What time of year is acceptable to Shut Off steam heating system?

RTW

I live in southern New England and thinking if the low temp is no lower than 45F and the high temp is in the 60s to 70s it may be time to shut off the steam heat? I believe someone else on this site commented on this topic before. Regards RTW

Jamie Hall

Um... really? The right time to shut off the heat -- whatever type of heat --is when it's warm enough to be comfortable without it.

Sorry if that sounds snarky, but... really...

ChrisJ

I use my heat whenever I need it. I go by temperature not the month.
I don't care if it's July, if the house is chilly the boiler's getting fired up.

Same goes with air conditioning. If it's February and the house is too hot I'm cooling it down.

Mad Dog_2

It's not Germany...The Hydronic Police won't be knocking on your door. Use heat when you're cold. Mad Dog 

Intplm.

@RTW

It really just depends if the pipes will freeze and on your comfort tolerance.

Pumpguy

I see this quite often for schools mostly where they will have a set shutdown date so they can start maintenance and replacement work.

Now, what that date is............??

Big Ed_4

Landlords by law have to supply heat to tenets between dates and maybe outside temperatures . Check your local code ...

EdTheHeaterMan

April 15 to October 15 is the law for landlords in NJ.

Intplm.

Years ago, and maybe still today, October fifteenth was the heat on institutional date.

Jamie Hall

Those dates, however, don't mean you can't use your boiler in the summer! Just that it must be usable between those dates.

SteamingatMohawk

From the New York Tenants Rights Guide at: https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/tenants_rights.pdf

Heating Season

Heat must be supplied from October 1 through May 31 to tenants in
multiple dwellings. If the outdoor temperature falls below 55°F between
the hours of six a.m. and ten p.m., each apartment must be heated to
a temperature of at least 68°F. If the outdoor temperature falls below
40°F between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., each apartment must
be heated to a temperature of at least 55°F. Local regulations may
require higher temperatures during these times. (Multiple Dwelling
Law § 79; Multiple Residence Law § 173; NYC Admin. Code § 27-
2029).

I believe this applies throughout the state, not just in NYC.

Jamie Hall

Must be heated to? or must be able to be heated to? No wonder people ask how to turn off the heat... or open windows.

ChrisJ

Jamie Hall said:

Must be heated to? or must be able to be heated to? No wonder people ask how to turn off the heat... or open windows.

That's where TRV's become magical in my opinion.
A huge building, tons of tenants, many don't want heat.

I'd bet the biggest issue with TRV's and end users is they probably don't realize you don't turn them several numbers for a difference. If it's set on #3 you go to 2.5 or 3.5 and wait a while and see what happens. If the apartment is a bit too warm just turn it down a very tiny tiny amount and wait an hour.

Big Ed_4

The power of steam. HeatThemUp !

RTW

As an aside, I found this article - and many like it - that discusses how the body reacts to the same temp in Fall vs Spring. It may explain why many turn down or off the heat sooner in the Spring, but just the opposite in the Fall
Regards
RTW

Beginning of ARTICLE dated Sept:

Why a 65-Degree Day Feels Cold in Fall but Warm in Spring
When seasons change, our bodies know to react. But we can perceive the same thermometer reading differently at various times throughout the year.

September 8, 2016 7:00 AM

Author
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Kevin Joy

With temperatures set to drop in the coming weeks, you might be surprised to perceive a moderate, 65-degree day as chilly, whereas the same scenario in the spring would feel positively tropical.

There's a reason for that.

Mad Dog_2

The problem with TRVs Chris, is that if the boiler never shuts down or for not long enough periods, the TRVs will not work. Mad Dog