Setting the weekly schedule on a thermostatic head
Setting up the weekly schedule on a thermostatic head – complete practical guide
A programmable thermostatic head is a small but very clever device. When you simply mount it on a radiator and leave, it works for you – it raises and lowers the temperature according to what you have previously set. Problems arise when you sit down in front of the display with two or three buttons and realize that navigating the menu is not exactly intuitive. This article is about how to set up the entire weekly schedule correctly, without unnecessary wandering through menus – with real-life examples, specific temperatures, and tips you learn from 100 customer cases rather than from a leaflet in the box.
If you are still in the stage of choosing the right model or figuring out what thread your head needs, I recommend reading the articles How to choose a programmable radiator head and What thread does a programmable head need – M30x1,5 and adapters in our Knowledge Center first. Here I assume that the head is physically mounted, the calibration has been completed, and now you are dealing with the actual weekly schedule programming.
Why the weekly schedule is key – and why most people set it up incorrectly
A thermostatic head without a program functions like a manual one – it maintains one set temperature non-stop. This is wasteful. Central heating warms up an empty living room during the workday at 10:00, when no one is there and won’t be until the evening. When you calculate how many hours a day your apartment or house is empty, it usually comes out to 8 to 12 hours – a third to half of the day. And it is precisely during these hours that a good program can save you significant money.
A typical mistake when setting it up for the first time? People set a too high "comfort" temperature (e.g., 24 °C) and also a too high "economy" temperature (e.g., 19 °C). Real savings only occur with a difference of at least 4–6 °C. The optimal economy setting for unoccupied rooms during the day is 16–17 °C in living areas, for night in the bedroom 17–18 °C, and for night in the living room 15–16 °C is perfectly fine. Deep economy below 14 °C is not recommended in normal occupied buildings due to the risk of humidity and condensation.
Types of programs – what common models on the market offer
Before you dive into setting it up, it is good to know what types of weekly programs most heads actually support. The differences are not only in the number of programs but also in how flexibly you can set each day individually.
5+2 program (workdays + weekend)
The most popular format for households where the work rhythm is the same for Mon–Fri and Sat–Sun. For example, Elektrobock HD10 works with this system – you set one daily profile for the workweek and another for the weekend. Fast, simple, and fully sufficient for most households. The downside? If you have an irregular schedule or spend one of the weekend days differently, you cannot distinguish between Saturday and Sunday.
5+1+1 program (each day separately or Fri–Sat–Sun)
A compromise between simplicity and flexibility. Workdays share one profile, Friday/Saturday/Sunday can have their own settings. Suitable, for example, for families where children have a different school schedule on Friday or one parent works from home on Friday.
7-day program (each day separately)
Maximum flexibility. You can set a completely different profile for each day of the week. Models like SALUS PH 60 or Elektrobock HD20 offer this mode. Ideal for irregular work shifts, seniors with varying daily rhythms, or for example, for a holiday cottage with unpredictable occupancy. The setup takes longer, but the result is precisely "tailor-made".
Number of switching times (slots) per day
In addition to the type of program, it also depends on how many temperature zones you can set per day. Basic models offer 3–4 switching times per day (e.g., morning, mid-morning, evening, night). More advanced models allow 6 to 8 slots, which you will appreciate in households with lunch at home, afternoon naps for children, and similar specifics.
Before the actual setting – what to prepare
Seemingly trivial, but often underestimated phase. When you sit directly in front of the radiator with the buttons and start thinking about what to set, you will spend twice as much time there and the result will be worse. I recommend doing a short preparation before that:
- Draw your daily schedule on paper for each type of day (workday, weekend). Write down when you get up, when you leave home, when you return, when you go to bed.
- Determine target temperatures for each time slot. Typically: night setback (17–18 °C), morning wake-up (20–21 °C), day setback when the house is empty (15–17 °C), evening comfort (20–22 °C).
- Check if the head has the correct time and date set – many program errors come from the fact that the clock in the head is running out of sync. After replacing the batteries, the time is reset and needs to be set again. More about this issue can be found in the article Battery replacement in a programmable head and battery life.
- Read the manual for your specific model – each manufacturer has a different logic for entering the menu. Some models require a long press, others a combination of buttons.
Step-by-step procedure for setting up the weekly program
The following procedure is based on common principles shared by most modern programmable heads. Specific steps may vary slightly depending on the model, but the logic is the same in most cases.
