Am I allowed to open and close the radiator knob in my apartment?

 

Question:

I do not control the heat. The heat is turned off and on in the whole building and since the thermostat is not on my apartment, it doesn’t go on and off depending on the temperature by me.

I can only open or close the radiator in my apartment which will allow the heat, which is already on and heating apartments below & on top of me, to flow (or to not flow) into the radiator that is in my apartment.

Am I allowed to open and close the radiator knob in my apartment?

 

Answer:

On Shabbos, it is forbidden to turn on the taps of the radiator as this causes the cold water in the radiator to flow into the boiler, where it would be heated.

You cannot turn on the taps even if the heating system is not yet operating but will be turned on during Shabbos.

It is permissible to turn off the taps of the radiator on Shabbos, however it is proper to refrain from doing so as long as the water inside the radiator is in the process of being heated and has not yet reached a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).

This is because turning off the taps causes the water in the boiler to reach a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit more quickly than it otherwise would.

On Yom Tov there is a different Halacha.

 

שמירת שבת כהלכתה כג, כב-כג.

 

 

#1530