My landlord is an idiot. Help me diagnose my radiator problem!

bob young

the handle was removed to prevent tampering by unauthorized personnel---namely tenants as yourself. the handle is not to used as a temperature regulating device. if system is not balanced , crack a window as a temporary solution. its not your house. handle is for mechanic to isolate unit in emergency situation so as not to be forced to shut down entire heating plant. if the idiot landlord comes to his senses he may sue you for damages. you probably could have solved problem with a certified letter & withholdment of rental fee.maybe you should relocate to a warmer climate

Dave_4

Banging radiator

Sorry about the wordy post. Thanks!

Brad White

It took a while to read this one

but I would suggest a few deep breaths, some sun salutations and letting go of some stuff first.

Evil corporations aside and not to mitigate your frustration, you are acting on impulse doing things with "enough knowledge to be dangerous". You used pliers on a radiator valve which someone had decided was to be hands-off then perform an autopsy on your method.

Now, the management company may well be spending a small or large fortune on heating the place. They may well be evil. But they could benefit from this site as a group with the right approach. Calling the landlord "an idiot" -and publicly- tells me a few things, but not about your landlord, in all candor.

I suspect too high a pressure and perhaps inadequately vented mains, but as you say, everyone overheats and you get the noise on the fourth floor. Hard to say from here.

There are so many directions to go in, but I would suggest that this be framed in a matter of "concerned tenant trying to improve things for all" rather than a crusader with a pair of Channel Lock Pliers on a mission. You may have already typecast yourself as a modern day Cassandra so perhaps a cooperative group of others with similar concerns could address this in a single letter? The message may be lost.

A good steam practitioner could do wonders by evaluating the system and making global recommendations. To approach a problem looking at one radiator or one apartment is like the proverbial five blind men trying to describe an elephant. One of them has their hand stuck somewhere warm and wet from time to time.