ᐅ Heating Control for District Heating – Either Too Hot or Switched Off

Hello dear forum members,

While the construction of my house (https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/lage-stadtvilla-oder-efh-auf-500-m2-rechteck.33505/post-442751) will soon begin, I am once again facing the question this year of how to properly control the heating in the currently occupied condominium.

The entire building is supplied with district heating, and I have a heating circuit distributor for the underfloor heating along with electronic room thermostats (ERR) in the rooms. The ERR have settings ranging from snowflake to 6, with 4 being marked by a black dot.

You can hear a small click both in the ERR and in a small white box hanging next to the heating circuit distributor, which probably controls the actuators, as soon as the setting reaches 5 or just below. After some time, this also causes a noticeable warming of the floor. Below that setting, nothing happens.

Problem: In the last four winters, it actually got too warm. The temperature does not seem to reduce automatically; it seems as if the click simply opens fully until someone turns it down again.

Questions:
1. Am I correct to assume that with district heating, no outdoor temperature (OT), supply, or return flow control can be done, since the water always arrives at around 80°C (176°F)?
2. Does this mean that a meaningful regulation is only possible by controlling the flow rates at the heating circuit distributor (indirectly via the ERR)?
3. Does anyone know how I could adjust my existing heating system differently?
4. Does anyone know of an affordable alternative system for upgrading?

Heating Circuit Distributor

Control Box

ERR

Thanks and best regards

Tolentino

Tolentino schrieb:

1. Am I correct in assuming that with district heating you cannot control supply temperature or flow control because the water always comes in at 80°C (176°F)?
2. Does that mean a meaningful regulation is only possible via controlling the flow rates at the heat interface unit (indirectly via electronic radiator regulators)?
3. Does anyone know how I can adjust my existing heating system differently?
4. Does anyone know of an affordable alternative system for upgrading?

Regarding 1: It is quite possible that you cannot make those adjustments. However, it is unlikely that it is completely impossible.
Regarding 2: Controlling the flow rates is generally sensible. It’s better to leave the electronic radiator regulators alone and disable them. They usually cause more problems.
Regarding 3: Have a hydraulic balancing carried out.
Regarding 4: This will be the last heating season for you in these rooms. I wouldn’t invest anything there.

What are your neighbors doing? Don’t they have the same issue?

1. So, probably at the transfer station in the basement?
2. Yes, the ERRs seem to be just room-by-room on/off switches. But how do you control the flow rates?
3. Is there a heating technician just for something like that?
4. That’s true as well...