Step 1: Entering the program setting menu
Most heads have a button or a combination of buttons to enter the programming mode. For example, with models SALUS PH 55, you enter the menu by pressing and holding the "Menu" or "SET" button for 3–5 seconds. A blinking clock symbol or the abbreviation of the day (MO, TU, WE…) appears on the display. This is a signal that you have correctly entered the setup mode.
If the display does not respond or does not show the correct information, check the battery status. A weak battery (voltage below 1.1 V for an alkaline AA battery) can cause the display to blink, but the buttons may not respond reliably. For more details about batteries, see the article Battery replacement in a programmable head and battery life.
Step 2: Setting the current time and day
If the first setting after entering the menu is the clock (which is common after a reset or battery replacement), set the correct current time. Use the + and − buttons to navigate through hours, then minutes. Confirmation is usually done by pressing SET or Menu again. Then set the day of the week – usually as a number (1 = Monday, 7 = Sunday) or as an abbreviation of the day.
Why is this important: If, for example, it is Tuesday but the head thinks it is Wednesday, the entire program will be shifted by one day. This is a typical error that most people do not notice for the whole week and then wonder why the room is cold on Sunday morning.
Step 3: Selecting the day or group of days for programming
After setting the time, the menu will guide you to select which day or group of days you are setting the program for. With the 5+2 format, you choose either "Workday" (Weekday/WD) or "Weekend" (Weekend/WE). With a 7-day program, you go through each individual day (Mon, Tue, Wed…).
Practical tip: If your model allows copying of days, always use this function. Set Monday in detail and then copy it to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. It takes just a few seconds and saves you from repeating the same steps five times.
Step 4: Setting switching times and temperatures
This is the core of the entire process. For each day (or group of days), you set individual "slots" – switching time and target temperature. A typical arrangement for a workday looks like this:
| Slot | Time | Temperature | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06:00 | 21 °C | Morning wake-up, temperature up before the alarm |
| 2 | 08:00 | 16 °C | Leaving for work, setback |
| 3 | 16:00 | 21 °C | Coming home, comfort |
| 4 | 22:00 | 17 °C | Night setback before sleeping |
For the weekend, you can set a different profile – for example, without morning setback, with a longer comfort period during the day:
| Slot | Time | Temperature | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 07:30 | 21 °C | Later wake-up, comfort all day |
| 2 | 23:00 | 17 °C | Night setback |
You always set the switching time (when the given temperature should start to apply) and the target temperature. The temperature setting step is usually 0.5 °C. I recommend not setting too many slots – 3–4 for a workday are more than sufficient for a typical household. Excessive complexity leads to errors and makes later adjustments more difficult.
Step 5: Confirming and saving the program
After setting the last slot for a given day, most heads automatically move to the next day or display a confirmation screen. Press SET or the confirmation button – according to the manual. Some models (typically cheaper ones) save the program incrementally, while others save it only after confirming the entire cycle. When the display returns to the normal view of the current temperature and time, the program is saved and active.
Specifications of popular models from practice
Each model has its own minor differences. Based on experience from installations in the field, I summarize here practical notes on commonly used models.
Elektrobock HD10 – simple standard for regular households
Elektrobock HD10 is a model that appears in residential homes most frequently of all I have seen. It operates with a 5+2 schedule with a 3-day switching time (6 switches in total – comfort/curtailment in the morning, afternoon, and night). The control is relatively intuitive – a long press on MODE takes you into the program setup, then you navigate through the slots with short presses on MODE. Temperature is adjusted using the + and − buttons. Common mistake: people accidentally enter the manual temperature override mode instead of the programming mode – you can recognize it by the blinking temperature on the display, without the program symbol (P) or clock.
Elektrobock HD20 – extended version with a 7-day program
Elektrobock HD20 offers a 7-day program with 6 switching times per day. That is 42 adjustable values in total – which may sound like a lot, but in practice, most days are set the same and you can use the copy function. A new feature compared to HD10 is the "temporary override" function – you can change the temperature for a different time once without canceling the program. It is useful when you return home earlier or later. This function is clearly marked with a symbol on the display, which was sometimes missing on the HD10.
Elektrobock EMF-1 – model with Wi-Fi/external control
Elektrobock EMF-1 is a special case – in addition to local settings directly on the head, it allows programming via an external unit or app (depending on the configuration). The program is set either with standard buttons or more comfortably via the larger display of the central unit. Advantage: you can change the program remotely, which you will appreciate, for example, when you know you will return home later – you can simply shift the comfort time from your phone.
