
20 Operating instructions ecoTEC plus 0020124810_FT1b
5 Energy saving tips
Installation of a weather compensator
Weather compensators regulate the heating flow
temperature with reference to the outside temperature.
No more heat is generated than is currently required.
The designated heating flow temperature for the
corresponding outside temperature must be set on the
weather compensator. This setting must not be greater
than that required by the design of the heating system.
The correct setting is normally undertaken by the
heating engineer. The required heating and setback
phases (e.g. at night) are automatically switched on/off
using integrated timer programmes. Weather
compensators combined with thermostatic radiator
valves are the most economical form of heating
regulation.
Energy-saving mode of the heating system
Reduce the room temperature at night and in your
absence. This is most easily and reliably achieved using
controllers with timer programmes that can be selected
according to individual requirements. At such times, set
the room temperature approx. 5 °C lower than during
full heating times. Reduction of more than 5 °C brings
no additional energy saving, because then increased
heating capacities would be needed for the next full
heating period. Only for longer absences, e.g. holidays,
is it worthwhile to further lower the temperatures.
However, in winter, make sure that there is adequate
frost protection.
Room temperature
Set the room temperature only as high as would be
enough for your comfort level. Each extra degree would
mean an increased energy consumption of about 6%.
Adjust the room temperature according to the use of the
specific room. For example, normally, bedrooms or
seldom used rooms are heated to 20 °C.
Setting the operating mode
In warmer seasons, when the apartment needs no
heating, turn the heating to summer mode. The heating
mode is then shut off; however, the boiler or the heating
system remains ready for operation for hot water
production.
Uniform heating
Often, in an apartment with central heating, only one
room is heated. Adjacent rooms are also heated without
regulation by the enclosing surfaces of the room, i.e.
walls, doors, windows, roofs and floors, which means
that an unwanted loss of thermal energy occurs. In these
kind of operating conditions the power of the radiator in
this heated room is obviously insufficient. Consequently,
the room cannot be heated adequately and an
uncomfortable feeling of coolness prevails (the same
effect is produced when doors between heated and
unheated or partially heated rooms remain open).
This is false economy: The heating is in operation and
still the room temperature is not comfortably warm.
Greater heating comfort and a more practical operating
mode is achieved when all rooms in an apartment are
heated uniformly and in accordance to their usage. The
building structure can also suffer if components of the
building are unheated or only inadequately heated.
Thermostatic radiator valves and room thermostats
Nowadays, all radiators should be fitted with
thermostatic radiator valves as a matter of course. They
maintain the set room temperature precisely. You can
adjust the room temperature to suit your individual
requirements and ensure effective operation of your
heating system using thermostatic radiator valves in
combination with a room thermostat (or weather
compensator). In the room where the room thermostat
is located, all the radiator valves should be fully opened,
as otherwise the two regulating systems will work
against each other and the regulation quality can be
affected. And besides, the following user behaviour can
frequently be observed: As soon as the room becomes
too hot the operator turns the thermostatic radiator
valve off (or specifies a lower temperature at the room
thermostat). If after a period of time the user feels cold
and opens the thermostatic radiator valve again. This
procedure is not only inconvenient, it is also completely
unnecessary as a correctly functioning thermostatic
valve does this automatically: If the room temperature
rises above the value set on the sensor head, the
thermostatic radiator valve shuts off automatically,
when the temperature drops below the defined value,
it opens again.
Do not cover controllers
Do not cover your controllers with furniture, drapes or
similar objects. The room air must circulate unhindered.
Covered thermostatic radiator valves can be equipped
with remote sensors and thus still work.
Ventilating residential spaces
During the heating period, open windows only for
ventilation and not for temperature regulation. A brief,
forced change of air is more effective and energy-saving
than windows that are kept open for a long time. We
recommend that the windows be opened fully for a short
period. During ventilation, close all thermostatic radiator
valves in the room or set the room thermostat to
minimum temperature. These measures guarantee a
sufficient exchange of air and avoid unnecessary cooling
and loss of energy (e.g. due to unwanted activation of
the heating system during ventilation).
Appropriate hot water temperature
Anyone wanting to wash their hands under warm water
does not want to have their fingers scalded. The
following applies both for boilers with integral hot water
production and for boilers with hot water cylinders
connected: The warm water should only be heated up to
5 Energy saving tips