Heating

The central heating is powered by solar panels, backed up by mains gas.

The ground floor has underfloor heating (as well as the wood-burning fireplace) and a radiator in the downstairs bathroom.
This heating circuit is controlled by the thermostat situated by the kitchen. When the thermostat light is green, the heating circuit is switched off. Turning the thermostat knob until the light shows red, and the circuit is on. (Being low-temperature underfloor heating, it will be about an hour before the floor feels warm.)
We find a thermostat setting of 20° or 21° is best.

The upper floor has underfloor heating in the east bedroom and the bathroom. This is controlled for both rooms by the thermostat in the east bedroom.

Radiators

The other two bedrooms are heated by radiators.
Both of these radiators are controlled by the thermostat in the south bedroom.

There are also supplementary radiators in the two bathrooms and the stairway.
All of these radiators are controlled by the thermostat in the upper bathroom.

To control the level of radiator heating desired in the various parts of the house, simply set the appropriate thermostat to 20° or 21° and open or close the individual radiators.

Thermostat overview

We live here, yet still occasionally have to think twice to remember which thermostat controls which part of the heating.
So here is the list:

Downstairs underfloor heating: thermostat by the kitchen

East bedroom and bathroom underfloor heating: thermostat in east bedroom

Radiators in both bathrooms and stairway: thermostat in upper bathroom

Radiators in south and west bedrooms: thermostat in south bedroom

Starting the heating

This is not normally necessary: everything is already in operation.
The tank for the heating and warm water for the main house is situated in the gas house on the north wall. We ask guests not to do anything here, but in case of an emergency a key marked Gas house is left hanging on the keyboard.

If the house has been empty for more than a few days during the winter, we usually turn the gas unit off at the fuse box, leaving only the solar panels active.
Normally our cleaner will switch the gas heater back on a couple of days before new arrivals. However, if necessary, we will ask you to switch it on again. This is very simple.
In the gas house, the fuse box on the left-hand wall (next to the gas heater) has four switches. The second from the left is for the caldaia and also has an additional blue marking.
To switch the gas heater on, just push the fuse switch up so all four are in the position shown in the picture. The gas heater is now active.

Please never change any other settings apart from the fuse switch.

Guest house

The guest house has a separate gas heater for its radiators and hot water. This is situated on the west wall of the guest house.
The key to open the box is on the keyboard with the key for the main gas house.

Guest house heating: trouble-shooting

Please first check that the switch next to the heating unit on the south external wall has not accidentally been turned off. (This happened once and the plumber simply switched it back on when he came out on his emergency call.)

Water pressure

If the guest house heating has not been used for some months, occasionally the pressure in the heating system drops. This can easily be raised by opening the heating unit box.
The pressure guage is under the the blue-grey Metro.zip cover shown in the photo.

Underneath is the black plastic knob I am pointing to in these pictures. Turn it to let in more water and so increase the pressure.
The needle on the guage should register between 1 and 2 bar.

However, if in doubt, call Franca Romeo and she will arrange for our plumber to come.