Does a thermostat have to be somewhere in the building?

Joe_97

I was wondering if someone could help me out with this...

I just moved into a an old 4 apartment building, circa 1900. The heat in the building is a boiler system with 1 pipe steam radiators and risers. I am having a problem with heat in one of my bedrooms. It seems lilke the heat that is pumping through the system is rather low ,so my questions is does someone in the building have a thermostat in there apartment that is affecting the entire building? I had someone come look at the boiler, and I was told there is no timer on the boiler. So my ultimate question is ddoes there have to be a thermostat somewhere in the building??

Also, if a tenant above me turned off their radiator, would that affect the amount of heat that I would get in my apartment?

I appreciate any help you can provide

Brad White_9

In a perfect world... Maybe

When you have a 20 unit apartment building and one thermostat, you have 19 potentially miserable people and a 5% vote for VIP to the thermostat holder... Not a way to enjoy democracy let alone a Constitutional Republic. No, sir, that is an Autocracy.

So to solve this, a form of Socialism was enacted, shared misery if you will. Radiators apportioned as closely as possible to the heat loss (sunny side of the building being ignored one supposes).

Then, a decision was made to fire the boiler so many cycles per hour based on outside temperature. This is the "Heat Timer" model used by other vendors as well.

A steam cycle would be measured from the start of combustion to the detection of a certain high temperature at the condensate return to the boiler room or feed pump inlet, thus confirming that the system was as warm as it would get that cycle.

In mild weather, one or two cycles per hour did the trick, in colder weather, eight, ten or more... depending on a lot of things. Cast iron is a good thing....

Some such systems employ a sample sensor or thermostat to weight the cycles. The heating system would conform to the greater demand of the cycle timer or the sample room thermostat. Trouble is, as you are finding, who if anyone has control of that.

When overheating, double-hung thermostats correct the situation locally and at horrendous energy cost.

LarryC

Missing Thermostat

Home owner here.

You could try to follow the thermostat wiring.

As far as heating the one bedroom, when the heat comes on, do you hear or feel air coming out of the air vent on the radiator? Is the supply valve to the radiator fully open?

If the supply line to the above apartment runs through your apartment, does it get hot? If so, their air vent is working fine.

thfurnitureguy_8

T- stat

usually there is a stat in the building. It should be located in a part of the building with characteristics like the rest of the building. It may be hidden away from where anybody other than the owner, can access it.
As for your bedroom, change the vent to an adjustable one. Screw out the old and screw in the new. This will let your radiator heat quicker and give you heat for more of the cycle. The faster the air gets out the quicker the steam gets in. Your best bet is call the super and let him/ her do it!!!

realolman

If you have access

to the boiler, hook up a thermostat in your place and the heck with everybody else.

chapchap70_2

The thermostat should be located in the unit who's occupants require the temperature to be the warmest. Everyone else can open the windows if need be.

realolman

or the one

who's most selfish and doen't give a hoot about anybody else