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November 3, 2008
Overheating
Hi, So I have just rented a great apartment, but it is way too hot, I'm talking 90+ degrees. There are several radiators built into the wall, and I have no control over the temperature. I leave all the windows open but its still boiling, and I refuse to run air conditioning through winter to counter this. Is there any way to fix this, like can I somehow disable a few of the radiators not to work?
Comments
do the radiators have valves on them? turn em off! what kind of building are you in? have you asked the landlord to ease off on the heat?
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at November 3, 2008 9:39 AM
I don't get landlords in this city. State law requires heat to 68 degrees, if I were a landlord that's what you'd get, not a degree more on my dime. With energy prices the way they are, you'd think every landlord would be looking at this. A thermostat valve for a steam radiator costs around $80 installed, landlords are penny wise pound foolish not to install them.
Posted by: bohuma at November 3, 2008 1:07 PM
Count your blessings. Winter hasnt fully hit yet. Many landlords dont give good heat or hot water so you are truly fortunate.That being said, noone wants to live in a sauna but you have the windows fully cracked and it is still hot? Wow.Maybe he needs to check the valves that might be releasing too much steam because they arent good.
Posted by: iluvclintonhill at November 3, 2008 3:33 PM
Try asking him to install those thermostat valves, as mentioned above. My last building had them and they really do work. Only a pain if you have those metal covers over the radiators. I would think it would save him money.
Posted by: Carol Gardens at November 3, 2008 5:32 PM
Oh, sorry, I see you said they are in the wall. So those thermostat things might not be applicable.
Often the problem is that different apartments are colder than others. So to keep the coldest one warm enough, other people will swelter. Where is the thermostat located, by the way?
Posted by: Carol Gardens at November 3, 2008 5:35 PM
Sometimes the knobs on the radiotor break off and you can no longer manually adjust the amount of steam entering your apartment. Its a simple solution that your landlord will thank you for bringing to his atttention.
Hope this helps. Had the same problem over a decade ago. I used to leave my windows open in the winter until I asked the super of the building to check it out.
Posted by: eastriver at November 4, 2008 10:18 AM
Sometimes the knobs on the radiator break off and you can no longer manually adjust the amount of steam entering your apartment. Its a simple solution that your landlord will thank you for bringing to his atttention.
Hope this helps. Had the same problem over a decade ago. I used to leave my windows open in the winter until I asked the super of the building to check it out.
Posted by: eastriver at November 4, 2008 10:18 AM
Ask the super to disconnect a few of your radiators altogether. I did this in my last apt, it was no big deal. Took five minutes, he did it all the time. Before I got the one in the bedroom disconnected, I was becoming seriously nauseated in the evenings. It was bizarre.
Posted by: mopar at November 4, 2008 1:45 PM
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