Help with adding a toilet to the basement

The heat just not only takes longer to get to the top floor...it just disappears once it gets there. I have mine on the bottom floor also and I have it set pretty high. I turned most of the radiators off on the 1st floor. That really helped. How old are the windows on the top floor? The heavy drapes and carpet really help. The thermastat on the top floor would totally help. The middle floors are always so warm since they are sandwiched. Can you add a radiator up there?

Posted by: flowbee at November 18, 2007 12:34 AM in response to freezing in my apt?

Thanks for the responses. I will do my homework on both suggestions. The upflush looks pretty cool!

Posted by: flowbee at November 18, 2007 8:43 PM in response to Help with adding a toilet to the basement

I have been changing the air vents with those home depot jobs i am keeping the hole smaller at the bottom apts and larger at the top. thanks to everyone who commented. I think i am going to move the thermostat to the hallway on the parlor floor. Does anyone think i should turn up the pressure? will turning up the pressure help at all? the pressure is between 1 and 1.5 pounds. This is a gas steam heating system. 4 story building and a basement.

Posted by: guest at November 18, 2007 1:13 AM in response to freezing in my apt?

Yes, you can try adding to the preasure but I think you are in the range of what is needed. I would try adding only a very small amount and see if that helps. Are the radiators shimmed so that they drain back to the shut off valve? Steam radiators need this so they don't get blocked with water that collects after the steam condenses. If your radiators are full of water the steam can not get through.

Posted by: Rick at November 18, 2007 9:39 AM in response to freezing in my apt?

RAISING THE PRESSURE WILL NOT HELP.
Moving the thermostat alone will only serve to bake the lower floor tenants.
Turning off radiators may add to the problem as it will deprive those portions of the system of those radiators' air vents.

Posted by: Master Plvmber at November 18, 2007 9:54 AM in response to freezing in my apt?

I have the same problem in my house. My advice to you comes from all things I've tried. My system works really well right now however Master Plumber is right when he says that the 1st floor is very warm. It may sound crazy but I'm considering adding an electric baseboard heater to the top floor back room. I'm tired of overheating the house so that the top floor back gets enough heat!

Posted by: Rick at November 18, 2007 4:44 PM in response to freezing in my apt?

Check out www.federalconservation.com. They will blow insulation into the crawlspace between the 4th floor ceiling and the outside roof by cutting a hole in your tar roof and blowing in insulation, for about $1700. They cover the hole with a water-tight vent and add another vent on the other end of the roof for air flow. My tenants used to complain about being cold on the top floor all the time and now they don't. Plus you get a federal tax break for energy conservation (ask you accountant).

Posted by: guest at November 18, 2007 9:44 PM in response to freezing in my apt?

Hi!

I am always looking on ways to save on my utility bills and I have actually found relief this winter because of a vent-booster called the airflow breeze.
I plugged it into my vent in my bedroom which is always way way way too cold and now it is cozy because of my AirFlow Breeze!
My bills are lower and I am saving a lot of energy---which means it is good for the environment!
You should really tell your readers about this great product, it has truly saved my winter!

Posted by: guest at November 19, 2007 9:26 AM in response to freezing in my apt?

Had two rentals in brownstones where my room was the back of the top floor, and always freezing. In one (a duplex), the back of the 4th floor was about 10-15 degrees colder than the 3rd floor. In the second, the back of the fourth floor was about 15 degrees colder than the front of the apartment, and the back radiators NEVER got hot (even though my landlord bled them every year...)

A friend who had the same problem said her apartment got warm after the landlord replaced the ancient boiler. It may be that your old furnace just can't cut it anymore.

My advice: buy one of those electric, oil-filled heaters that look like radiators on wheels - I'm told they work well. Sleep with wool sweaters and hats on ... that's what I did until I bought a place (to me, apartment ownership = more control over heat!)

Posted by: guest at November 19, 2007 4:08 PM in response to freezing in my apt?

I'm currently renting on the top floor and there is NO way it even gets up to 68 degrees in either the bedroom or living room. I have a space heater in both areas. One of them has a digital read out and often reads below 60 degrees (especially in the morning). Obviously running these has a huge impact on my electric bill. I've also put plastic on the windows in both areas and there is a noticable draft -especially in the living room. How should I approach my landlord about this issue? He and his family live on the three floors below me and it's quite warm down there.

Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 8:44 PM in response to freezing in my apt?