It is not recommended to give a “high five” to the heating. Do you even know how the heating wheel works?

Have you ever wondered how the thermostatic head on your radiator works? If the room is too cold, we turn the head to the left, probably up to level 5. Conversely, if it seems to us that the room is overheated, we set the head to one of the lower levels. But what actually happens after turning the head?

How a thermostat works

The thermostat consists of 3 parts. OF thermostatic heads, that is the visible cover on which the numbers for setting the desired temperature are indicated. OF temperature sensor, which is usually a liquid that changes its volume depending on the room temperature. And finally from thermostatic valve. The valve is a kind of control pin between the thermostat and the radiator.

So if you turn the head to a higher level, the pin will go in and more hot water will flow into the radiator. The temperature in the room will then start to rise. And conversely. The thermostatic valve thus regulates the flow of water from the heating pipe to the radiator. And the temperature sensor measures the temperature in the surroundings and reacts to it. The room does not heat continuously after opening the thermostat, but only to the specified value. For example at 20 °C.

Even if degrees Celsius are not shown on the thermostatic head, the numbers 1-5 correspond to a certain temperature.

• Star or flake = 7°C
• 1 = 11 – 14 °C,
• 2 = 15 – 18  °C
• 3 = 19 – 21°C
• 4 = 22 – 25  °C
• 5 = 26 – 28 °C

Each room requires a different temperature

If you have other symbols on your head, the sun represents standard settings, the moon represents night dimming, and the snowflake represents freeze protection. Therefore, if you are leaving the apartment during the winter holidays, it is not a good idea to turn off the boiler, but to set the head to this particular flake. This is because it prevents water from freezing in the pipes and thus their damage in cold weather.

In order to achieve the optimum temperature in each room, it is not necessary to have the same value on all radiators. A temperature of 20-22 °C is recommended for the living room and 16-18 °C for the bedroom. 18 °C is enough in the hall and kitchen, 22 °C in the children’s room and 24 °C in the bathroom during operation.

Save energy costs

Of course, the perception of heat is a subjective feeling and everyone adjusts the thermostat to their satisfaction. However, think about that lowering the temperature by just 1 degree will save you up to 6% of your heating costs. Considering that heating accounts for up to 46% of your utility bills, that’s no small amount.

If you have the thermostat set correctly, but the room is not at the desired temperature, this could be for several reasons. For example, radiators are covered by a curtain or furniture. If heat cannot escape, it accumulates. As a result, the sensor assumes that the heat in the room is sufficient. It will therefore reduce the heating water flow before the desired temperature is actually reached.

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