Heating system - which one is right for you?
What heating technologies exist and under what circumstances are they suitable? Find out which heating system is best for your project.
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A flickering heating system—this event often lingers in your memory longer than all the other days when it was doing its job smoothly. We love convenience and quickly become accustomed to a comfortable room temperature. Therefore, it’s an even more unpleasant surprise when the heating system fails and the cozy warmth disappears. To ensure that system users aren’t left completely unprepared in the event of a heating system failure, we’ve listed the most important causes and steps to quickly and safely resolve the issue in our guide.
Signs of a faulty heating system
A faulty heating system is usually noticeable when the radiators remain cold, despite the heating being on and the thermostat being raised. The following list indicates signs of a faulty heating system:
- one or more radiators remain cold
- the heating system cannot be started
- the heating cannot be turned off
- the heating system that is on keeps turning off
- the heating system displays a fault code/message
Control your Viessmann heating system with apps
Whether end users or trade partners, Viessmann has the right apps for every target group. Learn more about their features and applications here.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Heating
How often does a heating system need maintenance? Does Viessmann provide heating system maintenance? What should you do if you receive an error message? Here you’ll find answers and useful information to the most frequently asked questions about your heating system and heating in general.
Causes of heating system failure
Heating system malfunctions can have various causes. Problem: Most causes have the same, or at least similar, consequences: cold radiators and cold rooms. When first encountering this, it’s often difficult to determine whether it’s simply an easily remedied everyday issue or whether there are more serious underlying causes that could require replacing the entire system. Identifying this is the first step.
Causes that system users can identify independently and eliminate if necessary
Failures or malfunctions caused by operating errors, incorrect settings, or lack of attention. If the heating simply isn’t heating, the first thing to check is the obvious: is there enough fuel? If so, is the fuel supply system working properly? To check if fuel needs to be added, simply looking at the fuel level indicator (for oil-fired heating systems) is usually sufficient. To ensure proper fuel supply, check the relevant components, such as the gas valve. If the problem still isn’t found, it’s worth carefully inspecting the connections. However, this is only to provide information to the heating system installer.
Review: Heating won't turn on - what to do?
| Cause | Solution | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel is out or not supplied correctly | Check the level indicator, fill the tanks/cylinders if necessary | |
| The heating curve is set incorrectly | Reset the heating curve | |
| The heating is still working in summer mode | Change the setting to winter mode | |
| Insufficient water pressure in the heating system | Check the pressure gauge, ideally: 1.5-2 bar, add water for heating, if necessary, carry out hydraulic balancing. | |
| The emergency switch interrupted the power supply. | Press the emergency switch in the boiler room again and start the system. | |
| Fault message/fault code on the boiler | Troubleshooting, find the code in the operating instructions, call a heating engineer |
Contact a heating contractor if your heating system is faulty.
Inform the contractor about the fault code in advance
Some malfunctions cause a fault code to appear on the display of Viessmann heating systems. This code is listed in the table in the service manual for your Viessmann heating system. If you have any doubts or don’t have the service manual at hand, it’s best to contact the heating professional who installed your system. To ensure the technician can repair your heating system, it’s recommended that you write down the displayed fault code. Share this information over the phone as soon as possible. This will help them prepare for the repair.
Is your boiler malfunctioning? Read our guide to find out what to do.
Operation of the heating system with an emergency generator in the event of a power outage
Control unit, motorized valves, or pumps: If the power goes out, the heating system will stop producing heat, even if it’s not faulty. If there’s no photovoltaic system with energy storage and backup power, a small emergency generator for the heating system can provide assistance. It burns gasoline, diesel fuel, or liquefied petroleum gas to power connected devices. For proper operation, the correct emergency generator must be connected to the heating system.
Inverter generator sets provide clean power for sensitive electronics
When choosing a generator set, it’s important to select the right control system. While the voltage of simple generator sets on a construction site fluctuates greatly, inverter generator sets provide “clean power” for the heating system. This is important to avoid damaging the sensitive control and regulation technology. Since these units are usually encapsulated, they also operate much quieter.
The power exceeds the connected load of the heaters
To determine the dimensions, add up the power ratings of all connected and simultaneously operating electrical consumers (burners, circulation pumps, servomotors, etc.). To account for the starting currents required to start so-called inductive consumers, the dimensioning should be two to three times greater than the required power. The following rule applies: the more generous the design, the more stable the operating characteristics. If emergency power is required for pellet systems or heat pumps, the capacity of the emergency generator for the heating system can be quite high.
Specialists will take care of professional installation
Beyond selection and sizing, there’s much to consider during installation. For example, if you want to use an emergency generator with a Viessmann heating system, grounding is essential. For installation, we recommend contacting a specialist partner in your region. They will review the design and ensure reliable and, above all, safe power to your heating system in the event of a power outage.
Heating not working? Stay warm with these tips.
Once the heating engineer has agreed to visit, you’ll need to cope with the wait—hopefully not a long one. This isn’t always easy, especially if the outside temperature is below freezing. If the rooms in your home are still cold, even something as cozy as reading can become a challenge. With our helpful tips, you’ll learn how to pass the time until your appointment with the heating engineer, despite the uncomfortable temperature indoors.
You can learn more about the benefits of a heating system maintenance contract in our guide ” Heating System Maintenance and Maintenance Contracts .”
Tip 1: Use a full-body blanket and a hot water bottle as heat sources
Almost every home has a hot water bottle. If the heating system is malfunctioning, a hot water bottle, snuggled under your favorite blanket, will quickly and reliably relieve the feeling of cold. Grain pillows, or for those who have them, electric blankets, can be equally helpful. Of course, don’t forget the classic warming strategy: hot drinks.
Tip 2: Thicker clothing and exercise to combat the cold
People who are sedentary and thinly dressed freeze faster than those who remain active even when staying at home for extended periods, for example, by doing several household chores. Wearing a jumper, thick tights, and thick socks is almost a given in the event of a heating failure.
Tip 3: Visit the Viessmann Community
Are you familiar with our community at www.viessmann-community.com ?
Our interactive knowledge-sharing platform addresses questions and information on heating and heating technology. Why not take a look? Perhaps someone has already discussed a similar situation to yours.
Tip 4: Sign a maintenance contract
Perhaps the most sensible advice for getting through the waiting period is to sign a maintenance contract. To ensure the smooth operation of your heating system in the future, it needs to be serviced regularly. Most heating contractors offer a maintenance contract for this purpose.
Tip 5: Bake a cake or cookies
Working in the kitchen during a heating outage benefits from several advantages: firstly, it helps pass the time; secondly, there will be something to enjoy at the end; and thirdly, and most importantly, the heat from the oven will maintain a comfortable temperature in the kitchen.
Tip 6: Candles as a source of light and heat - in moderation
Candles not only create a pleasant atmosphere but also radiate warmth into the room. However, the more candles you light, the more oxygen is consumed and the more combustion products are produced. Candle lovers should decide for themselves whether it’s worth letting in cool, fresh air more often if the heating system isn’t working. Lit candles should also never be left unattended and should always be placed on a safe surface.
Other Viessmann guides and tips
What to do in case of malfunction?
We explain what’s important in the event of a faulty Viessmann heating system and what to pay attention to.
Maintenance of photovoltaic systems
Is maintenance necessary at all, and if so, how often? What costs should you expect? Answers to these and other questions are provided in the following guide.
Replacing radiators
If you are considering replacing your radiators, this review will provide you with the most important information.