Heating and air-conditioning is essential in Spain. Winter can be quite cold and the summer is extremely hot. There are many ways to heat your home in winter and cool it during the summer months.
HEATING
There are many ways to power your central heating in Spain and it usually depends on your location.
In rural areas, you will find that many properties have wood-burning stoves and fireplaces which can be combined with a central heating system.
In cities, you may find that apartments have a communal heating system that provides heating for the entire building with the heating costs being divided among the tenants. If you are absent for long periods of time, it may be worthwhile finding an apartment with a separate heating system to avoid having to pay for heating you don’t use.
Electric Heating
Electric heating isn’t widely used as it is very expensive to run and requires good insulation and ventilation. It is possible to save money by using storage heaters which use electricity at night when it is less expensive, or you could use electric radiators which are filled with a gel or liquid that retains heat. They are readily available at DIY stores and are easy to install.
Gas
Gas heaters that use gas bottles (bombonas) are a very economical way to heat your home especially if you are in an area of Spain which has mild winters. They should only be used in rooms with good ventilation and must be inspected and approved by Repsol Butano.
If you choose to have a gas central heating system installed in your home the Spanish oil providers Cepsa and Repsol can offer you some good deals on gas central heating, including low-cost financing of the installation. Primus of Sweden is the leading foreign manufacturer. Mains gas central heating is popular in cities and is the cheapest to run.
Solar Power
The use of solar power to heat your home and provide you with hot water is still quite uncommon in Spain but new homes now usually have a solar power system fitted. This is mainly used to heat the water but can also be used for your central heating and is usually combined with electric or gas heating systems as it cannot be relied upon all year round.
It can be very expensive to install the solar panels. The price may also depend on which region you live in and how much energy you require. Once installed there are no running costs and the system should last for up to 30 years.
AIR CONDITIONING
Summer temperatures can reach as high as 40 ˚C or 104˚F and although Spanish properties are built to withstand the heat, it may be worthwhile considering installing air conditioning. An air conditioning unit can cost around 600 euros for a unit large enough to cool an average size room. You will need to pay installation costs on top of this.
You can also get air conditioning units with a heat pump which can provide you with heating in the winter, but this will be more expensive.
You may find that air conditioning units can be quite noisy so check for this before you buy. They may also have an adverse effect on asthma sufferers due to the air being dry and the difference in temperature after being outside.
It is also possible to buy portable air conditioning units which can be plugged into an electric socket. They are available at most DIY stores, or you could try installing a ceiling fan to help make your home cooler.