Newer radiators in Germany are pretty standardized.
Five steps from 12 to 28 degrees Celsius
The radiator dial is numbered from 1 to 5. The numbers represent the target temperature you want to achieve.
| Setting | Celsius | Fahrenheit | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 °C | 53 °F | very cool |
| 2 | 16 °C | 60 °F | cool |
| 3 | 20 °C | 65 °F | medium |
| 4 | 24 °C | 75 °F | warm |
| 5 | 28 °C | 82 °F | very warm |
Each graduation line between the numbers stands for a single degree Celsius for precise temperature control.
Radiator self-regulates with thermostat
A radiator works using a thermostat which regulates the room temperature by automatically and constantly turning the heat on and off according to the current need:
- Set it and forget it.
- Don’t adjust the dial of the radiator to adapt to changing temperatures. It adapts itself to always heat the room to your preferred target temperature, no matter the current weather.
- It always heats as quickly as possible, aiming to directly achieve its goal. It doesn’t get warm any faster if you crank it up.
Close your windows fully (most of the time)
The thermostat can’t work as intended with open windows, as it will try to keep an ever-cooling room at a constant temperature.
But of course you need fresh air:
- It is usually recommended to fully open all your windows for 5–10 minutes in winter, or up to 30 minutes in warmer seasons.
- Close them fully afterwards, i.e. don’t “tilt” them, and don’t keep them cracked open.
- Turn your radiator’s thermostat all the way down before you open your windows; turn it back up again to your target temperature after closing them again.
- Do this up to four times daily. If you’re not home during the day, do it once in the morning and once in the evening.
This intermittent, total ventilation is called Stoßlüften in German [pronounced “SHTOES-lifften”, literally “thrust ventilation”], and will keep your heating bill down, and also protect your house from mold.
☼☽︎❆: symbols as recommendations
Three common symbols make set-up quick and easy: they are recommendations. Here’s what the symbols on the dial of your German radiator mean:
| Symbol | Function |
|---|---|
| ☼ sun | daytime |
| ☽︎ moon | night-time |
| ❆ snowflake | anti-freeze |
- ☼ Sun symbol: choose this setting for a comfortable daytime temperature of 20 °C (68 °F). The go-to setting if you aren’t sure what to choose.
- ☽︎ Crescent Moon symbol: night-time temperature for comfortable sleep, which is a cool 14 °C (57 °F). If you have a separate bedroom, this is all you need in there. If you have a smaller apartment, set your radiator down to the moon at night, and back to the sun in the morning.
- ❆ Snowflake symbol: anti-freeze setting if you don’t want to heat a room at all. Prevents damage to the radiators and pipes, and keeps everything functional with a very cold 6 °C (42 °F). In winter each radiator should be set to at least this.