Heating companies face much higher demand amid severe cold

Heating companies across the Netherlands are facing sustained high demand as severe cold grips the country, with older and poorly maintained boilers sometimes failing under the strain. The trend is expected to intensify this weekend as temperatures drop locally to -13 degrees.

Techniek Nederland, the industry association, said the past week was busier than normal. “It was busier than usual. The sector received many fault reports, but companies are well-prepared,” a spokesperson said. Improved road conditions have helped limit delays and wait times.

Installation company Feenstra, one of the largest in the Netherlands, reported a significant rise in incoming calls. The company is preparing for the weekend cold by deploying additional staff. “If the frost continues, we expect another peak in reports,” the spokesperson said.

Techniek Nederland highlighted that most malfunctions occur in older central heating systems and poorly maintained installations. “This is a pattern we see during every cold spell,” the spokesperson said.

Delta Warmteservice, which employs 35 technicians nationwide, noted that the first week of frost in November was the busiest this winter. “Since that week, it has been very busy,” a company representative said. In Bussum, technicians are also preparing for extra hours and staff deployments this weekend.