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As autumn temperatures begin to fall, many people notice the same thing: their home feels cool in the morning, but in the afternoon, sunlight warms up the apartment. The radiator may also feel warm at times and cool at others. Is the heating definitely on?
In most cases, there is no reason to worry. The surface temperature of a radiator alone does not indicate the temperature of the apartment. At the beginning of the heating season, thermostats and heating systems respond to changing outdoor temperatures. This means that there may be a slight delay in how the thermostat responds to fluctuations in outdoor temperatures between day and night.
There are also a few simple things you can do in autumn to make sure heat can circulate properly throughout your home.
Why isn’t my radiator warm all the time?
A radiator that feels cold does not automatically mean there is something wrong with it. It is more important to monitor the room temperature and overall comfort of your home than to judge the situation by touching the radiator, as the surface temperature of a radiator alone does not indicate the temperature of the apartment.
This is particularly important to remember at the beginning of the heating season, when autumn weather can alternate between mild days and cold nights.
A suitable room temperature for living areas is generally 20–22 °C, while bedrooms can be a few degrees cooler.
Check these things when the heating season begins
1. Give your radiator room to work
A radiator needs free space around it so that heat can circulate properly throughout the room.
Avoid placing a large sofa, other furniture or thick curtains directly in front of the radiator or thermostat. The thermostat should not be covered by furniture or curtains, and air should be able to circulate freely around radiators.
A quick check of your furniture arrangement at the beginning of autumn can therefore be surprisingly useful.
2. Don’t judge the room temperature by the radiator
It may be tempting to check the radiator first by touching it. However, the actual room temperature is a much better indicator.
If your home continuously feels cold, measure the room temperature rather than assessing the situation based solely on how the radiator feels. If the radiator’s inlet pipe feels cold even when the thermostat is open, it is a good idea to contact your maintenance company.
3. Keep the ventilation working
When it gets colder outside, your first thought may be to close the ventilation vents to reduce draughts. However, the vents should not be blocked.
Blocking ventilation vents can affect both indoor air quality and the balance of the ventilation system. Remember to keep replacement air vents open under normal conditions and clean them when dust or dirt accumulates.
If you notice a significant draught or suspect that the ventilation is not working properly, contact your maintenance company. Blocking the vents yourself is not the right way to solve the problem.
4. Ventilate quickly instead of cooling down your home
If the indoor air feels stuffy, you can also ventilate your home during the heating season. A few minutes at a time is usually enough. If possible, you can turn down the radiator thermostat while airing the apartment and return it to its original setting afterwards.
Short and effective ventilation is a better option than leaving a window slightly open for a long period.
What if your home still feels cold?
Comfort at home depends not only on the temperature but also on how warm or cold the space feels.
There are a few simple ways to improve comfort during autumn and winter. Blinds and thick curtains can reduce the feeling of draught from windows, while rugs can make cold floors feel more comfortable. On sunny days, it is a good idea to open the blinds and curtains to let the sun warm your home.
However, it is not recommended to cover the radiator or thermostat with curtains.
When should you contact maintenance about heating?
You should contact your maintenance company if the heating does not appear to be working normally. Signs of a possible problem include a water-circulating radiator remaining cold or making unusual gurgling sounds.
If the room does not warm up and the radiator remains cold even though the thermostat is open, the problem may be related to the thermostat, the radiator or the wider heating system. In this case, you should contact your maintenance company. Problems with ventilation should also be reported to maintenance.
The tenant’s role is to monitor conditions in the apartment and report any problems, rather than attempting to repair the heating system themselves.
Heating season checklist for tenants
At the beginning of autumn, check the following:
- Make sure furniture and curtains are not blocking the radiator or thermostat.
- Monitor the room temperature rather than the surface temperature of the radiator.
- Do not block ventilation vents.
- Keep ventilation vents clean.
- When necessary, ventilate your home briefly and efficiently.
- Contact your maintenance company if the radiator does not heat up when the thermostat is open or if you notice any other problems with the heating.
When heating, ventilation and everyday choices work together, your home can remain comfortable without unnecessary energy consumption.
Frequently asked questions about the start of the heating season
My radiator feels cold. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. The surface temperature of the radiator alone does not tell you the room temperature. Monitor how warm the apartment actually is and report persistent problems to maintenance.
What is a suitable temperature for my home?
A suitable room temperature for living areas is generally 20–22 °C. Bedrooms can be a few degrees cooler.
Can I close the ventilation vent if I feel a draught?
Ventilation vents should not be completely closed. INNA’s tenant guidance states that replacement-air vents should normally remain fully open and ventilation problems should be reported to maintenance.
What should I do if I suspect a heating problem?
Report the issue to maintenance. Tenants should monitor water-circulating radiators for problems such as insufficient heat or unusual noises and report faults when they occur.
