Apt heat

J.C.A._3

1st floor tenant freezing,third floor tenants with open windows. Found a freezer pack on top of the thermostat lockbox.

Thermostat located on second floor of a 3 story apt building, 1st floor tenant jumped out the TT cause he was cold. The things people will do to screw the owners of their properties will NEVER cease to amaze me. Chris

M Ransley

Apt Heat

Ive been balancing the temperatures in apartments a 12 unit, with Gordon 4 -5-6-C-D vents. I have an apt with all #4 vents and it is still to warm. I dont want to use an adjustable vent as tennants mess with them. Is there anything slower than a Gordon 4, or any other ideas. Thanks.

[Deleted User]

yes,

use thermostatic air vents in the unit that is to hot.

M Ransley

How do I keep the tennant from adjusting the thermostat on the thermostatic vent, Is the thermostat wall mounted where I use a lock box, Are these expensive.
Would they be good for the other extreme a cold apt. Now I have Vari Vents on full open , I was told Vari vents are the most open vents sold

Jason

TRVs have limit features

The Regin and Danfoss TRVs that I have both have some form of adjustable mechanical upper/lower limit that requires a tool included with the valve to change. A tenant would have to be pretty clever to figure it out and change it. If they're that clever they're going to figure out how to defeat whatever limit you set by whatever means.

The TRV is really nice as it allows some control for the tenant that likes it cooler at night etc. But they don't come cheap. The Danfoss cost almost twice as much as the Regin and I've been equally satisfied with both manufacturer's performance. But the build quality or fit/finish is clearly higher for the Danfoss part.

jackchips_2

How true

Chris. My wife and I used to own a five family directly across from our Church. Every Sunday, that first winter, many of the windows would be open. Guess who payed the heat?

The next summer, thanks to five teledyne larrs, all the windows were closed.

M Ransley

Jackchip What is a Teledyne Larrs

jackchips_2

Gas boilers.

At one time, maybe still do, they made some very small, modulating units. I put 6 of them in the same space as the oil fired that was in the basement.

Eli

defeating clever tenants

I'm an owner/landlord. First, I'm not bitter, I have had NEARLY 100% great, considerate, honest, caring tenants. But here are a couple stratagies I've used to defeat the 'few'.
-I use thermostats with remote sensors. I locate the thermostat in a locked work room or closet. Tenants will never know it is there, they can't see it or touch it.
- I locate the sensor in the coldest apt. and do not describe it to the tenant. A little spray paint makes it look like a doorbell. I wire it IN THE WALL.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY I leave the existing (now disconnected)thermostat (or mount one) in the hallway. Let them leatherman the thing to death. Have at it.

I once walked into a buiding and noticed a cord running from a hallway (utility) outlet under the door of an apt. Electric space heater! I added a discreet switch in the line in the basement up under a dark joist. (This was a building where tenants have their own heaters and their own gas bills... this one was 'supplementing' their heat with my electric bill).

While I hate dishonesty, I love ingenuity!

Eli