needs to be heated.
Cold walls increase the risk of damp and mould problems.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- No fixed start date
- Switzerland has no legally fixed heating season
- Uninsulated buildings built before 1977
- Heating threshold of about 15 to 17°C outside
- Buildings built 1977–1995
- Heating threshold of 14 to 16°C outside
- Living rooms
- Recommended temperature of 20°C
- Bedrooms and hallways
- Recommended temperature of 17°C
Sources
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