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Thermo fraud

EDDIE GRIERSON_2
EDDIE GRIERSON_2 Member Posts: 32
in THE MAIN WALL
Did a local bank with seven dummy t-stats about five years ago. Six of them in the employees office and the real deal in the presidents office. Last I checked the electric bill was down and the employees comfort level was up! Good deal!

Comments

  • John R. Hall
    John R. Hall Member Posts: 2,245


    The Wall Street Journal had an interesting
    article recently on companies that install
    fake thermostats to trick employees into
    thinking they are actually controlling the
    temps in their offices. The "real"
    thermostat is actually embedded inside a
    hidden location or the temps are sensor
    controlled.

    One HVAC "specialist" quoted in the story
    said that 90% of office thermostats are
    "dummies."

    I wonder how many Wallies
    have been asked to install dummy
    thermostats. Maybe this could be a
    "hidden" niche, eh?
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    OK!!!! YOU GOT ME!!!!!!


    If I had a dime for every "thermostat" that I installed I'd be able to buy some really cool stuff.

    I have most recently been asked to install several of these in some group homes. The head of maintenance doesn't like coming into the homes and finding the stats cranked to 80* and the windows open.

    I guess how you THINK you feel is more important than how you REALLY feel.

    Mark H

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  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,185
    We call them...

    blonde secretary thermostats, or placebo stats. There's more to this psychology thing than you think!

    I've seen them in action, and they DO work. Must be a slow news time if they're digging into building EMS...

    ME

    To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • John R. Hall
    John R. Hall Member Posts: 2,245
    ME

    Never a slow news time in my MIND, Mark. That's my problem, I can't get the hamster wheel in my head to slow down sometimes. The News is thinking about doing a poll to dig into the "Thermo Fraud Wars!!!"
  • zeb_3
    zeb_3 Member Posts: 104
    I am going

    to install one where my mother in law sleeps when she visits my house
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,883
    old cabin in the woods

    It belong to my buddies grandfather in Maine.

    Wood stove. no electricty.

    He had a phone, thermostate, and light switches.

    It made for alot of fun after a couple of cocktails.

    Ya gotta love Maine humor.

    "If ya cold why don't ya just turn up that there thermostat on the wall over theya ".

    Scott

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It has been done for years

    I have been in a lot of hotel ball rooms doing seminars and found t'stats are dummies.

    Funny story, my son remodeled the basement and moved in many years ago. I put a dummy thermostat in. The duct work for the heating system was piped into the basement so heat was being fed when upstairs t'stat called. He lived there with his wife for five years and they never knew the difference. I would go down to have coffee with them and my daughter-in-law would say she was cold, she would get up and turn up the t'stat. I would ask her about 10 minutes later if she was warmer. The answer was always yes.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Used to do a lot of reset controls

    on boilers in 4 unit flats & replace 4 pumps w/ 1. Learned real quick to leave the old stats on the wall.

    Even replaced a stat 1 time. Tenant called and complimented us on the heat the next day. Go figure.
  • Steve Ebels
    Steve Ebels Member Posts: 904
    Actual comment from a renter

    I was doing a system check on an install we did three years ago. Just 6 apartment units, each with their own stat and zone pump BUT the whole building is run on outdoor reset with no indoor feedback. I asked one of the tenants how comfortable his aprtment was. He replied, (and I quote) "It's nice. This is the first place I ever rented that they'll let you run the heat wherever you want.It's included in the rent. I run around in my shorts and t-shirt all day." I looked at his stat and sure enough it was set on 80*. The actual room reading was 71*. I have the reset curve set so that's about max temp that any of the apartments will ever see.
  • rich pickering
    rich pickering Member Posts: 277


    I've learned to never ask the customer if they are hot or cold,only if they are now comfortable.
  • Online Sheriff \"Murph\"
    Online Sheriff \"Murph\" Member Posts: 380
    THE OLDER CLIENTS........

    Seem to set the thermostat to thier age !!
  • Jackchips
    Jackchips Member Posts: 344
    Great analogy

    Murph. Although I think my Mother-in-law has some how added "heat chill" factor as she is 75 and requires 80 degrees.
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