Cold inside your home? Heating is on

Heating is on in all our apartments. However, as outdoor temperature drops, it may still feel cold inside your apartment. In this article we explain why and what you can do to influence the temperature inside the apartment yourself.

How does the heating system work?

Nearly all our buildings are heated by district heating. Tampereen Energia produces the thermal energy we use with 100% renewable, wood-based energy sources. Thermal energy circulates in the regional district heating network and it is transferred to the water circulating radiators in your apartment. The heating water flow of the buildings is no longer cut off during summertime to avoid the pump malfunctions. The building automation system automatically manages the heating according to the outdoor temperature. This means that hot water starts circulating in the radiators when the outdoor temperature drops low enough.

Why does the radiator feel cold, even though heating is on?

The desired room temperature is 20-22ºC. The radiator may feel cold when touching it once the desired temperature is reached. This means that the heating is on even if the radiator feels cool at times.

We sometimes receive feedback that it is chilly inside the apartment, and feels like cold air comes inside. This is common especially in the beginning of the heating season, when the relative humidity of the air is high due to the season. In the fall, it takes a while before the building structures have warmed up and relative humidity is reduced. Larger drops in outdoor temperature can make it feel cold inside before the indoor temperature stabilizes to match the change. As temperature rises and falls, the windows in the apartment react immediately to the change in temperature, and the heating may not have time to react to the sudden change in temperature as quickly.

How can you influence the room temperature yourself?

We recommend to move the curtains/furniture away from the front of the radiators. Don’t let the heat escape by opening the windows when radiators are on. You can adjust the flow of hot water from the radiator valves. Monitor the room temperature with a thermometer, and notify POAS by submitting a Notice of Defects, if you notice significantly low temperatures or faults in the structures of windows or front doors. Do not bleed (let the air out) the radiators yourself, as improper bleeding results in a loss of pressure in the radiator network. If the radiator is leaking water, notify POAS immediately.

More information on heating can be found from our tenant guide.