A woman holds a coffee cup in her hands in front of her face and looks out of a window.

It's not a good idea to heat unused rooms by leaving doors open.

Many homes have unused rooms, such as former children's rooms or studies. These are rarely heated, yet the doors are often left open. This allows warm air from heated areas to enter, wasting energy and increasing the risk of moisture damage.

Why open doors drive up heating costs

In many homes, individual rooms remain unused, such as former children's rooms or home offices. These rooms are usually not heated, or only rarely. Often, however, the doors are left open, allowing warm air from heated living areas to enter. This leads to higher heating costs and can even cause structural damage.

Main part – Advantages of closing doors to unheated rooms

1. Energy saving

  • Warm air stays in the heated rooms.
  • The heating system needs to work less to maintain the temperature.
  • Heating costs decrease noticeably.

2. Mold prevention

  • Warm air carries more moisture.
  • If it enters unheated rooms, it cools down and releases moisture.
  • Moisture can condense on cold walls or windows.
  • Closed doors prevent this effect and protect against mold.

3. Fire protection

  • Closed doors slow the spread of smoke and fire in case of a fire.
  • Smoke detectors are recommended in unused rooms containing electrical appliances.

Conclusion and recommendations

Closing doors to unheated rooms offers three key benefits: it reduces heating costs, prevents moisture damage, and can even save lives in an emergency. Especially with rising energy prices, landlords and residents should take advantage of this simple, cost-free method. Furthermore, this measure can help maintain a property's value by preventing mold and structural damage in the long term.
Our recommendation: Make closing unused rooms a regular habit and regularly check that all affected rooms are equipped with safety features, such as smoke detectors. This will create more comfort, safety, and sustainability – without any major investments.

Author

Title page of the handbook on heat cost accounting

Quelle: Handbuch der Wärmekostenabrechnung | Frank Peters Minol Messtechnik W. Lehmann GmbH & Co. KG, 2019

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