SALUS PH 55 and PH 60 – European standard with a clear display
SALUS PH 55 and SALUS PH 60 have a larger and more contrast display compared to Elektrobock models, which you will appreciate especially in places with poor lighting. Programming is very similar for both models – you enter by long pressing the "P" (program) button, navigate through the days and slots, and confirm with a short press. PH 60 also offers a 7-day program and a window open function (detection of rapid temperature drop and temporary valve closure). This function can sometimes override your program – if you notice that the head unexpectedly closes the valve even during the comfort time, check whether the window open function is turned on or off.
Most common errors during program setup and how to fix them
Over the years of practice, I have seen recurring errors, most of which can be quickly fixed. Here are the most common ones:
- Incorrect time setting after battery replacement. After each battery replacement, most heads reset the time to 12:00 Monday. If you do not notice this and do not correct the time, the entire program runs from a different point. Always check the time and day after replacing the batteries.
- Mixing up comfort and curtailment temperatures. Some models set the temperature for a slot as "temperature to switch to," others as "temperature valid until the next slot." If your program is reversed (radiator heats at night and turns off during the day), you likely entered the temperatures in the wrong order.
- Inactive program – head is in manual mode. If you press the buttons but the head always maintains the same temperature regardless of the time, check whether the program (AUTO) mode is activated. Most models have a switch between AUTO (programmed) and MAN (manual) – indicated by a symbol on the display. This is probably the most common reason why customers call saying that "the program is not working."
- Too small a difference between comfort and curtailment temperatures. If you set comfort to 22 °C and curtailment to 20 °C, the head will cycle very frequently and the savings will be minimal. I recommend a difference of at least 4–5 °C.
- Ignoring the adaptation function. New heads (and also heads after a reset) need 1–2 adaptation cycles – the calibration of the valve lift happens automatically. During adaptation, the program may appear to not work or react with a delay. After 1–2 days, the behavior normalizes. More about this in the article Calibration and adaptation of a programmable head after installation.
Practical scenarios from the field – what works and what doesn't
Scenario 1: Two-room apartment, two working people, no children
Typical situation: both leave at 7:30 AM and return around 5:30 PM. They are home on weekends. For the living room, I recommend setting the workday like this: from 6:00 AM comfort 21 °C (before leaving), from 8:00 AM curtailment 16 °C, from 5:00 PM comfort 21 °C, from 11:00 PM curtailment 17 °C. For the bedroom: from 6:00 AM comfort 20 °C, from 7:30 AM curtailment 15 °C (empty all day), from 9:30 PM comfort 18 °C (preparation for sleep), from 11:30 PM night curtailment 16 °C.
Result in practice: in a typical apartment with panel heating, such a set-up of the head system contributes to a 15–25 % reduction in heat consumption compared to a constant temperature of 21 °C nonstop.
Scenario 2: House with an elderly person who is at home all day
This situation is the opposite – curtailment during the day makes no sense because someone is at home all the time. Despite this, the program still provides value: comfort 22 °C during the day, 20 °C for lunch when resting, and night curtailment 18 °C. The main benefit is in the night and morning curtailment – it saves several hours of unnecessary heating at full power. In addition, it avoids overheating, which paradoxically reduces thermal comfort (feeling of stuffiness) in elderly people.
Scenario 3: Cabin with Irregular Occupancy
A cabin that is visited irregularly is an ideal case for a "frost protection" profile – year-round setback to 8–10 °C (frost protection), which you manually override to a comfortable temperature when arriving. A weekly schedule is not enough here – you need to use the manual override function or a thermostat with remote control. In such a case, the Elektrobock EMF-1 or a similar model with remote control capability would be suitable.
Optimizing the Schedule – How to Fine-tune It After the First Week
Never try to set up a perfect schedule from the very beginning. The actual behavior of a room depends on many factors that you cannot accurately estimate in advance – thermal mass of walls, heat gains from appliances, solar radiation, and the number of people in the room. A good approach is as follows:
- First Week: Set up a "rough" schedule according to your daily routine, and observe the actual temperature in the room in the morning before getting up and in the evening upon arrival.
- Adjusting Morning Times: If you wake up to a cold room, move the start of the comfort period 15–30 minutes earlier. Some models (SALUS PH 60, HD20) have an "optimal start" function – the thermostat calculates how much earlier it should start heating to reach the desired temperature at the set time. If your model does not have this function, experiment manually.
- Adjusting Setback Temperatures: If the room remains comfortably warm even without heating after you return (typical for well-insulated new buildings), you can lower the setback temperature – the room will not cool down quickly. In older panel buildings or cabins with thin walls, on the other hand, the setback temperature must be higher, as the room cools quickly and reheating takes longer.
