Thermostat placement for small apartment building

ciri

My 4 unit/4 floor brownstone building (steam heat) has been struggling with keeping all units a reasonable temperature. The bottom two floors are usually freezing, while the top two floors overheat. I know this is a common experience and we're unlikely to find a perfect solution, but does anyone have any suggestions for the best place for a thermostat that controls the entire building?

Currently, we have it in the common hallway on the 3rd floor, but we've noticed that because this spot is so insulated (no windows, far from front door, and the one radiator on the ground floor), the temperature in this spot stays pretty consistent - the apartments become freezing before there's enough of a drop in temperature where the thermostat is to trigger the heat to come on. Once the heat does come on, it's on for a long time before the thermostat registers the increase in heat and turns it off.

Where do people with similar setups keep their thermostats? I thought maybe our basement (unfinished, has windows, houses the boiler room) would be a better reflection of what's going on in the apartments? Would love to hear anyone's thoughts or recommendations! Thank you!!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Your right this is ALWAYS an issue in apartment buildings. Many buildings use a 'Heat Timer " control to run the boiler.

Both "Heat Timer and "Tekmar" make these. Its basically a control wired to the boiler. It has a sensor that attaches to a steam pipe that is farthest from the boiler. The boiler runs until the sensor senses steam at that location. (called heat established). Then the control starts "timing". It has another sensor that measures the outdoor air temp.

It varies the run time of the boiler based on outdoor air temp. That is one way

The other way is to use a thermostat located in the basement by the boiler or in some location (anywhere) inaccessible to the tenants. The thermostat in this location does not sense temp in the boiler. You wire temperature sensors (multiple ones) to this thermostat. The thermostat then averages the reading of the temp sensors to tell the boiler when to cycle.

None of the above is a 100% fix.

Trying to get the steam system balanced with tenants in the building is also a challenge. Troubleshooting, changing vents or rebuilding traps should be the first step.

guzzinerd

I have a 6-unit building and keep the tstat in the dinning room in apt 1. It has windows and a rad and not near a television. It has worked out well for the building, stays pretty uniform day and night.