When is it too cold in your rental apartment? Check out our tips for the heating season.

Are you feeling too chilly at home? Use the checklist below to make sure you're getting the most out of your heating system.

6 tips for the heating season

1. Note the season

Are you reading this article in the autumn? At that time of the year, the weather cools down and the air gets more humid. Outdoor temperatures vary throughout the day and night, and sometimes they drop quickly. When that happens, your home's heating system might not react instantly because it takes a little time for building structures to warm up and for the air to dry.

If you're feeling too chilly at home, it's a good idea to first give it a few days and see if your apartment start warming up.

1. Adjust your thermostat settings

In homes with underfloor heating, the temperature is controlled via a thermostat on the wall. Underfloor heating provides consistent warmth, so it's normal for the floor not to feel warm to the touch. However, you might notice some warmer spots, and that's perfectly fine. That's where the underfloor heating pipes branch to different parts of the apartment.

If your home is heated with radiators instead of underfloor heating, you'll find thermostats on the radiators. These thermostats usually function correctly, even if the radiator feels cool to the touch. It's also common for the upper part of the radiator to be warm while the lower part remains a bit cooler. If, on the other hand, the upper part is colder than the bottom, it may indicate that the radiator needs airing. In this case, please inform the maintenance company. You'll find their contact details in the Jooppi residents' app.

Remember that radiators give out heat constantly; they stop heating when the surrounding air is warm enough. To help the radiator sense the temperature correctly, please don't put heavy curtains, sofas, or other furniture right in front of them. That can impact air circulation so the air around the radiator ends up warmer than the rest of the room.

2. Set window ventilation valves to winter position

In some apartments, window frames have small clips with summer and winter settings. If you find there's a draft near your window, the valve is likely to be in the summer position. Simply set the clip to the winter position to stop the draft.

3. Check ventilation settings

The ventilation systems in some apartments have separate summer and winter settings. These are usually adjusted by the maintenance company when they replace filters. If you experience any ventilation issues or you suspect that the settings are wrong, please ask the maintenance company to check them. You'll find their contact details in the Jooppi residents' app.

4. Put on woollen socks and grab a hot chocolate

Feel free to get cosy! Nothing beats lighting some candles and snuggling under a blanket on the sofa to watch a film, or enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with a friend. Your body gradually adapts to cooler temperatures, too, so what might feel chilly in the early autumn might not seem as cold as the winter arrives.

5. If you still feel cold, check the indoor temperature

If it still feels like your home is too chilly, take a temperature measurement in the middle of the room, at around one metre from the floor. Normal indoor temperatures typically range from 18 to 32 degrees, with a recommended temperature of 21-22 degrees. Did you know you actually get the best night's sleep when it's a little cooler?

If the temperature is considerably lower than 20 degrees, please get in touch with the maintenance company for your apartment. You can find their contact information in the Jooppi residents' app.