- After 2–3 Weeks: The schedule should be stabilized. At this point, it is recommended to check the battery condition and clean the display and buttons (dirt can cause unintentional presses).
Combining Programmable Heads with a Thermostat or Boiler
Programmable heads are highly effective on their own, but their efficiency is even greater when they work in combination with an intelligent boiler or central thermostat setting. Basic rule: the boiler should only provide heat when at least one room is actually being heated. Modern boilers use equithermal control – they adjust the heating water temperature according to the outside temperature. If you have an older boiler without regulation, programmable heads can still significantly reduce unnecessary consumption at the local level.
Important warning: a programmable head closes the valve, preventing water flow through the radiator. If all valves are closed at the same time, the boiler is operating in a closed loop – this can be a problem with older boilers without a bypass or power regulation. When installing a larger number of programmable heads, it is advisable to consult with a heating technician to ensure the hydraulic system is ready for such operation.
For more on the comparison between programmable and manual heads, see the article Programmable vs. Manual Thermostatic Heads – Which One Is Worth It, where the economic aspects of this combination are also analyzed in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens if I don't set up the schedule and just mount the head on the valve?
The head will operate in manual mode – it will maintain the temperature you set by turning or pressing the buttons directly on it. It will not respond to time or day, only to the current air temperature near the valve. This is fully functional, but it will not provide any savings compared to a classic thermostatic head. You must actively set up the weekly schedule and switch to AUTO mode.
The schedule was working, but after replacing the batteries it stopped. What to do?
Most programmable heads (including Elektrobock and SALUS models) store the schedule in non-volatile memory – the schedule does not get lost after battery replacement. What is lost is the current time and day of the week. The head has the schedule stored, but since it doesn't know which day it is and what the time is, it cannot run the schedule properly. Solution: after replacing the batteries, always check and correct the time and day settings. More in the article Battery Replacement in a Programmable Head and Power Supply Lifespan.
Can I have a different schedule on one radiator than on an adjacent one in the same room?
Yes, each head is autonomous and has its own schedule. In practice, however, this makes little sense – both radiators are in the same room and respond to the same temperature. I recommend setting the same schedule on both. If you have a large room with radiators on different walls (e.g., one wall is sunny, the other is external), the temperature settings can be slightly different, but the schedule (times) should be the same.
Can I temporarily override the schedule without deleting it?
Yes, most programmable heads have a temporary manual override function (also called boost). A simple press of + or − will change the target temperature. This change is valid until the next programmed switch in the schedule, after which the schedule automatically resumes. Some models (e.g., SALUS PH 60) allow you to set the override duration for a specific number of hours.
Why is the radiator heating even though the schedule says it should be in setback?
The most common reason: the head is not in AUTO (programmed) mode, but in manual mode – check the display. Second reason: the setback temperature is set too high and the room is actually colder, so the head is heating correctly. Third reason: the time or day of the week is incorrectly set (the schedule is running shifted). Fourth possibility: the valve is mechanically stuck in the open position – a solution can be found in the article Programmable Head Is Not Heating or Closing – Common Faults and Solutions.
How many time slots per day are enough for a typical household?
For the typical workday of most households, 3–4 time slots are sufficient: morning comfort, daytime setback, evening comfort, and nighttime setback. More slots are beneficial for atypical schedules – for example, lunch at home, a child coming home from school earlier, or an afternoon nap. An overly complex schedule with 6–8 slots is harder to maintain and can easily cause confusion when making adjustments.
Conclusion – A Schedule That Works for You
A well-set weekly schedule on a programmable thermostatic head is a one-time task that pays off every day throughout the entire heating season. The difference between constant heating at 21 °C and an intelligent schedule with setback during unoccupied hours can represent 15–30 % annual heat consumption – a significant amount under today's price conditions.
The key rules are simple: set up your schedule before you sit by the radiator; choose a realistic temperature difference of at least 4–5 °C between comfort and setback; always check the time and day after replacing batteries; and fine-tune the schedule after the first week according to the actual behavior of the room. Choosing the right model for your needs will also help you with the overview in the article Elektrobock vs. SALUS – Comparison of Programmable Heads and for any questions before purchase, the article Frequently Asked Questions About Programmable Heads.
All the models mentioned here – Elektrobock HD10, Elektrobock HD20, Elektrobock EMF-1, SALUS PH 55, and SALUS PH 60 – can be found in the category programmable heads on atria.sk, including current prices and availability.
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