Heating on Mallorca: How to stay warm through the winter

The open fireplace is a Mallorcan tradition in many homes. But if you want to stay warm and cozy on the island during the cold season, you have to rely on additional options.

Perfectly functioning underfloor heating, at least double-glazed windows and sustainable air conditioning technology. Sounds like a pleasant start to the upcoming fall and winter season in your own four walls. Unfortunately, the comfort described above is rarely available on Mallorca: Anyone who lives in a traditional casa knows the problems of surviving a "winter in Mallorca" dry and warm.

When the open fire crackles in the evening in the – usually only – open fireplace in a central location, the immediate surroundings are well heated. However, the other rooms are left empty-handed; cold spreads, moisture is noticeable and settles in the walls. It is therefore particularly important on the island to equip your own home with appropriate additional heating systems. We have compiled the available options and found out what advantages and disadvantages the heating systems have.

Punctual heat using heating elements

The simplest means of choice is an electric heater. The choice is large, the price is comparatively low at around 15 euros, but the electricity costs are immense. It has just been announced that energy costs in Spain, and therefore also in Mallorca, have reached a new all-time high.

A fan heater has another disadvantage: the heat can only be felt locally, if not selectively; a room can hardly be heated sustainably with it. This is mainly due to the activity of the fan, which moves cold air in addition to the actual heat and mixes the two together.

Conclusion. A fan heater is suitable for the bathroom in the morning, for example, to generate a cozy warmth quickly and temporarily. Continuous use is not only not advisable from a technical point of view, but above all in terms of consumption costs.

Heaters cause energy costs to rise

Electric heaters are similarly expensive to use. These work either with oil that is heated or with ceramic plates that release the heat generated by electricity into the environment. The devices are mobile and can therefore be easily moved to any room, but here too the wattage is ultimately decisive for performance and price. If the device operates at 2,000 watts, this also corresponds to 2,000 watts of power consumption.

Electric heaters are popular on the island. But here too, consumers should keep an eye on the costs. Continuous use ends up costing a lot of money.

Infrared heaters with style

Infrared heaters have been enjoying real success for several years now and are becoming increasingly popular. The heat generated by electricity is emitted into the environment by radiation. The advantage of infrared heaters is their sustainability during longer operation: depending on the size of the room, 1,500 watts may be required to heat it up. However, the power then drops significantly into the lower three-digit range in order to maintain the temperature.

Another advantage of infrared heating is that the devices are now barely recognizable as heaters. The heating elements come in the form of pictures, motif tiles or mirrors and are made of metal or glass. This makes them interesting furnishings that also serve a purpose.

Heating without electricity

But heating on Mallorca is also possible without electricity. One option is gas stoves. The central element is the bombona, the well-known gas cylinder, which is inserted into a suitable stove and turned on. The gas is ignited and causes heating elements in the form of a grid to glow, which generate heat. The disadvantage is that propane gas contains a certain amount of moisture. This is released during combustion and ensures a room climate that is not really dry. Added to this is the consumption, which, depending on the duration of use and room size, can lead to at least one bombona per week.

Paraffin as an alternative to gas

If you're not a fan of gas, you can use kerosene wax. With purchase costs starting at 80 euros, kerosene stoves are comparable to gas stoves. The corresponding oil is burned, as it is usually sold in 20-liter canisters and filled into the stove. The canisters are available from 30 euros.

Paraffin oil can give off an odor, especially when it is lit. However, the development of new oils excludes a permanent odor. Nevertheless, it is important to ventilate the room well when using kerosene stoves. This is due to the carbon monoxide produced during combustion. However, if you ensure a balance between heat output and a regular supply of fresh air, you can use the stoves without hesitation.

Heating with a heat pump: technology at its best

The most convenient and ideal method is heating at a high technical level in the form of a heat pump. The purchase should be considered above all for new builds or renovations. The system consists of a part outside the house and the actual heat-generating elements inside. These can be installed in the form of underfloor heating, for example.

If you are looking for sustainability, you can combine the heat pump with a solar system that also supplies hot water. An additional gadget for heat pumps: the cooling function in summer. With so much technology, it really warms the heart.

Suppliers, prices and tariff information on electricity and gas at:

https://comparadorluz.com/