Boiling hot --- anything I can do without involving the landlord?

AM8220

Hi,



Just moved into a new apartment a few months ago. It has unreliable steam radiators and a landlord who doesn't seem to know or care how to fix them.



Temperature swings like crazy from chilly (usually during the day) to mid 90s at night, due to the fact that the thermostat is locked out in the hallway, separated from all our heaters by our walls and door. Which means it doesn't warm up until our apartment is absolutely boiling hot. At night, the rooms are almost too hot to sleep in, and there doesn't seem to be any way I can turn the heat down.



What I'm wondering is if there's anything I can do myself -- install a valve knob? a different vent? -- to gain some control over how hot the radiators get. I'm including a couple photos of the setup.



The valve (where it seems like there should be an adjustable knob) only has a screw in it, and screwing it in or out with a screwdriver has no effect on the heat.



And they recently replaced our vents with these white screw-in things that can either be screwed all the way in (silencing the radiator, but having no effect on the heat) or screwed part way, in which case they hiss like crazy (also no noticeable effect, up or down on heat). I thought a closed vent was supposed to keep a radiator from heating up, but ours heat even when these are screwed all the way in.



I've asked the super for help on this many times, and he's beginning to ignore my calls because he doesn't know how to fix the problem.



Does anyone know if there's something I can do to have some control over the individual radiators -- specifically the one in my bedroom (pictured)? If there was just a way that I could turn it down at night, the whole situation might be just this side of livable. Any help would be much appreciated!

crash2009

TRV

You could get a TRV.  google danfoss trv 1ps.  They can be ordered from pexsupply.com  I am just about to leave for work.  So I don't have time to explain.

drtom

Break the thermostat open and change it.

I am impressed that your radiator heats up even when the little plug is screwed all the way in, hopefully the little plug at least slows it down!

You could get a big wrench and close the supply valve, but although that would keep steam from entering your radiator, it wouldn't really be the best solution. The best solution includes your landlord hiring a steam expert to address the system.

Now, if I were in your exact situation, I would break any locks between me and the thermostat and then change the thermostat adjustments to something more appropriate. Are others in your building having similar experiences? If the thermostat is set too high at night, your landlord could save a lot of money by turning it down.

drtom

Hey, that TRV thing looks pretty good.

Check out THIS thread fro more info on Thermostatic Radiator Valves...

http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/127385/thermostatic-radiator-valves

Chris M_2

Get Adjustable Vents

TRVs are going to be expensive. A cheaper route (I'd attempt cheaper first, since you're not wanting to involve your landlord, but you're paying for what is the the landlord's responsibility) is to replace the vents with adjustable vents, and set them accordingly. You can get them at a plumbing supply house.  I'd also look into getting some handles for the valves so you can turn the rad(s) off altogether if ever necessary.  

Jean-David Beyer

Opposite problem.

A friend of mine lived in a multi-family house. Too cold at night. Thermostat in the hall -- locked so it could not be changed. She solved the problem by putting a piece of dry ice on the thermostat before going to bed. That got her heat without comitting any vandalism.



If the tenants dare, they could open their doors and let enough heat escape to turn off the thermostat. I would not dare to do that. Why not just open the windows. That might just run the fuel bills up enough to get the landlord's attention.

AM8220

white plug

That's one thing I'm wondering -- Doesn't it somehow defy the laws of physics that the radiator can continue to heat up (and stay hot) even with the white plug screwed all the way in? It silences the hissing noise, and I can't feel any air coming out of it -- which I assume means air isn't flowing. So how come I can leave it screwed in all day and the radiator heats up and cools down (and then heats back up again) on its own? Makes me doubt that a TRV thing would even work, since all it would do is block the vent selectively, right?



Also thanks very much for all the replies so far. Really appreciate everyone's help!

crash2009

That little vent

I made it to work on time.  That little vent you removed from the radiator appears to be adjustable.  I have never seen that type.  Does it have any numbers on it?  possible model number.  If it does, google the numbers.  It might lead you to a website that can tell you how to adjust it.

Steamhead

That's

a hygroscopic vent, which works OK on hot-water but not so well for steam. Your landlord probably bought them because they were cheap.



The packing nut on the shutoff valve might be loose, which would let some air escape.

jpf321

the solution lies in your bed ....

get a nice wool blanket (not a polyfilled quilt) and drop it over the rad at night ... most of the heat coming from a rad is transferred to the air by convection .. kill the convection currents and you kill most of the heat. let us know.



and besides, Dan said so about a blanket (i don't remember if it was in his book or in person)