Heating, cooling and comfort

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You will learn how a home behaves in cold and heat, pick sensible heating and cooling, and budget the running cost before you commit to a home or a system.

Start with "Why Spanish homes feel so cold in winter". It shows why indoor cold happens and which measures help without huge bills. From there, the articles cover summer heat, orientation and floor level, regional differences, heating and air-conditioning choices, running costs, and keeping children and older people safe.

Key rules

• Heat risk: Indoor temperatures above about 32 °C are particularly risky for older people, babies and people with chronic illness.
• Indoor temperature: No binding minimum or maximum indoor temperature applies to private homes or rentals in Spain; the landlord only has to provide a habitable home.
• Tenant works: A tenant needs the landlord's written consent for fixed split units, new windows or facade awnings, but can use removable fans, portable units, curtains and rugs freely.
• Building age: Homes built before 1979 are usually the coldest, and homes built after 2013 usually need the least heating.
• Cheap first: Draught sealing and thermal curtains usually give the most comfort for the least money, so do them before buying heating.
• No transfer: Never apply one region's comfort criteria to another; each climate has different priorities.

Documents you may need

• The installer company's registration as a thermal-installations installer — Choosing and installing air conditioning (aire acondicionado)

• An invoice with warranty — Choosing and installing air conditioning (aire acondicionado)

• Energy efficiency certificate — Why Spanish homes feel so cold in winter

• The installer's personal fluorinated gas — Choosing and installing air conditioning (aire acondicionado)

• The installation certificate — Choosing and installing air conditioning (aire acondicionado)

• Find your home's climate zone code — How comfort needs differ across Spain's regions

Heating, cooling and comfort: questions that cross several articles

Which fuel is cheapest to heat a home with in Spain?

A heat pump is usually the cheapest way to heat, followed by firewood or pellets, natural gas, butane and then electric radiators. Electric radiators turn each unit of electricity into one unit of heat, while a heat pump delivers roughly three to four. Read "Choosing a heating system for a Spanish home" and "What heating and cooling really cost per year" for the comparison.

How do I find my town's climate zone, and why does it matter?

Your climate zone is a code like D3 or B4, where the letter is winter severity and the number is summer severity. Madrid is D3, Barcelona C2 and Sevilla B4. Look up your municipality on the Transport Ministry's zone tool, then read "How comfort needs differ across Spain's regions" and "What heating and cooling really cost per year" to see what it means for your bills.

Are top-floor and west-facing flats really harder to keep cool?

Yes, top-floor flats under an uninsulated roof and flats with west or south-west facades are the most exposed to summer overheating. The roof takes the most sun, and afternoon sun on a west wall arrives at the hottest time of day. Read "How orientation, floor level and exterior or interior flats change comfort" before choosing a flat, and "Keeping a Spanish home cool through summer heatwaves" for fixes.

When does a hot home become a health risk?

Indoor temperatures above about 32 °C are particularly risky for older people, babies and people with chronic illness. Keep blinds closed by day, ventilate at night and spend a few hours somewhere air-conditioned if your home is too hot. Call 112 for signs of heat stroke, and read "Keeping children and older people safe from cold and heat at home".

Is electricity or gas cheaper per kWh, and does that settle the choice of system?

Gas costs much less per kWh than electricity, but a heat pump uses far less energy for the same heat, so it can still cost less to run. Butane is often close to electric heat in cost. Compare both in "Choosing a heating system for a Spanish home" and "Is a heat pump (aerotermia) worth it for your home?".

Fuel prices and efficiency figures change; check current tariffs and prices with your retailer before budgeting.