Thermostat?

Brad White_9

Firstly, for discussion purposes, when you say "Remains cold" does that mean "below setpoint" or "no heat at all is being delivered"? And when you say "too hot", is there a temperature relative to setpoint? Just trying to eliminate subjective language in order to best serve you.

Secondly, here is a short list off the top of my head of things that may be culpable. Not all-inclusive nor are they mutually exclusive. May be one or more of these or other factors submitted by others in this forum:

1. Anticipator of the thermostat not set to the amperage rating of the equipment.

2. Thermostat not level (if an older mercury type or where there is a levelness component). Being new as stated this is not so likely.

3. Response time of radiation. Could the subject space be cast iron and the "slaved" apartment be baseboard?

4. Imbalance between radiation in a given space and that spaces heat loss.

5. Might the second space have a thermostat too such that the one with the lowest setpoint governs? That and a radiation size or type imbalance is not a happy thing.

October Home

Cold House

Hi,

I have a client who tells me:

>The problem with the heat is that when I set the thermostat at a reasonable temperature (69 or 70), the house remains cold. When I set it to a temperature greater than this, the house gets too hot.

It's a two apartment building, one Peerless boiler --less than 10 years old -- and the thermostat is well placed on an interior wall. He's already replaced the thermostat.

I know I should just punt this to the local heating contractor, and, of course, that's where my client will ultimately have to go. But, for my own education, what could be causing this?

Thank you and with kind regards,
Arlene Puentes
www.octoberhome.com


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October Home

My goodness

What a great response!

"Remains cold" = no heat at all. The radiators are cold.

"Too hot" = At the setpoint of above 74 which turns out to be hot enough for the tenants to where their tank tops.

Thank you so much for helping me further my education!

Arlene

Ron Schroeder

Arlene

If it happens to be a Honeywell T87F T-stat, at set point 70 degrees temp will drop 4 degrees before heat is called on that would be 66 cold to some people, temp rises to 70 and heat call ends, temp will usually rise 2 more degrees before the radiation stops. About a 6 degree change could be more with steam or gravity radiators. At 74 we have the same variables 74setpoint 4 degre drop 70 heat to 74 heat stops but radiation continues to 76 now thats enough to put me in my tanktop. If you have older people and younger people living in the same house they have two very different perceptions of warm/cold

Mike E_2

I don't find that to be true. I had T-86's from the 1960's that used to have a 3-4 degree swing, but I replaced them all at the beginning of the season with new T-87's. Now I have a 2 degree swing.(69-71)

What I have found though, was that not all of the set point pointers match up with the actual temp that they maintain. Some are farther off than others. I think that they were slightly mis-calibrated at the factory. For instance, the one in the bathroom is set at 70, the one in my bedroom is set at 67.5, and the one in my living room is set at 68. The built-in thermometer matches up with the pointer in all cases, and they all keep the temperature between 69 and 71.

Michael