What to do during a heating interruption

• Check whether the water-filled radiators have become cold and whether your domestic hot water is working normally.

  • If only one of them is working, the fault is most likely in your property's own heating system.

  • If neither is working, the cause may be in the district heating network.

• If you live in an apartment building, contact your property's maintenance company. They will contact us if necessary.

• Check that your property's district heating substation or hot water storage tank is operating correctly.

• Read our tips on maintaining and troubleshooting your district heating equipment.

Check whether the interruption has been reported through any of our communication channels. Our notifications include the areas affected by the heating interruption and often an estimated repair time. We provide updates on heating and cooling interruptions through our interruption map, website and social media channels.

If no information is available after a short time and both your heating and hot water are still unavailable, call the district heating emergency number 0800 02001. The line is open 24 hours a day. During widespread heating interruptions, our phone service may be busy.

• The effects of a power outage on district heating are generally minor. In the city-wide district heating network, every effort is made to keep the water circulating at all times, preventing the water in the network from cooling down or freezing.

• However, during a power outage, heating inside the building stops because the circulation of heat relies on an electrically powered circulation pump.

• A two-hour power outage is relatively short, and the building will not usually cool down significantly. Once power is restored, the heating system resumes normal operation as the circulation pump starts circulating hot water again.

Interruptions in district heating or electricity distribution will, after a short delay, affect both space heating and domestic hot water. Nearly all heating systems rely on electricity, including district heating, air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. During prolonged energy supply disruptions, you should try to keep as much heat as possible inside your home.

• During the interruption, water may still flow from taps and showers, but it is not recommended to use them. There is a small possibility that the water temperature has increased because of the interruption. After the interruption has ended, take care as the water from the tap may still be very hot.

• Keep windows closed and the exterior door shut. Heat escapes quickly if the exterior door is opened frequently. Close interior doors leading to corridors, vestibules and entrance halls, and seal any gaps.

• Reduce ventilation and block fresh air vents. These are often the round wall vents and the vents built into window frames.

• If you have a fireplace, use it for heating. Before lighting a fire, make sure the chimney has been inspected and the damper is open.

• Do not try to maintain the normal indoor temperature by using an electric cooker or a sauna heater for heating. This is unsafe.

• Follow official updates through the media, and call 112 only in an emergency.

• Stay in a single room if possible, preferably one located near the centre of your home. Close the doors to outer and corner rooms, and use rugs or towels to block cold air from entering through gaps.

• Cover windows with thick curtains or blankets. Place additional rugs or other textiles on the floor.

• Wear warm, breathable clothing, preferably made of wool. Remember to keep your head and hands warm.

• Sleep in the warmest room in your home. Use all available duvets and blankets. A good sleeping bag will help keep you warm.

• Drape blankets over a table to create a tent-like shelter where you can sleep. This helps retain body heat.

• Sleep close to your family members under shared blankets. A single person generates a significant amount of heat, up to around 70 watts.

Different types of buildings cool down at different rates. During the heating season, the indoor temperature in a wooden house can fall to +10 °C in less than one day. In a concrete apartment building, it takes about two days, while in a stone house it takes just over three days. As buildings cool down, there is also a risk of frozen and damaged pipes.

During the heating season, a district heating interruption is usually noticed only if the domestic hot water runs out after several hours. In summer, district heating interruptions are less common and may not be noticeable to customers at all.

Visit the district heating plant room and check that the district heating equipment is operating correctly after the interruption.

If the heating does not appear to have restarted, check that the circulation pumps have started normally (the LED indicator is on) and that the control valves have not become stuck. All control valves can also be operated manually. Move each valve to both the closed and open positions to free it if necessary. If the heating still does not start, contact your maintenance contractor or property manager.

Circulation pumps and control valves that are nearing the end of their service life may not restart properly after an interruption, preventing the heating system from operating. You should also check air handling units, for example those located on the roofs of commercial premises or in entrance vestibules, as they may freeze.

Also remember to check the heating and domestic hot water systems for leaks, including pipe joints and seals. For example, connections to energy meters or apartment-specific domestic hot water meters may begin to leak when the circulation pipe cools during a power outage, as the seals are made of temperature-sensitive material.